Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm [PA]

Description

The 100-acre Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm presents the daily life of the Pennsylvania German family who lived on the farm between the 1760s and 1913. A farmhouse, originally erected in the 1760s; spring house; cabin; replica circa 1893 schoolhouse; a circa 1850 barn; and nine other structures complete the site's outfit of buildings. Creatures and crops located on site include rabbits, horses, chickens, goats, mules, cows, sheep, pigs, turkeys, flax, wheat, corn, rye, and potatoes.

The farm offers guided tours, hands-on period skill learning, educational programs, home school programs, costumed living history interpreters, children's summer programs, workshops on historical crafts and skills, outreach programs, and a picnic pavilion. Outreach program options include a visit from one of the farm's sheep or chickens. The website offers pre-visit information for teachers, post-visit activities, a farm animal sponsorship program, and a virtual tour.

Hanford Mills Museum [NY]

Description

The more than 70-acre Hanford Mills Museum presents the history of millwork and its cultural and technological influences on society. The site includes the 1843 Hanford Mill, as well as a woodworking shop, hardware shop, gristmill, feed mill, sawmill, and water wheel used to create electrical power. In total, 16 historic structures are located on site. The Hanford Mill is one of the last remaining mills from the 19th century.

The museum offers a 15-minute film; exhibits; tours; nature trails; children's summer apprentice workshops; and educational programs on the historic mill, the science of the mill, ice harvesting, community relationships, the process of creating a product from raw lumber, industrialization, and the harvesting and processing of grain. The website offers a glossary, descriptions of programs and corresponding state educational standards, historic photographs, and resource links, pre- and post-visit activities.

Van Wickle House [NJ]

Description

The Van Wickle House was built in 1722 by the son of a wealthy Dutch carpenter. The home is a fabulous example of the Dutch architecture common to the New Jersey and New York area. Today, the home stands as a historic house museum, and is also frequently rented for community activities.

The home offers guided tours. The website offers a history of the home and visitor information.

Coggeshall Farm [RI]

Description

Coggeshall Farm is a 48-acre living history farm museum. The grounds include a circa 1790 farmhouse, a spring house, animal barns, fields, and herb gardens. The farm's animals include sheep, chickens, cats, a horse, donkeys, and goats. The museum primarily depicts late 18th-century life. The museum grounds have been worked by Europeans since the late 17th-century, and may very well have also been farmed by the Pokanoket.

The farm offers school tours, workshops, demonstrations,

MacGregor Ranch [CO]

Description

The MacGregor Ranch is one of the last working ranches and interpretive museums in Colorado. The Ranch and its museum showcase Colorado's cattle ranching history with collections ranging from antique farming equipment to family heirlooms from the MacGregor family.

The site offers tours of the museum and ranch buildings including the barn, as well as educational programs for school groups. At certain time of the year, school groups are able to see the ranch at work with educational activities involving live animals. Self-guided educational programs are also available.

Franklin Inn [NJ]

Description

The Franklin Inn is located in Somerset, New Jersey. The inn had its inauspicious beginnings as a small dutch home, but was converted to an inn in the 1920s, when owner John Wycoff anticipated a business opportunity with the impending completion of the Delaware & Raritan Canal. The inn was closed in 1916 due to prohibition.

The inn offers a used bookstore, special events including presentations and workshops, and guided tours. The website offers visitor information and a detailed history of the building.

Daniel Webster Birthplace State Historic Site [NH]

Description

The Daniel Webster Birthplace State Historic Site is associated with the birth and early childhood years of Daniel Webster, one of the country's most respected orators and statesmen. While the site affords a view of the early years of Daniel Webster, it also provides a glimpse of 1700s farm life in the infant years of the United States.

The site offers tours, educational programs, and living history programs and events.

Historic Brattonsville [SC]

Description

Historic Brattonsville consists of the Bratton farm, which has been carefully restored and now serves as a historic house musum and living history center. Historic Brattonsville preserves the history of the farm from its role in the revolutionary war through its days as a large, rural farm run by slave labor. The museum also has a special focus on African American history.

Historic Brattonsville offers exhibits, guided tours, field trip activities, children's activities, and occasional special events such as family days and presentations. The website offers visitor information, a history of the farm, an events calendar, and information regarding the programs offered by the farm.

Farmers' Museum [NY]

Description

The Farmer's Museum is an outdoor historical museum which presents the rural heritage of the U.S. Key features include an 1840s village, heritage gardens, and the Lippitt Farmstead. The farm site includes heritage breeds of sheep, turkeys, and cattle, as well as a farmhouse, barns, a granary, a hop house, a smokehouse, and a poultry house. An interactive 1910 county fair is on the grounds on a seasonal basis. Collections consist of over 23,000 artifacts including wallpaper, textiles, and a particularly strong showing of historical woodworking tools.

The museum offers period rooms, gardens, hands-on activities, demonstrations, historic skill workshops, lectures, educational children's programs, a children's interpretation program, and guided tours for groups. Two weeks advance notice is required for group tours. The website offers a museum blog.

High Desert Museum [OR]

Description

The High Desert Museum presents the cultural, natural, and artistic histories of the High Desert, a region within southeastern Oregon. The site includes indoor exhibits, numerous wildlife enclosures, and a living history hall and 1880 homestead.

The museum offers a 15-minute introductory presentation, exhibits, period rooms, 30-minute to full-day guided tours, self-guided tours with pre- and post-visit activities, thematic school festivals, 30- to 90-minute outreach presentations, spring and summer camps, educator workshops, wildlife demonstrations and talks, 19th-century skill demonstrations, and a cafe. At least two weeks notice is required for group visits. Contact the museum for information on box or sack lunches.