Ybor City Museum State Park [FL]

Description

Don Vicente Martinez Ybor came to the frontier near Tampa and built a city that became the "Cigar Capital of the World." From the opening of the first cigar factory in 1886 until the 1930s, Ybor City flourished. This urban park is dedicated to the preservation of Ybor City's cultural heritage. The museum, housed in the historic Ferlita Bakery, traces the rich cultural history of Ybor City and the cigar-making industry. The museum has self-guided exhibits, with written and audio information, and a video presentation.

The park offers a short film, exhibits, tours, and demonstrations.

Thorsen House [CA]

Description

The 1909 Thorsen House was designed by preeminent Arts and Crafts Movement architecture firm Greene and Greene. The house currently serves as the residence of college students in the Sigma Phi Society.

The house offers drop-in guided tours and more comprehensive guided tours by reservation. Groups larger than six individuals must make reservations. As college students live in the building and their schedules vary with the academic year, it is advisable to call ahead and verify that the site will be open on the day which you wish to visit.

Horne Creek Farm [NC]

Description

Once the Hauser family farm, Horne Creek enables visitors to experience farm life in North Carolina's northwestern Piedmont circa 1900. The site features the family's original farm house, a tobacco curing barn, a corn crib, adjacent fields under cultivation, and even a heritage apple orchard. Through programs ranging from old-fashioned ice cream socials to an annual corn shucking frolic, Horne Creek Living Historical Farm provides a unique opportunity to learn about the rural past.

The site offers exhibits, tours, demonstrations, educational programs, and occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).

Friends of Historic Kingston [NY]

Description

The Friends of Historic Kingston is a preservation organization dedicated to maintaining and restoring the architectural heritage of Kingston, New York, the state's original capital city. The organization also operates the Fred J. Johnston Museum, the Friends of Historic Kingston Museum, the Louw-Bogardus Ruin in Frog Alley Park, and the Sharp Burying Ground. The ruins offer an exhibit depicting the 1658 Kingston stockade. The Fred J. Johnston Museum consists of Johnston's (1911-1993) collection of 18th- and early 19th-century furniture and decorative arts, located within the antique dealer's own home and showroom. The circa 1812 structure itself is Federal in style. The Friends of Historic Kingston Museum contains exhibits relevant to local history and Kingston's contemporary art scene.

The organization offers two-hour guided walking tours of the Historic Stockade District, guided walking tours of the Rondout District, a treasure hunt tour of the Stockade District designed for children between 7 and 12 years of age, lectures, exhibits, historic skill demonstrations, and guided tours of the Fred J. Johnston Museum. Appointments are required for groups interested in the district walking tour and/or viewing the Johnston house and museum.

Glen Foerd [PA]

Description

Glen Foerd is the final remaining riverfront estate within Philadelphia. Originally erected circa 1850, the residence is now most overtly Italianate in style. Residents have included Charles Macalester, businessman and broker, and Robert and Caroline Foerderer of Vici Kid, a kid skin company. Sights include the main residence, a boat house, a water tower, a carriage house, and a gate house.

The estate offers period rooms, guided tours, group tours, group tour and meal packages. Two days advance notice is needed for tours, and tours with meals require two weeks advance notice. The website offers historical photographs.

Canterbury Shaker Village [NH]

Description

The 694-acre Canterbury Shaker Village contains 29 Shaker buildings—25 restored and 4 reconstructed. The site preserves the 200-year history of the Canterbury Shakers. Historically, the village was founded in 1792; and, by the 1850s, was home to more than 300 people. Shaker beliefs included using dance as a communal form of communication with God, equality of the sexes, group ownership, and celibacy. Collections consist of more than 30,000 artifacts.

The village offers exhibits, period rooms, three guided tours, self-guided tours, family tours, guided student tours and activities, hayrides, workshops, family activities, educational programs, hiking trails, craft demonstrations, outreach programs, traveling trunks, summer camps, a reading room, archival access, and food for purchase. The reading room and archival documents are available by appointment. Reservations are required for field trip groups. The website offers virtual exhibits on Shaker pets, maple syrup gathering, dentistry, architectural re-use, and area tourism. The website offers games and supplementary materials for teachers and lesson plans.

American Swedish Institute [MN]

Description

The American Swedish Institute is a historic house museum, cultural center, and history and culture museum dedicated to the history, culture, and accomplishments of Swedish Americans. The institute is located within an early-20th century chateauesque mansion. Exhibit topics include immigration, craft traditions, homeland nostalgia, historical Swedish populations in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and Swedish-American vaudeville.

The institute offers period rooms; exhibits; group tours; children's language and culture classes; summer day camps; a Lucia choir; customizable school tours; student educational programs; and student outreach programs, including role-playing, living history, and storytelling presentations. Reservations are required for group tours and all student programs.

Jackson County Historical Society and Museums [MO]

Description

The Jackson County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Jackson County, Missouri. To this end, the society operates a lending library and non-circulating archive; 1859 jail, marshal's home, and museum; and the Harry S Truman Office and Courtroom, where Truman (1884-1972) practiced prior to being elected Senator and 33rd President of the United States. The jail presents local legal and military history between the 1840s and the Civil War.

The society offers circulating library and non-circulating archives access, research assistance, self-guided and guided tours of the jail and marshal's home, exhibits, tours of the office and courtroom, and a 30-minute introductory film in the Truman site. Payment is required for non-member library archives access and research assistance. Reservations are required for library and archives access, guided tours of the jail and marshal's home, and group tours of the office and courtroom. The website offers a teacher's guide for the jail site.

Kimball Jenkins Estate [NH]

Description

The estate includes an 1883 Victorian mansion, art school, and exhibition galleries. Gallery themes include student, teacher, and regional works; new regional artists; and art from throughout the U.S., which is deemed historically important.

The estate offers exhibits, art classes, and a children's summer camp.

Raynham Hall Museum [NY]

Description

The Raynham Hall Museum is a historic home depicting life between the 1770s and 1870s. Samuel Townsend, a prosperous international merchant, purchased the property in 1738. Townsend later served on the New York Provincial Congress. Between 1778 and 1779, the Queen's Rangers, led by English Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe (1752-1806), made the Patriot family's home their headquarters. During this time, legend has it, Sally Townsend overheard Benedict Arnold's plan to surrender the West Point fort to the British; and informed the Culper Spy Ring about Benedict (1741-1801) and his accomplice Major John Andre (1750-1780). The site displays over 500 artifacts, including pieces owned by the Townsends and others made in Long Island.

The museum offers colonial and Victorian period rooms, colonial- and Victorian-style gardens, and children's summer workshops.