Brookfield Historical Society Inc [CT]

Description

The Brookfield Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the history of the Brookfield, Connecticut, and the Parish of Newbury. The society owns and operates a local history museum, historical research center, and the Gurski's Forge building.

The society offers guided tours, exhibits, special presentations, and research resources. The website offers visitor information, a history of Brookfield, information regarding upcoming events, and information regarding the historical resources available for visitors.

Mackinac State Historic Parks [MI]

Description

Mackinac State Historic Parks is the coalition of parks located on Mackinac Island. The Island is home to the Mackinac State Park, which covers roughly 70 percent of the island, Historic Downtown, which consists of five historic buildings and features costumed interpreters, Colonial Michlimackinac, a colonial fur trading outpost, the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, and Fort Mackinac, which was occupied by British soldiers in the 18th century and American soldiers in the 19th century.

The organization offers guided tours, field trip programs, outdoor activities in the state park, interpretive events, and occasional special events such as re-enactments. The website offers visitor information, histories of the five parks, event calendars, and several photo galleries.

The Bedford Historical Society [VA]

Description

The Bedford Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the historical heritage of Bedford, Virginia, and the surrounding area. The society is headquartered in the Wharton House, a brick house which was built in 1883. The home now serves as a historic house museum.

The society offers exhibits and guided tours within the Wharton House. The website offers visitor information, a copy of the society newsletter, and a history of the society.

Fresno Historical Society [CA]

Description

The Fresno Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the history of Fresno, California, and of California's Central Valley, one of the five most fertile valleys in the world. The society also operates the Kearney Historic Site, which showcases the history of the valley through the home of Theo Kearney, a raisin mogul.

The society offers a lecture series, tours of the Kearney estate, field trip programs, and educational outreach programs. The website offers visitor information, a history of the society, a history of the Kearney Historic Site, and an events calendar.

The Gamble House [CA]

Description

Noted architects Charles and Henry Greene designed the Gamble House in 1908 for the Gamble family of Proctor & Gamble fame. The home is one of the finest examples of Arts and Crafts style architecture in the country. Today, the home is administered by the University of Southern California and serves as a historic house museum.

The house offers guided tours and special events such as presentations. The website offers visitor information, a history of the home, biographies of the architects, a virtual tour, and an events calendar.

Quincy House

Description

Built as a country estate in 1770, Quincy House was originally surrounded by fields and pasture overlooking Quincy Bay. Its architectural details, including a Chinese fretwork balustrade and classical portico, befit the status of the man who built it, the Revolutionary leader Colonel Josiah Quincy. For generations, the Quincys, like the Adamses, to whom they were related, played important roles in the social and political life of Massachusetts. The family produced three mayors of Boston and a president of Harvard. Much of the historical information pertaining to the house and family was documented in the early 1880s by Eliza Susan Quincy. She kept journals, inventoried the contents of the house, commissioned photographs of the interior, and persuaded relatives to return heirlooms so that the house could become a repository of Quincy family history.

The house offers tours and educational programs.

John Dickinson Plantation [DE]

Description

The John Dickinson Plantation was the home to John Dickinson, a Delaware member of the Continental Congress (who didn't sign the Declaration of Independence), Delaware Congress, Constitutional Convention, and Governor of Pennsylvania. He was known for his opposition to American Independence. His home serves as an excellent example of an 18th century plantation.

The site offers character-interpreted tours on a variety of topics designed to adhere to Delaware educational standards (K-12). Tour topics include daily life, slavery, colonial plantation workings, etc.

Kentucky Horse Park [KY]

Description

The Kentucky Horse Park consists of a Hall of Fame, Horse Museum, and a competition ground. The park is home to many important competitions, including the upcoming 2010 World Equestrian Games. The Hall of Fame and Museum are open to visitors year round.

The Park offers guided tours, exhibits, field trip programs, riding lessons, and daily horse shows. The website offers visitor information, educational materials for schoolteachers, an events calendar, and information regarding all of the programs and lessons offered by the park.

Gore Place [MA]

Description

Gore Place consists of the 1806 Federal-style home, estate, and farm of Massachusetts Governor and U.S. Senator Christopher Gore (1758-1827). Significant guests of the Gores included Secretary of State Daniel Webster and President James Monroe. The Gores' African American butler Robert Roberts wrote and published the The House Servant's Directory, a type of domestic servant's advice compilation, in 1827.

The site offers period rooms, guided mansion tours, self-guided tours of the grounds, sheep, goats, poultry, a 40-minute living history outreach presentation by "Robert Roberts," a 2-hour elementary school education program, student group tours of the mansion, 11 Girl Scout programs, activity backpacks for use on site, full moon tours, and Jane Austen tours. Full moon tours are not intended for children under six years of age. The Jane Austen tours interpret period rural life through the words of author, Jane Austen. The website offers a free curriculum program, descriptions of the ways in which various programs meet curriculum standards, and a list of suggested reading and viewing materials.