Woodlawn Museum [ME]

Description

Woodlawn Museum is a historic home, containing its original furnishings. Collections include both European and American art, furniture, carriages, and sleighs. Completed in 1827, Woodlawn housed a major area timber and land dealing family.

The museum offers guided tours, period rooms, free croquet lessons, an annual lecture series, a hands-on historic game library, and gardens. All special events include children's activities. Reservations are required for school tours. Picnic lunches are welcome on grounds. The website offers children's activities.

Isham-Terry House [CT]

Description

The Isham-Terry House is a time capsule of genteel life in turn-of-the century Hartford. Dr. Oliver Isham bought the 1854 Italianate Villa in 1896. Here he had his physician's office and lived with his sisters Julia and Charlotte. Julia and Charlotte occupied the house until the 1970s, defying the urban renewal juggernaut that demolished so many historic homes. The sisters made so few changes and modernizations to the house that crossing its threshold today is like stepping back in time. Room after room is filled with objects of historical and family significance: ornate gaslight fixtures; stained-glass windows; rare books and paintings; Connecticut-made clocks; and memorabilia from Hartford High School, the Ishams' alma mater. Even Dr. Isham's office, with surgical instruments and medicines, was left undisturbed. Dr. Isham also possessed a rare collection of early Connecticut automobile memorabilia.

The house offers exhibits and tours.

History Center of Stamford [CT]

Description

The History Center of Stamford presents the history of Stamford, Connecticut. To this end, the society operates a research library, archives, an exhibition gallery, and the circa 1765 Hoyt Barnum House. This residence was home to the children or grandchildren of Stamford's founders. Furnishings date to the 17th and 18th centuries.

The center offers exhibits, library access, and period rooms. The Hoyt Barnum House is open by appointment. The website offers a selection of historical images and a virtual tour of the Hoyt Barnum House.

Huntington Historical Society and Historic Structures [NY]

Description

The Huntington Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Huntington, New York. To that end, the society operates four historical structures: the 1795 Dr. Daniel Kissam House Museum, 1750 David Conklin Farmhouse, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building, and the Huntington Sewing and Trade School. The trade school building, which housed one of the United States' earliest vocational schools, now holds the society's library.

The Dr. Daniel Kissam House Museum offers period rooms and exhibits, while the David Conklin Farmhouse offers guided tours and period rooms in Colonial, Federal, and Victorian styles. The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building offers exhibits. The society also offers interactive educational outreach programs with slide presentations, interactive educational programs led by costumed interpreters and aligned with state educational standards, day camps, lectures, after-school programs, and outreach lectures. The Dr. Daniel Kissam House Museum is open by appointment only, and reservations are required for group tours of the David Conklin Farmhouse. Students may use the archives free of charge.

Kelly House Museum [CA]

Description

The Kelly House Museum is located in the historic Kelly House, which was built in 1861. In addition to serving as a historic house museum, the home offers exhibits on the cultural heritage of the Mendocino Coast. The home also serves as a shining example of the unique Victorian architecture that led to Mendocino's recognition as a National Historic Preservation District.

The museum offers exhibits, walking tours of the Mendocino National Historic District, guided tours of the home, and special events. The website offers visitor information and a history of the home.

Blount Mansion Association [TN]

Description

Blount Mansion was the original home of William Blount, a signer of the US Constitution and the first and only governor of the Southwest Territory. Blount was also instrumental in helping Tennessee gain statehood status. The Blount Mansion was granted status as a National Historic Landmark in 1965, and today serves as a historic house museum, a museum of early American history, and a museum of local history.

The museum offers exhibits, guided tours, field trip programs designed to address state curriculum objectives, and special events. The website offers visitor information, a history of the mansion, and information regarding the programs offered by the mansion.

South Pass City State Historic Site [WY]

Description

South Pass City has a variety of interesting and educational activities for visitors throughout the summer. When the presence of volunteer staff permits, not only can visitors walk through each of the 17 restored and exhibited original structures, they can enjoy ice-cold sarsaparillas and a game of billiards on a restored 1860s period table, as well as hear the ring of a hammer on steel when the blacksmith shapes hot iron. Each day, one can shop in the historic Smith-Sherlock General Store or pan for gold in the clear waters of Willow Creek. In the Interpretive Center, visitors can also learn about other gold-producing methods that have been used around South Pass City throughout its history.

A second website for the site can be found here.

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

Montpelier Mansion [MD]

Description

A fine example of Georgian architecture, popular in Maryland in the late 1700s, Montpelier Mansion sits on approximately 70 acres of beautiful parkland. Architectural and building construction details, as well as historical research, suggest that the house was constructed between 1781 and 1785. Major Thomas Snowden and his wife Anne, original owners of Montpelier Mansion, welcomed many distinguished guests into their home including George Washington and Abigail Adams. Today, the Mansion is operated as a house museum. Select rooms have been researched and furnished as they would have appeared from the end of the 18th century until 1830. A boxwood-lined pathway runs through the garden to the original 18th-century summer house.

The mansion offers tours, educational programs, lectures, and occasional educational and recreational events.

Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture [WA]

Description

The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture presents exhibits and information of cultural, historical, and/or artistic note. Collections include more than 68,000 artifacts from Europe, Asia, and both North and South America. Artifacts are of regional historical interest, works of art, and/or related to Native American populations. In addition to these exhibits, the museum operates the Campbell House which interprets daily life circa 1900.

The museum offers exhibits, period rooms, an activity area, activities to be completed throughout the museum, summer camps, thematic tours, traveling trunks, educator's workshops, public lectures, and a small restaurant. Wheelchairs are available. Advance registration of group visitation is appreciated, and appointments are necessary for research library and/or archival access. The website offers teacher resources and podcasts.

Due to financial necessity, the Campbell House is no longer open to the public. School groups may still schedule tours of the building.

Salisbury House and Gardens [IA]

Description

Salisbury House is modeled after a 15th-century English residence. The home was completed in 1928 for Carl Weeks, owner of Armand Cosmetics. It boasts a collection of more than 10,000 artifacts and objects from around the world—rare books, artwork, decorative arts, furnishings, and weaponry, among other categories.

The house offers tours and exhibits. Two weeks advance notice is required for groups of ten or more. A tour offered specifically for elementary school students is led by a costumed king or queen, who makes comparisons between the 16th-century, the 1920s, and modern day.