Longfellow National Historic Site [MA]

Description

The Longfellow National Historic Site preserves the home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one of the world's foremost 19th century poets. The home is now open as a historic house museum, and is furnished with 19th century antique furniture.

The home offers guided tours and exhibits on the life and times of Henry Longfellow. The website offers a brief biography of Wadsworth, a history of the home, a virtual tour, and visitor information. In order to email the historic site, use the "contact us" link located on the left side of the webpage.

Geauga County Historical Society [OH]

Description

The Geauga County Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation of the historical heritage Geauga County. The Society's primary project in order to aid in the preservation of history is the Century Village Museum, which is a large living history site featuring 23 historic structures.

The society offers guided and self-guided tours of the Century Village Museum, educational tours of the village, special exhibitions, a research library, and a summer program. The website offers visitor information, a brief history of the society and village museum, and an events calendar.

Rye Historical Society and Square House Museum [NY]

Description

The Rye Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Rye, New York. To this end, the society operates the Square House Museum, located within a circa 1730 tavern, and the Knapp House Archives, housed in a circa 1670 residence. Collections include 8,000 artifacts ranging from vernacular items and costume to the decorative and fine arts. The archives boast more than 15,000 items. The Square House contains six period rooms which include recreations of a 19th-century bedroom, the village's 1904 council room, and an 18th-century tavern room.

The museum offers period rooms, exhibits, self-guided tours, guided tours, historic crafts, traveling trunks, bus tours, walking tours, hands-on history workshops, slide shows, and summer camp. The archives offer public access, exhibits, and historical gardens.

T.B. Ferguson Home [OK]

Description

The Ferguson Mansion was built in 1907. T.B. Ferguson was appointed to serve as Oklahoma's sixth territorial governor by President Theodore Roosevelt and governed from November 1901 until January 1906, longer than any other territorial governor. In 1927, the famous novelist Edna Ferber stayed in the Ferguson home where she found much of the material for her novel, Cimarron.

The home offers tours.

Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site [PA]

Description

The Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site preserves one of author Edgar Allan Poe's homes. The site presents information on Poe and his historical context and the influence of Poe's writings on other authors, including today's masters of horror in film and literature. Poe (1809-1849) is credited with creating the detective fiction genre, as well as being an early writer of American short stories. He is classified as a Romantic author; and his poetry, short stories, and novels lean toward the macabre. Famous works include "The Raven," "The Black Cat," "The Masque of the Red Death," "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," "The Tell-Tale Heart," and "Annabel Lee."

The site offers an 8-minute biographical audio-visual presentation, exhibits, period rooms, self-guided tours, guided tours, audio samples of famous actors narrating Poe and Poe's work set to music, and Junior Ranger activities. Reservations are required for all school groups. The website offers a teacher's handbook and additional educator resources.

Weir Farm National Historic Site [CT]

Description

The Weir Farm National Historic Site is located in the summer retreat of famed artist J. Alden Weir. After several summers at the home, Weir transformed the location into a creative refuge for friends and fellow artists. Today, the home stands as a historic house museum, and also offers Weir Farm art center, which is an educational center and art museum.

The home offers guided tours, educational programs, workshops, field trip programs, and a gallery of artwork. The website offers a history of the home, visitor information, suggested readings for students, curriculum guides, and a calendar of events. In order to contact the website via email, use the "contact us" link located on the left side of the webpage.

William H. Seward House [NY]

Description

The William H. Seward House preserves four generations (1816-1951) of artifacts of daily life; and presents the life of William H. Seward (1801-1872), Governor of New York, U.S. Senator, Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, abolitionist, and organizer of the Republican Party. Seward was involved in the writing process of, and signed, the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. The 1816 structure itself is Federal and Tuscan in style.

The house offers period rooms, tours, and brown bag lectures. Advance notification is required for groups of 10 or more.

Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial [PA]

Description

The Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial consists of the home of the Polish head engineer of the United States' Continental Army, Thaddeus Kosciuszko (1746-1817). The majority of the house is dedicated to exhibits concerning Kosciuzko's life and career. However, one room has been furnished in period style. Visitors to the home during Kosciuzko's life included Benjamin Rush, Thomas Jefferson, and Chief Little Turtle; and in his will, Kosciuszko asked that his property in the United States be sold to purchase the freedom and education of slaves.

The memorial offers an eight-minute introductory audio-visual program, exhibits, a period room traveling trunks, and Junior Ranger activities.

Pawnee Bill Ranch [OK]

Description

The Ranch was once the showplace of the world renowned Wild West Show entertainer, Gordon W. "Pawnee Bill" Lillie. Visitors can tour Pawnee Bill and his wife, May's, 14-room mansion, fully furnished with their original belongings. Completed in 1910, the home is filled with Lillie family memorabilia, photographs, original artwork, and more. The Ranch property also houses a museum with exhibits related to Pawnee Bill, the Wild West Shows, and the Pawnees. The 500-acre grounds include the original Ranch blacksmith shop, a 1903 log cabin, a large barn built in 1926 and an Indian Flower Shrine. The Ranch also recreates Pawnee Bill's Original Wild West Show the last three Saturdays in June every year.

The ranch offers exhibits, tours, performances, and educational and recreational events and programs.