Larz Anderson Auto Museum [MA]

Description

The Larz Anderson Auto Museum seeks to increase interest in collector cars and foster community among those interested in antique vehicles. The museum collection includes at least 14 vehicles from before 1930, including an 1899 Winton. Interpretation focuses on the ways in which automobile technology has altered U.S. culture.

The museum offers exhibits, lawn events, guided tours, customizable guided group tours, lesson plans, a play zone, and educational programs for students.

Ohio Statehouse Education and Visitors Center

Description

The Statehouse Education and Visitors Center interprets the state capitol's history and significance for the public, and guides school groups in their study of government, citizenship, and Ohio history. The Statehouse complex represents one of America's finest examples of Greek Revival civic architecture, and is one of the oldest working statehouses in the United States. Visitors can see where and how the vital business of state government is conducted, view architectural and artistic treasures, and learn more about Ohio through guided tours, educational displays, and interactive touch-screen kiosks.

A second site, specifically for the Statehouse, can be found here.

The center offers exhibits, tours, educational programs, and educational and recreational events.

National Road / Zane Grey Museum [OH]

Description

This modern museum has three major exhibit areas. First is the National Road, early America's busiest land artery to the West. The National Road stretched from Cumberland, MD, to Vandalia, IL. Begun in 1806, the "Main Street of America" was the only significant land link between east coast and western frontier in the early 19th century. A 136-foot diorama of the National Road plus many objects illustrates this theme. Second is Zane Grey, the "Father of the Adult Western." The Zanesville author wrote more than 80 books. His study is recreated plus many manuscripts and other memorabilia are displayed. Finally, a central portion of the museum is devoted to Ohio art pottery.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, and educational programs.

Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site [MO]

Description

The Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site preserves the cabin in which Samuel Clemens (1835-1910), widely known as Mark Twain, was born. The site presents Twain's life. Exhibit highlights include furniture which once belonged to Twain; first editions of his works; and a handwritten manuscript of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Another of Twain's definitive works is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. As an author, Clemens is lauded for his sharp observational skills and intense satire.

The site offers exhibits and a public reading room.

Yager Museum of Art & Culture [NY]

Description

The Yager Museum of Art & Culture is located on the first floor of Yager Hall at Hartwick College. While the museum offers exhibits and displays focusing on art and local culture, the museum's primary focus is on its role as an on-campus center for experiential learning. Students can work closely with staff to research collections and plan exhibits. The museum also has impressive educational programs for local children.

The museum offers guided tours and field trip programs. The website offers visitor information and a history of the museum.

Cloverdale Historical Society and Museum [CA]

Description

The Cloverdale Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the historical heritage of Cloverdale, CA, and the surrounding area. The society is headquartered in the Gould-Shaw House, which also serves as a historic house museum and houses the society's historic archives.

The society offers exhibits and guided tours of the Gould-Shaw House, as well as research resources and special events. The website offers visitor information, a history of the Gould-Shaw House, a history of Cloverdale, and a calendar of events.

Ohio Historical Center

Description

The Ohio Historical Center is the headquarters of the Ohio Historical Society and functions as a museum. It provides many exhibits focusing on Ohio's history and natural surroundings.

The Center provides a variety of field trips and educational programs that meet Ohio educational standards of learning. Hands-on "history-to-go" kits and displays are available for rental. Educational outreach programs can also be arranged for in-school education.

Piqua Historical Area [OH]

Description

The Piqua Historical Area State Memorial celebrates 2,000 years of Ohio's rich history from prehistoric Indians to Ohio's canal era. The focal point of the peaceful 200-acre park is John Johnston—farmer, public official, and United States Indian Agent for western Ohio from 1812 to 1829. Today, visitors enjoy the home and farm of this most extraordinary man much as it appeared in 1829. Preserved and furnished structures include Johnston's two-story mixed Dutch Colonial/Georgian style farmhouse, a unique two-story spring house, and a cider house. Costumed interpreters and craft demonstrators provide farm tours and display activities in the summer kitchen and fruit kiln areas. A mammoth double-penned log barn, constructed in 1808, is reputed to be the oldest and largest of its type in Ohio, and is still in use on the grounds. Nearby a ring-shaped mound earthwork discovered and preserved by Johnston was constructed by people of the Adena culture over 2,000 years ago. Not far from Johnston's farm is a modern museum, which was constructed to resemble the blockhouse style of Fort Piqua, General Anthony Wayne's 18th-century supply post. In 2001 the museum was renovated with updated exhibits that trace the story of the Eastern Woodland Indians of Ohio and the newly acquired Fort Pickawillany site. Artifacts from Ohio's canal era are also on exhibit. The patio portion of the museum building allows visitors the opportunity to view a restored mile-long section of the Miami and Erie Canal, which extended the length of Ohio from Toledo to Cincinnati. An array of outdoor interpretive panels explore Johnston's later role as a state canal commissioner and provide an introduction to how canals helped in the development and expansion of frontier Ohio. Afterwards, guests may enjoy a ride aboard the General Harrison of Piqua, a replica 70-foot-long mixed cargo canal boat often used for transportation of passengers and cargo in the 19th century. Costumed guides direct the mule-drawn boat to provide an authentic and memorable experience for all.

The site offers exhibits; tours; demonstrations; boat rides; and recreational and educational events, including living history events.

Ohio River Museum

Description

Marietta, Ohio is proud of its riverboat heritage and at the Ohio River Museum visitors can discover the golden age of the steamboat, and learn more about the ecology of the Ohio River system. The Ohio River Museum consists of three exhibit buildings, the first of which houses displays depicting the origins and natural history of the Ohio River. The history of the steamboat on the Ohio River system is featured in the second building, along with a video presentation on river steamboats. The last building features displays about boat building, mussels in the Ohio River system, and tool sand equipment from the steamboat era. Outside the museum, on the Muskingum River, visitors can take an escorted tour of the W.P. Snyder Jr.—the last intact steam-powered "pool-type" stern-wheeled towboat in the United States. Other exhibits on the museum grounds include the pilothouse from the steamboat Tell City as well as a full-scale reproduction of a flatboat from Ohio's early settlement period. Also on site are a series of poles showing the heights of some of the worst floods to hit the area in its recorded history: the 1884 flood at 54.5 feet, the 1898 flood at 49.6 feet, the 1907 flood at 52.1 feet, the flood of 1913 at 60.3 feet, and the 1937 flood at 55 feet.

The museum offers exhibits, a short film, tours, and educational programs.

Iron Mission State Park Museum [UT]

Description

Iron Mission State Park Museum tells the story of development in Iron County when in the 1850s, Brigham Young sent Mormon missionaries here to mine and process iron. Museum displays include horse-drawn vehicles used from 1850 to 1920 and a collection of pioneer artifacts. An iron industry exhibit features the only known remaining artifact from the original foundry—the town bell. In addition to the permanent collections, changing special exhibits highlight artists from the local region, as well as rarely seen artifacts from the museum's collections. Other items of interest include several historic cabins, a large collection of horse-drawn farm equipment, and a replicated pioneer household. In addition, Iron Mission now manages the historic ruins of Old Iron Town, an iron foundry west of Cedar City that operated in the 1860s—1870s.

The site offers exhibits, tours, and occasional recreational and educational events.