November 2010

Somerset Place is a representative state historic site offering a comprehensive and realistic view of 19th-century life on a large North Carolina plantation. Originally, this atypical plantation included more than 100,000 densely wooded, mainly swampy acres bordering the five-by-eight mile Lake Phelps, in present-day Washington County. During its 80 years as an active plantation (1785-1865), hundreds of acres were converted into high yielding fields of rice, corn, oats, wheat, beans, peas, and flax; sophisticated sawmills turned out thousands of feet of lumber. By 1865, Somerset Place was one of the upper South's largest plantations.

Museum L-A presents history in context by connecting the past to today. In the years following the closing of the textile mills and shoe shops, the cities of Lewiston and Auburn were feeling the pain. Through the recording of oral histories, the Museum preserves the memories of those who journeyed here from Canada, Ireland, Russia, and Greece. Visitors are invited to participate and preserve the heritage of the Lewiston-Auburn region by sharing stories and memories. Museum L-A is now playing an important part in the current economic and cultural revival – as an everlasting tribute to the manufacturing heritage of the area and its workers.

The sleepy village of Corolla on the Outer Banks of North Carolina began an unforeseen journey into the future in October, 1922. Northern Industrialist Edward Collings Knight, Jr. and his bride Marie Louise LeBel took up winter residency in their newly acquired Lighthouse Club and began construction of a 21,000 sq.ft. private residence. Its location on the Currituck Sound and the Atlantic Flyway perfectly satisfied the Knight's passion for waterfowl hunting. Three years and $385,000 later, Edward and Marie Louise moved into their "cottage" on the sound.

The Museum of the Cherokee Indian has just installed a completely new exhibit that combines computer generated imagery, special effects, and audio with an extensive artifact collection. This $3.5 million dollar project tells the story of the Cherokee and their ancestors from twelve thousand years ago through the present. Learn who the Cherokee are and why they are still here.

Visitors can now tour Pawnee Bill and his wife, May's, 14 room mansion, fully furnished with their original belongings. A herd of bison, longhorn, and several draft horses call the Pawnee Bill Ranch home and can often be found grazing in the drive through exhibit pasture.

The neighbors called it "Frew's Folly," though the reason remains obscure. Perhaps it was the chrome yellow trim, a shocking contrast to the plank and log style houses common to the backcountry. It is unknown when the house became known as Rosedale. Originally part of a 911 acre plantation, it was built in 1815 by Archibald Frew, who was a merchant, postmaster and tax collector. The house was occupied from the 1830s by D. T. Caldwell and his family. Dr. Caldwell, in addition to his medical practice, ran the plantation with the support of 2 slave families consisting of about 20 people. The gardens and grounds of Rosedale are a treasure in their own right and are perfect for a leisurely walk.

The Seay Mansion is a historical monument built upon dreams by Abraham Jefferson Seay in hopes that Kingfisher would be the new capitol of Oklahoma Territory (OT).

Governor Seay served as second Territorial Governor of Oklahoma from 1892-1893. He built the three-story mansion named "Horizon Hill" for approximately $11,000 on fifteen acres of land purchased for $637.50, just outside of Kingfisher, OT.

Furnished and preserved by the Oklahoma Historical Society, features include authentic artifacts of early farm life, outbuildings, cellar, equipment and farm machinery. Although the soddy remains in its original location a cover structure now protects it from the elements.

This site includes a regional history museum displaying artifacts from Charlotte, North Carolina, and the oldest house in Mecklenburg County, the 1774 Hezekiah Alexander Homesite.

The Charlotte Museum of History and Hezekiah Alexander Homesite comprise multiple venues on an eight-acre wooded campus in east Charlotte.

The oldest structure, and the reason for the museum’s location, is the Hezekiah Alexander Homesite, a 5,000- square foot rock house. The Hezekiah Alexander House is the oldest surviving house in Mecklenburg County. Listed on the National Register for Historic Places, it was built circa 1774 and still stands on its original site. The house is accompanied by a reproduction log kitchen and reconstructed two-story springhouse.

After the 1892 land run, Ferguson brought his family to Watonga, Oklahoma, where he established the "Watonga Republican". He remained the publisher of this newspaper until his death in 1921. Ferguson was governor from November 1901, until January 1906, longer than any other territorial governor.