November 2010

The war, which lasted only 16 weeks, ended the threat of Indian attacks in the area and opened the region to further settlement. Many notable men participated in the Black Hawk War including a young Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, and General Winfield Scott. Abraham Lincoln and his militia company arrived at the fort the day after the battle.

Today, the fort has been reconstructed and is open for self – guided tours. Special events throughout the year highlight many aspects of life in Jo Daviess County in 1832. Exhibits at the Interpretive Center, on the trail, and at the fort tell the story of the Sauk and Fox, the early settlers, and the conflict that became known as the Black Hawk War.

The Roger Williams National Memorial is located in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. Here you can discover the story of Roger Williams, the founder of Providence and an early proponent of Freedom of Religion. The Visitor Center features an exhibit as well as a short film. The grounds of the National Memorial also include a number of wayside exhibits. The Visitor Center also provides information about nearby sites and attractions, and is a great place to begin your exploration of downtown Providence.

The fort was used to house and train troops from the Civil War era until Vietnam. Its 82-acre riverside site makes it ideal for tourism and public events.

In 1840, at the point on the Detroit River closest to British Canada, the United States Army began surveying local farms for the placement of new artillery post. A five point star fort was slated to have the most up to date cannon capable of firing on the Canadian shore as well as ships sailing the river.

This new fort was Detroit’s third, the first built by the Americans. In 1701, shortly after Cadillac landed, the French began building Fort Detroit, which was surrendered to the British in 1760 during the French and Indian War. The British built a new fort several years later and name it Fort Lernoult, which they occupied until 1796 when the United States took over Detroit and renamed the battlement Fort Shelby.

The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA) is an organization devoted to furthering an appreciation of our national heritage through historic preservation, patriotic service, and educational projects. The NSCDA was founded in 1891 and exists today as an unincorporated association of 44 corporate state societies with over 15,000 members nationwide. The NSCDA’s motto is “Virtutes Majorum Filiae Conservant”; Daughters conserve the virtues of their ancestors.

The Albany Mounds date from the Middle Woodland (Hopewell) period (200 BCE-CE 300), older than either the Cahokia or Dickson Mounds of the Mississippian period. While still obtaining food largely through hunting and gathering, Woodland peoples began practicing basic horticulture of native plants. Woodland peoples are distinguished from earlier inhabitants by the development of pottery and the building of raised mounds near large villages for death and burial ceremonies.

The only Middle Woodland site owned by the state, Albany Mounds originally was made up of ninety-six burial mounds. At least thirty-nine of the mounds remain in good condition, while eight have been partially destroyed through erosion, excavation, or cultivation. Burial artifacts include non-local materials, indicating the existence of trading networks with Native Americans from other areas. The site of the nearby village remains privately owned. The mounds were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Historic White Pine Village opened in 1976 and is an historic village of over twenty-five buildings and sites of history dedicated to preserving and presenting Mason County's past. The buildings contain thousands of signs, artifacts and archives that help interpret their place in history. Historic White Pine Village has been visited by tens of thousands of visitors and most comment upon leaving about the beauty and nostalgia of the village and museums. A self-guided tour experience, Historic White Pine Village is an exciting, cultural and educational visit for individuals or the entire family.

The landscapes of Stones River National Battlefield have shaped and been shaped by the men and women who lived and died there. In addition to offering guided tours, Stones River National Battlefield manages a wealth of objects and information in its museum, archives and library collections. Park rangers and volunteers use these collections to prepare exhibits and interpretive programs. Researchers may request an appointment to use the park's collections.

Abraham Lincoln left his home of seventeen years to serve as president of a nation on the verge of civil war.

The Lincoln home has been restored to its 1860 appearance, revealing Lincoln as husband, father, and politician and is open to the public for guided tours.

This online collection includes a number of Lincoln's household items, which evoke the private side of Lincoln's public persona.

Presque Isle was named by the French during the fur trade era and means almost an island. The early explorers, traders, missionaries and settlers used this narrow peninsula to make a short portage between two natural bays on Lake Huron. Presque Isle harbor was an important natural harbor for fishing and commerce and was used by the many ships on the Lake for shelter and to load lumber. In 1840, a lighthouse (Old Presque Isle Lighthouse) was built at the harbor entrance as an aid to navigation. Thirty years later, in 1870, this lighthouse was replaced by a taller one (New Presque Isle Lighthouse) to provide better visibility for the ships. The 1870 Light Station was one mile to the north of the old light and contained a lighthouse 113 feet high with a third order Fresnel Lens and attached keeper's quarters. In 1890, a steam driven fog signal building was added as well as other out-buildings. This was a strategic location for navigation on the Lakes because it marked the turning point for ships headed towards the Straits of Mackinac or Lake Superior and the Sault locks.

Edsel & Eleanor Ford House tells the story of the home life of a prominent American family. The Fords were cultural, social and economic leaders in an era of great optimism, as well as a turbulent time of economic depression and world war. They were nationally prominent and they owned more than one house, but Southeast Michigan was their home. Here they built their final residence along the shores of Lake St. Clair, at a place known locally as Gaukler Pointe. Their impressive yet unpretentious home is where they raised and nurtured their four children - Henry II, Benson, Josephine and William - in a safe and loving environment. It reflects their love of family as well as their mutual passion for art and quality design.

The house was designed by Albert Kahn to resemble a cluster of Cotswold village cottages, complete with stone roofs, vine-covered walls and lead-paned windows. Strolling through the thoughtfully decorated halls, visitors come face-to-face with a stunningly diverse collection of art, antiques and furniture that reveal the Fords' progressive and educated tastes in art and design.