November 2010

Visitors to this site, established in 1976 as a recreation of 18th and 19th century rural life in the Midwest, can see the Crossroads Village and historic farms, the one room school house and historic breeds of animals, or observe artisan handicrafts and food preperation methods, all from that era.

Montana's Museum collects, preserves, and interprets fine art, historical, archaeological, and ethnological artifacts that pertain to Montana and its adjoining geographic region.

Besides caring for the Society's museum collections, program staff conduct research, produce exhibits - long-term exhibits, special exhibits, archived exhibits, and traveling exhibits, sponsor public programs, answer reference requests from the public, and provide technical assistance to other museums and historical societies. One of the society's permanent exhibit, Montana Homeland, examines the lives of people born and raised in the western frontier state.

Completed in 1834, Fort Morgan was active during four wars — the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and World Wars I and II. The fort is most famous for its role in the Civil War Battle of Mobile Bay. Union Admiral David Farragut damned the torpedoes and went full speed ahead to win the battle. The massive fort contains more than 40 million bricks and pays tribute to the skilled masons, many of whom were enslaved African Americans.

Since 1834 Fort Morgan has stood as the guardian of Mobile Bay. The military site and National Historic Landmark is located 22 miles west of Gulf Shores. During the Civil War on August 5, 1864, Fort Morgan played a key role during the Battle of Mobile Bay before surrendering to Union forces after a two-week siege. Alabama's largest permanent military post between 1900 and 1923, the fort served during the Spanish-American War and World Wars I and II.

Salt River Bay is a living museum on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. It is a dynamic, tropical ecosystem with prehistoric and colonial-era archeological sites and ruins. It is home to some of the largest mango forests in the Virgin Islands as well as coral reefs and a submarine canyon. Visitors are invited to experience the beauty, sanctity and spirit of this site.

In 1813, people on America’s southwestern frontier were fearful. The Redstick faction of the Creek Indian Nation opposed growing U.S. influence in the area and had voted for war. However, Creeks living in the Tensaw area had intermarried with the European and American settlers and were close allies.

Early in the summer, local American militia and allied Creeks attacked a group of Redsticks at Burnt Corn Creek. Tensions grew and many families along the Tensaw, Alabama and Tombigbee rivers took refuge in quickly fortified sites. On this site, they built a stockade around Samuel Mim’s plantation. Later, volunteer troops from Mississippi helped enlarge it. But as weeks passed without an attack, the people at Fort Mims grew complacent.

Exhibits in this museum range in topic from the Berlin Airlift to the Korean War to air force uniforms, and there are several "First, Last or Only" aircraft from jet fighters to a WWII bomber complete with authentic nose art. Visitors can also climb inside the C-133, an airplane big enough to swallow three buses, use a flight simulator. Kids can "pilot" a mini-airplane to have their picture taken. Additionally, there are movies and guided tours available.

Salem, Massachusetts has looked to the sea since the community was founded in 1626, and the rich history of the city’s maritime trade and traditions are reflected in Salem Maritime’s wharves and historic buildings. Salem Maritime National Historic Site collects objects that relate to the buildings at Salem Maritime and the people who lived or worked in them, as well as books and manuscripts related to the history of Salem’s maritime trade.

The Waters House was built in three parts, the oldest dating to the mid-1790s. Basil Waters (1761-1844), who built the small brick section of the house and named the farm Pleasant Fields, had inherited 200 acres of land (in the area now known as Germantown) from his father, William Waters, of Brookeville, Maryland. Basil’s brothers, Zacariah, and William were also given land and established farms and homes nearby. A fourth brother, Ignatius, inherited the family home, Belmont, in Brookeville. Although many descendants of the Waters brothers still live in this area, only Basil’s house, Pleasant Fields, still stands.

The Germantown campus of the Historical Society is made up of the Waters House, a ca. 1790s farmhouse (with later additions), and several original outbuildings. The Waters House includes exhibit galleries, a research library, and a museum shop. The house is not furnished as a traditional historic house museum. Tours of the exhibits are self-guided; a walking tour, also self-guided, of the grounds is available.

The Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine offers an insider's look into the developments in medical science that occurred during the career of Dr. Edward E. Stonestreet. Built in 1852, this unique one-room Gothic Revival doctor's office features medical artifacts and implements that demonstrate the fascinating changes that occurred in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Over 100 of his artworks can be seen in the galleries, from heroic public monuments to expressive portrait reliefs, and the gold coins which changed the look of American coinage. Visitors may enjoy summer concerts, explore nature trails, or take a sculpture class.