United States Museums and Culture

    Seashore Trolley Museum, Northeast USA

  195 Log Cabin Road - Kennebunkport, ME            
Founded in 1939 with one open trolley car, No. 31 from the Biddeford & Saco Railroad Company. Over the years thousands of members have followed the founding fathers by helping the Museum grow to be the premier electric railway museum in the world. Today, our collection contains over 250 transit vehicles, most of them trolleys, from all over the United States, Canada, and many other countries. We are the oldest, and largest electric railway museum in the world.
The mission of the Museum is to present a living history of public transportation relevant to North American life through community-related educational programs. The Museum shall collect, restore, preserve, exhibit and demonstrate the operation of significant transit vehicles with emphasis upon traditional streetcar and interurban service, including rapid transit, trackless trolley and bus service with select world wide comparative representation. The Museum shall provide a repository for artifacts and information of an educational and historic nature relating to the origin and development of the transit industry and its contribution to modern society.
    Museum of Television & Radio, Northeast USA
  25 West 52nd Street - New York, NY           
Amidst the hustle and bustle of busy midtown Manhattan lays a tribute to the history of television and radio known as the Paley Center for Media (formerly known as The Museum of Television and Radio). Far from your typical museum, you will not find artifacts hidden behind glass enclosures or many “do not touch signs” here. Instead you will be delighted to find screening rooms, and a vast media collection from which you can choose an actual program and view it. Visitors are allowed to a selection of up to four programs per visit. There are also two, full-sized theatres which often feature public programs, so check the schedule and make sure you time your visit to catch one. This Manhattan museum also offers many family and educational programs. The “Re-Creating Radio Workshop”, teaches children (over 9) and adults to produce and re-create old time radio dramas, with the use of scripts, music and a variety of sound effects. This is a fun way for parents and children to experience media in the way that their grandparents used to enjoy the new world of multi-media. And if you remember the early days of broadcasting, come and reminisce the magic of your youthful imagination. The Paley Center really has something for everyone!
    Greenville Museum of Art, Southeast USA
  802 South Evans Street - Greenville, NC           
The original impetus for the formation of the present Greenville Museum of Art was the first Women's Club Arts Festival in 1935. The enthusiastic community support of this venture inspired the festival leaders to develop an initial momentum that resulted in the formation of a permanent art facility in 1939. Rachel Maxwell Moore contacted the Federal Art Project in Raleigh, which authorized the establishment of a Federal Art Project's Gallery in Greenville.
Presently the Museum exists as a local attraction to the citizens of Greenville and Pitt County, although visitors from across the state visit the Museum regularly. Gallery talks and openings, tours, art classes and its numerous outreach programs generate a continued interest in the Museum. Participants and visitors range in age from young to old. Annually over 3,000 children participate in programs offered by the Museum and over 12,000 people visit the Museum.
    Dallas Museum of Natural History, Southcentral USA
  3535 Grand Avenue - Fair Park - Dallas, TX             
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The mission of the Dallas Museum of Natural History is to further an understanding and appreciation of the natural world through collection-based research, education and exhibition programs; to further in particular an understanding of the biological diversity and natural history of Texas; and to preserve the collections for the enlightenment and enjoyment of future generations.
    Summerville-Dorchester Museum, Southeast USA
  100 East Doty Avenue - Summerville, SC           
The Summerville-Dorchester Museum is located in the former Summerville Police station. It is a tribute to the vision of our Board of Directors, members and volunteers; and is a successful example of recycling an old building into a useful community facility.
    The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Northeast USA
  600 Main St. - Hartford, CT             
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"We’re more than just the first public art institution in the United States. We were the first museum in America to begin collecting contemporary American art – resulting in our world renowned Hudson River School collection. We staged the first retrospective of Pablo Picasso in America; we were the first museum to both exhibit and purchase works by Surrealist artists – today almost every exhibition about Surrealism includes works borrowed from our collection. We were the first art museum to also have a theater – and we were the first to show Gertrude Stein’s Four Saints & 3 Acts – which we also produced."
    Ackland Art Museum, Southeast USA
  University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, NC            
The Ackland Art Museum was founded through the bequest of William Hayes Ackland (1855-1940) to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Ackland Trust provided the funds to construct the museum building, and that trust continues to provide for the purchase of works of art.
    The New Jersey Historical Society, Northeast USA
  52 Park Place - Newark, NJ           
The New Jersey Historical Society is a state-wide, private, non profit historical museum, library, and archives dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting the rich and intricate political, social, cultural and economic history of New Jersey to the broadest possible audiences. Founded in 1845, it is the oldest cultural institution in the state. Through exhibitions, publications, and programming, it examine what it means to live and work in New Jersey, what contributes to New Jersey's distinct identity, and the unique contributions New Jerseyans make to the region and the country.
    Center for Jewish History, Northeast USA
  15 West 16th Street - Manhattan - New York, NY           
The Center for Jewish History is home to the American Jewish Historical Society, the American Sephardi Federation, the Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum, and the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.
The collections at the Center constitute one of the most important resources for the documentation and exploration of the Jewish experience and include old and rare books, periodical collections, photos, memoirs, official decrees, personal letters, and contemporary publications about all aspects of Jewish identity. The art collections include posters, paintings, sculptures, archeological artifacts, historical textiles, and ceremonial objects.
    California State Military Museum, Southwest USA
  1119 Second Street - Sacramento, CA           
The California State Military Museum is located at 1119 Second Street in the Old Sacramento State Historical Park. It is only a few minutes walk from the State Capital, The California State Railroad Museum and several other fine museums, parks, and tourist attractions. The museum, opened by Governor Pete Wilson in 1991, is the official military museum and historical research center of the State of California. This was reinforced on 11 September 2002 when Governor Gray Davis signed legislation making the museum a permanent museum under the California State Military Department and providing permanent funding for the museum. Finally on 13 July 2004, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation to amend the Government Code to make the museum the state's official military museum.
    Wayne County Museum, Southeast USA
  116 N. William Street - Goldsboro, NC           
Located in the historic district of Goldsboro, the Wayne County Museum strives to educate and entertain people of all ages by offering varied and diverse exhibits. The aim of the museum is to collect, preserve, study, and exhibit objects illustrating the history, science and cultural heritage of Wayne County and Central Eastern North Carolina.
The Wayne County Museum was founded in 1986 when the Goldsboro Woman’s Club graciously donated its classical Jeffersonian style building to the Wayne County Historical Association. The building constructed in 1927, and the home of the U.S.O. in the 1940’s, is filled with the rich history of Wayne County. The museum officially opened in 1988 and sponsors several special exhibits each year.
    California African American Museum, Southwest USA
  600 State Drive - Los Angeles, CA            
The museum occupies a 44,000 square feet facility that includes 3 full-size exbition galleries, a theater gallery, a 14,000 square foot Sculputure Court, a conference center/special events room, an archive and research library, administrative offices, exibit design and artifact storage areas.
    San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Southwest USA
  151 Third Street - San Francisco, CA             
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As one of the world's most innovative museums of modern and contemporary art, SFMOMA has had an active Web presence for over nine years (a very long time, when measured in Internet time). During this period we have redesigned our site twice, always with the idea that a museum such as ours should continually strive to improve the ways in which it serves a diverse public. And, as our collective understanding of emerging digital technologies has increased, we felt that perhaps it was time to use the Web to explore our understanding of the museum itself.
    The History of Diving Museum, Southeast USA
  82990 Overseas Highway at MM 83 - Islamorada, FL           
The Florida Keys History of Diving Museum is a not-for-profit educational institution focused on the story of Man’s Quest to Explore Under the Sea.
The Museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, displaying and interpreting artifacts, antiques, books, documents, photographs and oral history relative to the History of Diving.
    Pima Air & Space Museum, Southwest USA
  6000 E. Valencia Rd. - Tucson, AZ           
Pima Air & Space Museum, where history takes flight, is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, and the largest non-government funded aviation museum. You'll see more than 275 aircraft and spacecraft including many of the most historically significant and technically advanced craft ever produced, both from the United States and throughout the world.
    Timken Museum of Art, Southwest USA
  1500 El Prado, Balboa Park - San Diego, CA            
Located in San Diego's beautiful Balboa Park, the Timken Museum of Art houses the world-class Putnam Foundation Collection of European old masters American art, and Russian icons.
Artworks in the collection range from 13th-century altarpieces through 18th-century portraits to 19th-century still lifes. Represented are the works of Dutch, Flemish, French, and Italian painters, including Rembrandt, Rubens, Petrus Christus, Fragonard, Jacques-Louis David, and Veronese, as well as American artists such as John Singleton Copley and Eastman Johnson.
Admission to the Timken Museum of Art is always free.
    Washington State Historical Society, Northwest USA
  1911 Pacific Avenue - Tacoma, WA            
    Oklahoma Historical Society, Southcentral USA
  2100 N. Lincoln Blvd - Oklahoma City, OK           
Mission: "To Preserve and Perpetuate the History of Oklahoma and its people by collecting, interpreting and disseminating knowledge of Oklahoma and the Southwest."
For over 100 years the Oklahoma Historical Society has strived to protect, chronicle and share the history of our great state. The Oklahoma Historical Society maintains over 20 museums & historic sites and five affiliates located throughout Oklahoma. Intriguing destinations including historic homes, military sites, and museums offer a unique glimpse into Oklahoma's past.
    Palmer Museum, Northwest USA
  723 S. Valley Way - Palmer, AK           
The Palmer Visitor Information Center is your contact point for questions and information on the Palmer area. Palmer is located in the scenic Matanuska River valley, with the Chugach and Talkeetna mountain ranges ringing the valley.
    Idaho Military History Museum, Northwest USA
  4748 Lindbergh St., Bld 924 - Boise, ID           
The Idaho Military History Museum has been established for the purpose of "preservation, display and interpretation of military history and artifacts that have a geographical tie to the history of the people and state of Idaho".
The Idaho Military History Museum was opened in 1995 by the Idaho Military Historical Society.
    Museum of Natural History, Southcentral USA
  On the campus of Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge, LA            
    Museum of Science and Industry, Midwest USA
  57th Street and Lake Shore Drive - Chicago, IL           
One of the largest science museums in the world, is home to more than 35,000 artifacts and nearly 14 acres of hands-on exhibits designed to spark scientific inquiry and creativity. We have welcomed more than 175 million guests in our 75 years, and our ongoing mission has been to inspire the inventive genius in all of them with world-class, permanent exhibits such the U-505 Submarine, the only German U-boat in the United States; or world-premiere temporary exhibits such as 2008's Smart Home: Green + Wired.
Even bigger than our mission is our vision, which is to inspire and motivate our children to achieve their full potential in the fields of science, technology, engineering and medicine. In addition to our fun and interactive exhibits, the Museum's Center for the Advancement of Science Education is continually developing and facilitating student learning labs, after-school science clubs, teen volunteer programs, teacher development classes and community outreach—all ways in which the Museum's seek to make science come alive for children of all ages.
    Skagway Museum, Northwest USA
  700 Spring St. - Skagway, AK           
The Skagway Museum contains a fine collection of gold-rush artifacts and other items reflecting Skagway's colorful history.
    Confederate Memorial Hall Museum, Southcentral USA
  929 Camp St. - New Orleans, LA           
Confederate veterans of Louisiana founded Memorial Hall, also known as the Confederate Museum, in New Orleans in 1891 as a repository for their memorabilia from the War Between the States. These veterans and their families have donated more than 90% of the artifacts preserved and now exhibited in Memorial Hall. Ninety thousand of their war-related documents are housed on permanent loan at Tulane University and are available for research purposes. Thanks to the foresight of these men, their valuable relics and stories have been preserved for more than a century in our historic museum.
    Illinois Railway Museum, Midwest USA
  7000 Olson Road - Union, IL           
All of the buildings, track, locomotives and cars were assembled here at Union on what was once farmland. Our main line trackage was laid on the vacant right-of-way of the Elgin & Belvidere Electric railway. Why would rational adults freely contribute so much of their time and treasure to creating this repository of railroad history?
To answer this question, we must remember that at one time in our nation's past the railroad industry was the largest private employer. With so many families supported by one enterprise, the widespread interest in that industry is understandable....manifesting itself in special interest groups devoted to various activities such as taking railroad pictures or publishing books on railroads, building railroad models or just "riding the rails," The Illinois Railway Museum is probably the ultimate railroad historian special interest group. Originally formed to preserve one important piece of rolling stock, it has evolved into an educational and historic preservation organization recreating possibly the largest operating demonstration railroad showcase on the North American continent.
    Alaska Museum of Natural History, Northwest USA
  11723 Old Glenn Hwy. - Eagle River, AK           
The non-profit Alaska Museum of Natural History fills a special need for science education in Alaska. No other organization in the state educates exclusively on Alaska's unique geological, cultural, and ecological history. In 1989, two University of Alaska, Anchorage professors began a collaborative effort to establish a natural history museum. The museum opened in Eagle River, Alaska in May of 1994 and in addition to displaying exciting natural science exhibits has provided regular science education classes for school-aged children and adults.
    Dallas Firefighters Museum, Southcentral USA
  3801 Parry Avenue - Dallas, TX           
The station was built in 1907 and originally was the home to Hook and Ladder Company No. 3. The Museum boasts a fantastic collection of fire apparatus including “Old Tige”, an 1884 horse-drawn steam pumper named after then mayor W.L. Cabell. Other apparatus include some of the first motorized engines that were used by the Dallas Fire Department. Children can indulge their fascination with firefighters by climbing on a 1951 Fire engine, pulling on their helmet, and pretending they are on their way to “save the day”. There is over 100 years of firefighting history through a collection of extinguishers, helmets, tools, uniforms, etc… While you are there, listen to the sounds of present day firefighters responding to alarms and serving the citizens of Dallas
    Indiana Medical History Museum, Midwest USA
  3045 West Vermont St. - Indianapolis, IN           
Located in the Old Pathology Building on the grounds of the former Central State Hospital on the near westside of Indianapolis. The museum represents the beginning of scientific psychiatry and modern medicine while the building itself is the oldest surviving pathology facility in the nation and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The museum maintains a collection of scientific artifacts from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in a completely authentic setting. Constructed in 1895 and inaugurated in 1896, the nineteen-room Pathological Department Building, as it was then called, is equipped with three clinical laboratories, a photography lab, teaching amphitheatre, autopsy room, and library.
    Museum of Natural History, Midwest USA
  1109 Geddes Avenue - Ann Arbor, MI            
The Exhibit Museum of Natural History is a dynamic, evolving organization committed to promoting the understanding and appreciation of the natural world and our place in it. We accomplish this through creative educational programs and exhibits for the benefit of the University community, school groups, and the general public. The Museum provides a window onto the research in Natural Sciences conducted at the University of Michigan.
Approximately 20,000 school children visit the Museum annually. Most students participate in guided tours and educational programs. The Museum uses inquiry-based styles of teaching, in which children are invited to look, touch, and question. Tours are led by a corps of 50-60 University student docents extensively trained by Museum staff.
    Milwaukee Art Museum, Midwest USA
  700 N. Art Museum Drive - Milwaukee, WI           
Four floors of over forty galleries of art are rotated regularly with works from antiquity to the present in the Museum's far-reaching Collection. Included in the Collection are 15th- to 20th-century European and 17th- to 20th-century American paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, decorative arts, photographs, and folk and self-taught art. Among the best in the nation are the Museum’s holding of American decorative arts, German Expressionism, folk and Haitian art, and American art after 1960. The Museum also holds one of the largest collections of works by Wisconsin native Georgia O’Keeffe.