North America Museums and Culture

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.

Feast your eyes on some of the rarest and most beautiful cars ever created at the San Diego Automotive Museum.

Museum Village was the vision of Roscoe William Smith, an electrical engineer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and collector who contributed to his native Orange County in many ways during his 99 years. Roscoe made his fortune as founder of the Orange and Rockland electric company in 1905. The wealth he generated from his successful company and investments allowed him to give back to the community in many ways. Probably Mr. Smith's most cherished gift to the local community was Museum Village of Old Smith's Clove. Mr. Smith was passionate about American history and was an avid collector of Americana. His collection varied widely, from textiles and porcelain items to horse-drawn carriages. His main interest, was in craft tools and mechanical devices: their invention, adaptation and development which he realized were slowly disappearing.

Roedde House is a restored late [1893]-Victorian home, in the heart of Vancouver's "West End". Roedde House can be rented by the hour for weddings, receptions, meetings, films, photo shoots, etc. Its elegant interior lends turn-of-the-century charm to any event.

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.

The Godwin-Ternbach Museum is a professional not-for-profit art institution situated on the Flushing, Queens campus of Queens College, the City University of New York. A comprehensive permanent collection of 3,500 objects from all cultures, ranging from the ancient world to the present day, is used to organize exhibitions and programs as cultural and educational vehicles for students, faculty and public audiences alike. Presentations of contemporary and historical significance alternate between showcases of the collection and special exhibitions. Founded in 1981 by art historian Frances Godwin and noted art restorer Joseph Ternbach, the Museum's mission has grown with the changing times from a teaching museum for the benefit of art students to a public museum that reaches out beyond the college campus.

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.

The Society is dedicated to presenting exhibitions and public programs, and fostering research that reveal the dynamism of history and its influence on the world of today. Founded in 1804, its holdings cover four centuries of American history, and include one of the world’s greatest collections of historical artifacts, American art and other materials documenting the history of the United States as seen through the prism of New York City and State.
Forty thousand of the Society’s most treasured pieces are on permanent display in the Henry Luce III Center for the Study of American Culture, and a self-guided audio tour brings these artifacts to life with anecdotes and stories. Our collections provide the foundation for exploration of the nation’s richly layered past and support the Society’s mission to provide a forum for debate and examination of issues surrounding the making and meaning of history.

The mission of the National Firearms Museum is to develop and manage educational programs that promote appreciation, understanding, and participation in gun collecting, and the preservation of the heritage of firearms through collection, conservation, exhibition and research as part of a nationally recognized museum in America.

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.

Insectropolis is a fun and unique insect learning center that dazzles visitors of all ages. There is plenty to see and do here! Set within the architecture of a bug-themed city, our creative displays entertain guests as they learn about these fascinating creatures.

The mission of the Peabody Museum is to serve Yale University by advancing our understanding of earth’s history through geological, biological, and anthropological research, and by communicating the results of this research to the widest possible audience through publication, exhibition, and educational programs.
Fundamental to this mission is stewardship of the Museum’s rich collections, which provide a remarkable record of the history of the earth, its life, and its cultures. Conservation, augmentation and use of these collections become increasingly urgent as modern threats to the diversity of life and culture continue to intensify.

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

The Mission of the Union County Museum is: To discover, identify and collect the archives, and genealogical and historical materials which may help to establish and illustrate the history of Union County, South Carolina. To provide for the preservation of such material and for its accessibility, as far as may be feasible, to all who wish to examine or study it. To serve as a focal point for the dissemination of information regarding Union County, South Carolina and its history.

The Museum has four large floors devoted to the disciplines of art, history, natural history and science/technology. It houses both long-term exhibits and five changing exhibit galleries. On Oct. 29, 1988, the South Carolina State Museum opened its doors, bringing to the citizens of the Palmetto State the newest, and one of the finest, state museums in America. Since that day it has awed, delighted and enlightened millions of visitors. The State Museum has more than 70,000 artifacts in its collection, and it is still a very young institution. The State Museum has been voted Best Museum in the Midlands five years in a row by Columbia Metropolitan magazine, and was designated Best Museum of 2007 by the readers of the Free Times newspaper.

The Museum houses some 535,000 ethnographic and archaeological objects, many of which originate from the Northwest Coast of British Columbia. Massive totem poles, carved boxes, bowls, and feast dishes are featured in the Museum's Great Hall, while smaller (but no less magnificent) pieces in gold, silver, argillite, wood, ceramic, and other materials are exhibited elsewhere in the galleries.

The heart of a museum is its collection and Museum London is proud to house one of Canada's great art collections, and one of the most significant historical artifact collections in Ontario. Our art collection has more than 5,000 regional and Canadian works and our 25,000 artifacts reflect the history of the City of London as an important urban centre in Southwestern Ontario.
With every visit, you will find a reason to be inspired.

The Textile Museum of Canada is one of Toronto's most engaging visual arts organizations. With more than 12,000 objects from more than 200 countries and regions, the TMC's permanent collection celebrates cultural diversity and includes traditional fabrics, garments, carpets and related artifacts such as beadwork and basketry. The Museum offers a broad variety of exhibitions including themed shows based on our permanent collection and contemporary exhibitions of the work of Canadian and international artists.

Come visit the Ukrainian Museum of Canada in downtown Saskatoon, Saskatchewan!

The Firefighter Museum of Calgary's purpose is to acquire, restore, maintain and protect fire apparatus, pictures, equipment and memorabilia of the Fire Services' past.

The Manitoba Museum is the province’s largest heritage centre renowned for its combined human and natural heritage themes. The institution shares knowledge about Manitoba, the world and the universe through its collections, exhibitions, publications, on-site and outreach programs, Planetarium shows and Science Gallery exhibits.
The Museum’s collections reflect the heritage of Manitoba and other regions of the world. Eight interpretive galleries explore the history and environment of the province from its northern Arctic coast to its southern prairie grasslands. The Museum is noted for its Urban Gallery, which recreates Winnipeg in the 1920s, and the full-size replica ship Nonsuch, whose voyage in 1668 led to the founding of the Hudson’s Bay Company.

The goal of the The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Museum is to help Canadians to learn about their nation's military history, to be aware of the larger influence that the military has had on Canadian national history; and to appreciate the importance of the military to present-day Canada.

The Saskatchewan Railway Museum was founded in 1990 to fulfill the SRHA’s mission. The Museum is located on the Pike Lake Highway just west of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on seven acres at the intersection of mile 2.9 of the CN Rosetown Subdivision and Highway 60. The museum is governed by a volunteer board of directors and is open during the summer months from the May long weekend to the September long weekend and by appointment on other days.

Opened in June 1997 and officially recognized as a military museum by the Canadian Armed Forces, the Bagotville Air Defence Museum is the only museum in the Province of Quebec dedicated to the history of military aviation.
The mission of the museum is threefold: to preserve, to explain and to disseminate the military aeronautical heritage of Canada. The museum is structured around one major theme, namely the air defence of Canada, and three minor themes; the historical development of Base Bagotville, the history of military and civil aviation in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, and technological and aeronautical developments.

Conveniently located in downtown Whitehorse, the MacBride Museum is the place to start your Yukon adventure.

The mission of the Creative Kids Museum is “to provide a space for children and their families to have fun in an exciting environment where hands-on discovery enhances creativity and learning.”

A public art museum dedicated to the celebration of art. With vision, leadership and scholarship, we will engage and inspire diverse audiences through exhibition, interpretation and stewardship of the collection.

From its founding in 1880 the National Gallery of Canada has grown to become the largest visual arts museum in the country.
The Gallery's outstanding holdings of Canadian art are the direct result of its unwavering commitment to the acquisition of works by living Canadian artists, a commitment that can be traced back virtually to the foundation year of the institution. By now our collection of contemporary art is truly international.

"Two different accounts of the history of coal mining in County Durham are presented.
The first comes from The Victoria History of the Counties of England - Durham, published in three volumes in 1907. It contains a large section on the history of coal mining in the county. This work focuses on the detailed history and does not cover the social or practical side of the industry. We have reproduced the text up to the start of the nineteenth century.
The second comes from The History, Topography, and Directory of the County Palatine of Durham by Francis Whellan, second edition, published in 1894. Once again there is a large section of the history of coal mining in the county, however, it concentrates on the nineteenth century, but the major part covers the practical and the social side of mining during the nineteenth century.
The two works complement each other, and together present an overall history of the coal industry in County Durham. The history is nor complete without coverage of the twentieth century and the eventual demise of the industry - this topic is too large and complex to cover here and is best left to the many books on the subject. We do however, provide some information for the twentieth century in the individual pages on each colliery."

The old town quarter is characterized by its colonial age buildings. As most of the towns in Greenland, Sisimiut has been spared of large fires. Consequently, a great deal of the colony administration buildings has been preserved. The greater part of these buildings belongs to Sisimiut Museum...