Museum Guide News

Ghost Ranch, an Education & Retreat Center, is nestled amidst the breathtaking red and yellow cliffs of the Piedra Lumbre, and is where vibrant colors dance to life, and the intersection of history and spirituality is discovered. From captivating archaeological sites to invigorating outdoor activities like hiking and horseback riding, Ghost Ranch provides a sanctuary for exploration, rejuvenation, and the nurturing of one’s inner self. With a diverse and storied past, which encompasses the majestic era of dinosaurs and the artistic presence of icons like Georgia O’Keeffe, Ghost Ranch warmly welcomes individuals from all corners of the world who seek inspiration, connection, and a profound sense of wonder within its transformative embrace. At Ghost Ranch, we delve into the world of Georgia O’Keeffe, the visionary artist who found solace and inspiration in this captivating landscape of New Mexico. With its vivid landscapes and iconic landmarks, Ghost Ranch provided O’Keeffe with the freedom to paint what she saw and felt. Ghost Ranch is host to two museums, the Ruth Hall Museum of Paleontology and the Florence Hawley Ellis Museum of Anthropology, in addition to the Ghost Ranch Library. The Museums of Ghost Ranch are dedicated to advancing research, education and public engagement in Anthropology, Archaeology and Paleontology. Our Ghost Ranch Library is always open. Come explore the past and ponder the future with us. Did you know you can take a new tour – Ghost Ranch Museums and Landscape Tour – that combines Georgia O’Keeffe, dinosaurs, and Native American arts and culture? The Ranch also has a variety of accommodations from guest rooms, suites to camping! We also offer daily meals for purchase! So, come and embark on a transformative journey through the remarkable tapestry of Ghost Ranch’s past and unlock your own creative potential amidst the awe-inspiring 21,000 acres of this Education & Retreat Center. Check us out line today! https://www.ghostranch.org/      

Marine Corps Air Facility Walnut Ridge: An 80-Year Legacy In the fall of 1944, Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, became home to the Marine Corps Air Facility (MCAF) after the U.S. Navy took control of the Walnut Ridge Army Air Field. Situated inland for protection from hurricane season, it was ideal for training Marines on SBD-5 Dauntless dive bombers and FG-1D Corsair fighters. VMF-513 and VMF-514 squadrons trained here, preparing for combat in the Pacific. Life at the facility quickly grew into a close-knit community. On October 6, 1944, the first child was born on base—a son to Lt. Richard D. Moore II and his wife. By November, MCAF Walnut Ridge expanded to include thousands of acres for operations, though not without challenges. The War and Navy Departments filed a complaint over high utility rates, an issue that would echo other bases’ struggles across the U.S. Meanwhile, surplus military aircraft from all over began arriving at Walnut Ridge for storage. The first recorded arrival was a B-17 bomber in November, marking Walnut Ridge as a key site for storing and managing surplus planes, a role it would continue post-war. In March 1945, the facility was briefly re-purposed as a POW camp to support local agricultural labor needs. German prisoners worked on nearby farms, symbolizing the shifting demands of wartime support. By summer, MCAF Walnut Ridge was officially decommissioned, transitioning to storage and salvage operations under the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) to handle the surplus military property. Though active for only a brief period, MCAF Walnut Ridge played a crucial role in Marine Corps history and the larger war effort. Now, 80 years later, its legacy continues to be celebrated as a pivotal chapter in both military and local history. Come visit the Wings of Honor Museum - we hope to see you soon!  https://www.wingsofhonor.org/

General Lew Wallace’s accomplishments stretch much further than his 77 years. A Major General in the Union Army who led his troops in the decisive Civil War battles of Donelson, Shiloh, and Monocacy; was a military judge in the trials of the Lincoln Conspirators and Commander Wirz of Andersonville Prison; ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. A brilliant author, orator, artist, inventor, and musician, General Wallace etched his place indelibly in the annals of American history. But it was his masterwork, the epic religious novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1880), that gained General Wallace his highest accolades and cemented his reputation in literary history. Ben-Hur became the best-selling novel of the nineteenth century. The novel the basis of several dramatizations, including the 1959 Academy Award®-winning motion picture starring Charlton Heston. Today, the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum has faithfully preserved General Wallace’s personal memorabilia in the Study that he designed and built in 1895–on the same site where Ben-Hur was penned. Each year, the Museum presents educational and entertaining programs for all ages that demonstrate the qualities of leadership, ingenuity, exploration and character that General Wallace embodied throughout his life. Come for a visit year-round and experience all the legacy that is General Lew Wallace and his importance to our American History! https://www.ben-hur.com/  

The Sandy Historical Society Museums location was built on the exact site of the famous Barlow Road, which was the last leg of the Oregon Trail that brought thousands of pioneers in covered wagons over the Cascade Mountains to Western Oregon from the mid 1840s until the 1870s. The museums carefully curated exhibits conjure a history and peoples who endured hardship and travail to help bring civilization to our piece of Oregon Territory. The museum's two floors of exhibit space are devoted to the geography, the pioneers and settlers, and their role in the settling of the West. The main exhibit hall showcases the role of geography in influencing the immigrants to stay in this area rather than push towards the Columbia River. The exhibit hall includes a diorama, video, logging equipment and an excellent collection of photographs of the logging industry, which was the heart of the Sandy economy. From the kitchen to the parlor, the barnyard to the local shops, the displays in the top floor gallery (accessible by elevator) are meant to be a look back in time. The exhibits include a good selection of home goods that were at the core of home life - cast iron pots, kitchen implements and more. There is also the museum's Jonsrud Library with relevant history volumes and the family histories of Sandy-area families who have submitted them. The family histories also include photographs and obituaries that volunteers have contributed to the paper history. The Museum also has meeting facilities for rent, a visitor center, and a gift shop. Where there is a large variety of items from the area: souvenirs, hats, t-shirts and logo items. You are sure to find something to take home! Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 4PM. Sunday & Monday Closed Come visit us soon, as a visit to the Sandy Historical Society Museum is like stepping back in time! https://www.sandyhistory.com/museum  

Kingfield, Maine is the home of The Stanley Museum, dedicated to preserving the Stanley family history of art, photography, and steam car automobiles. The building was originally designed in 1903 by the Kingfield-born identical twin brothers Francis Edgar and Freelan Oscar, and was known as the Stanley School through 1980. Later, when the aging school faced demolition, the townspeople with eventual founder and first director Sue Davis, organized to save the building. Raymond Stanley, son of Francis Edgar, became an ardent member friend and supporter, donating his family collection of photos, artifacts, and papers, as well as his great personal knowledge. More museum backers and steam car owners joined in, membership grew, and the museum's first newsletter was printed in 1983. The Stanley family achievements include portraitures, the brothers dry-plate formula for photography, and of course the Stanly steam automobile, known for its power and reliability. In 1899, Mr. and Mrs. F.O. Stanley made the first automobile ascent of Mt. Washington. More than 10,000- to 11,000 cars would later be produced under the Stanley name, through 1924. Violins also figure prominently in Stanley history. with the twins lifelong interest in music and wood carving. When the steam car business ended in 1924, surviving twin Freelan joined nephew Carlton Stanley in violin making until his death in 1940; Carlton carried on until 1954. The twins sister Chansonetta, with her own innate artistic abilities, learned photography from her brothers, and her enduring images and hand-colored glass plate slides captured the rural scenes that were beginning to disappear. And Chansonetta's daughter Dorothy, the twins niece, became a highly regarded painter with her own passion for vanishing country life. The Stanley Museum is committed to preserving the Stanley family achievements and vision. We are located at 40 School St. in Kingfield, ME 04947. 207-265-2729 Our hours:  April – May (Tuesday - Friday 11-4) and June – October (Tuesday - Sunday 11-4), and November - December, (Tuesday - Friday 11- 4).  https://www.stanleymuseum.org/

Albacore Park, a nonprofit maritime museum and National Historic Landmark Site in Portsmouth, New Hampshire that famously offers walk-through tours of the decommissioned submarine, USS Albacore (AGSS-569), is currently undergoing its very first building expansion—a 1,500 square foot extension to its existing visitor center—since the museum originally opened in 1986. In support of this expansion, Albacore Park will be hosting a Gala dinner fundraiser on Saturday, October 26th, 2024 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. The Gala will be held at Atlantic Grill (located at 5 Pioneer Road, Rye, New Hampshire 03870) and will offer hors d'oeuvres, a sit-down dinner, a silent auction featuring a dazzling array of items generously donated by various local businesses, organizations, and artists on the Seacoast, and a very special guest speaker—Dr. Ali (Al) Naqvi, CEO and Professor from the American Institute of Artificial Intelligence. The USS Albacore’s motto, “Forerunner of the Future” represents the collaboration between science and technology that has always driven America forward. Dr. Al Naqvi is a pioneering leader in Artificial Intelligence whose mission is to responsibly revolutionize AI, while guiding governments, companies, and professionals through AI adoption. At the Albacore Park Gala, he will give an introduction to what AI really is and what it means in the context of the future, reminding us that the USS Albacore is a symbol of technological advancement and a model for how we should approach the development and use of AI. Tickets for the Albacore Park Gala are on sale now and can be purchased online by visiting AP2024.eventbrite.com. Guests will be asked to make their choice of entree upon ticket purchase. If you’re unable to attend this event but would still like to donate to Albacore Park’s expansion project, please visit them online at ussalbacore.org/donate.  

Carillon Historical Park is a 65-acre open-air history museum that serves as the main campus for Dayton History, with over 30 buildings to visit. We share the amazing stories of how Dayton changed the world! The Historical Park is in existence due to the generosity of Colonel Edward Andrew Deeds (1874–1960) and Edith Walton Deeds (1869–1947). In the 1930s, while traveling in Bruges, Belgium, Edith, an accomplished musician, found inspiration in magnificent carillon music, and she dreamed of sharing this music with the people of Dayton. Edith’s dream became reality through the construction of Deeds Carillon—her most visible legacy to the community she loved. In 1950, Carillon Historical Park’s Museum complex opened with the purpose of showcasing the region’s industrial innovations, transportation achievements, and Dayton’s contributions to world progress. Since construction first began on Deeds Carillon in 1940, the dreams of Edith and Edward Deeds have evolved into a beautiful 65-acre campus—designed by the Olmsted Brothers (the famed landscape architects responsible for Central Park)—containing dozens of museum buildings and countless artifacts. The Dayton region’s remarkable story continues to inspire visitors from around the world. Here are the Things to Do and See at the Park! Heritage Center of Dayton Manufacturing & Entrepreneurship - learn about innovation and invention! By the turn of the century, Dayton had more patents, per capita, than any U.S. city, and one-sixth of the nation’s corporate executives had spent a portion of their career at legendary Dayton company National Cash Register (NCR). Beginning in the mid-1800s, Dayton established itself as a center of manufacturing and entrepreneurship. Early Settlement Area Walk into life as an American settler! Consisting of Newcom Tavern (Dayton’s oldest standing building, ca. 1796), the William Morris House (ca. 1815), the Hetzel Summer Kitchen (1817), Newcom House (ca. 1841), the Watervliet Shaker Building (ca. 1819), and Locust Grove School No. 12 (1896), Carillon Historical Park’s Early Settlement Area recalls the early days of Dayton—a city that would grow and evolve to eventually change the world. The Wright Brothers National Museum, come discover Dayton’s rich past and see the original Wright Flyer III! Dayton is the birth place of the Wright brothers. Come and learn about them! The Print Shop Visit our fully-operational 1930s letterpress print shop! The Carillon Historical Park Print Shop is the nation’s only fully operational 1930s letterpress job shop in a museum. With authentic 1930s printing equipment and furnishings, the Print Shop harkens to a time when Dayton had 77 printing companies, ranging from one-person operations to McCall’s, which produced 4 million magazines daily, including Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, Reader’s Digest, Redbook, and Popular Science.The James F. Dicke Family Transportation Center Climb aboard one of the old trains in the world! The James F. Dicke Family Transportation Center houses the 1835 B&O #1, John Quincy Adams (the oldest existing American-built locomotive), a breathtaking Barney & Smith parlor railcar, an authentic Conestoga wagon, and many other exceptional transportation-themed artifacts. The Great 1913 Flood Exhibit  Learn about the Great 1913 Flood and how it shaped Dayton today! The Great 1913 Flood was Ohio’s worst natural disaster; waters reached 20 feet in low-lying areas and rushed up to 25 miles-per-hour. Gas lines broke, fires roared across town, and the Great Miami River swelled to more than a mile wide on either side. While over 1,400 horses died, the region only accounted for 361 human casualties, largely due to NCR’s massive relief efforts. History on the Hill & Moraine Trails Walk the trails and learn about the Moraine’s geological history! The History on the Hill Interpretive Center tells the story of the land on which Carillon Historical Park sits—its geological history, its settlement by the prehistoric Hopewell people, and its use as a segment of the Miami and Erie Canal. Featuring a number of exhilarating tunnel slides and the Archeology Adventure Zone, History on the Hill has become a popular spot for guests of all ages. Along with these historical exhibits and musuems the park is also filled with entertainment, special events and festivals year-round. Come and see the rich history of Dayton, OH and how it help shape our Country!  Open: Mon - Sat: 9:30am - 5:00pm, Sun: 12:00pm - 5:00pmhttps://www.daytonhistory.org/    

History awaits you in Blacksburg, VA at Historic Smithfield. This historic plantation, was originally part of the Preston family and today, it stands as a preserved historic site and museum, showcasing colonial-era architecture and offering insights into the lifestyle of early settlers.  Historic Smithfield seeks to inspire a new generation of Americans through the stories and values of the Preston Family and all those who lived at Smithfield. These values are liberty, courage, leadership, education, and justice. Smithfield began operating independently of the APVA (now Virginia Antiquities) in 2018 when the Smithfield-Preston Foundation took full ownership of the property. It partners with Virginia Tech, which holds an historic preservation easement on the manor house, out buildings, and historic landscape. With the help of the Preservation Virginia and the Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution, the property was restored and opened to the public in 1964. The rooms of the house are furnished with eighteenth and nineteenth century decorative arts furniture, portraits and other items, while the basement level Museum contains a variety of artifacts found on-site, including Native Anerican relics. The landscape includes an eighteenth-century kitchen garden tended by volunteers.  Historic Smithfield uses the complx histories of the regions indigenous peoples, the Preston Family and the enslaved community to inform our present and future! They are open for tours April through the first week in December! Come visit soon and experience this Anerican rich and complex history in Blacksburg, VA ! https://www.historicsmithfield.org/  

A Veterans Museum Dedicated to its History in Western Tennessee   The Veterans’ Museum (Halls, Tenn.) is located on the ramp of a WWII B-17 Training Base in West Tennessee, 65 miles north of Memphis. The Museum is dedicated to sharing the history of the base and its 770 crews. It also includes the effect this facility had on the area. In operation from 1942 through 1945, it churned out crews that were moved to the European Theatre with expediency. A recent outside exhibit has monuments memorializing the 115 crewmen who were killed in air crashes during training. The Museum has 12,080 sq. ft. for exhibits that, in addition to the B-17 Base, includes WWI through present day. Military vehicles inside and aircraft outside make this museum a popular place to visit. An A-7 Corsair II and a CH-46E Sea Knight Helicopter are the aircraft on display. The main feature it offers is private, personal tours by people who have travelled the journey of this museum development. The Museum Director is an 83-year-old, who remembers the war and how her family was influenced by the facility. On the weekend, one may have an 84-year-old docent, who remembers Halls during WWII, or a Vietnam Veteran who served on the Oriskany. A recent docent addition is the granddaughter of a WWII B-17 pilot who trained here. During the week, one will be guided by the granddaughter of a man who was on the Crash Crew on the Base. Mainly, we want to hear about you and your military experiences. When we do, those experiences become a part of what we share with future visitors. So, for a stroll down memory lane where you become a living addition, you should visit The Veterans’ Museum (www.dyaab.us)

The New Mexico Holocaust Museum and Gellert Center for Education uses lessons and personal stories of the Holocaust and other genocides to educate and inspire communities of upstanders. This unique museum experience reinforces the idea that every single one of us can make a positive difference. Located in the heart of downtown Albuquerque, the New Mexico Holocaust Museum provides a unique educational experience for visitors from around the world. The only museum of its type in the state, it opened in January of 2001. The institution was founded by Werner Gellert, a Holocaust survivor, his wife, Frankie, and Juliana K. Lerner, also a Holocaust survivor. Their intent was to show--along with the Holocaust--genocides and other instances of organized hate in the hopes that such atrocities might never happen again. We embody that mission through our exhibits which describe hate groups in America, propaganda, the Armenian genocide, the Chinese exclusion Act, colonization as it affected Native Americans, and the African-American experience. Our collections include a diverse array of unique artifacts, including the Flossenbürg Flag, a replica of the United States flag made by prisoners of the Flossenbürg concentration camp to welcome their liberators.  In keeping with our focus on education and outreach, we revived school visits which had been suspended due to COVID. Recently, nearly 200 middle and high school students were welcomed at the museum. After a guided tour of the exhibits, they had the incredible opportunity to hear the story of a local Holocaust survivor who was a hidden child. By studying the Holocaust, these youngsters learned about historical consequences of prejudice, hate, and intolerance, and how to combat these forces in their own lives. They learned what it means to be an upstander rather than a bystander. The New Mexico Holocaust Museum is a one-of-a-kind highlight to any Albuquerque vacation. Visit us to learn what you can do to prevent hate and intolerance and make our world a better, more equal place for all