United States Museums and Culture

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!

Founded in 1824 in Philadelphia, The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is one of the oldest historical societies in the United States and holds many national treasures. The Society's building, listed on the City of Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places, houses some 600,000 printed items and over 19 million manuscript and graphic items. The Society is one of the largest family history libraries in the nation, has preeminent printed collections on Pennsylvania and regional history, and offers superb manuscript collections renowned for their strength in 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century history. With the addition of the holdings of The Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies in 2002, the Society has become a chief center for the documentation and study of the ethnic communities and immigrant experiences shared by people whose American history began more recently-between the late nineteenth century and our own times. Together these holdings, old and new, make the Society one of the nation's most important special collections libraries-a center of historical documentation and study, education, and engagement.

A volunteer run, non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve Indiana's railroad history, educate the public in the history of the railroad, and provide our visitors with an opportunity to experience railroad travel as it used to be. We operate on 38 miles of track once known as the Indianapolis & Peru, and more recently, as the Nickel Plate Road.
The Museum and restoration facilities are located in Noblesville, Indiana, only 20 miles north of downtown Indianapolis. The Museum is located in Forest Park which is less than 1 mile north of State Route 32 on State Route 19, North and West of downtown Noblesville. Enter at the South entrance and follow the main road to the Museum.

Housed in a bizarre building that looks as if it's about to be destroyed by a wrecking ball, this eclectic museum has amongst its oddball treasures a lock of George Washinton's hair, a 27-room miniature carved wood castle and a host of the most amazing artifacts ever housed under one roof!

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.

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.

Are you a fan of cartoons? How about comic strips? If you love animated drawings from a variety of different genres and artists, you need to make a visit to the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art. This beautiful Manhattan museum emphasizes the very best in animation, ranging from political and editorial cartoons all the way up to state-of-the-art computer graphic design. Guests are given the opportunity to explore the artistic and cultural impact of these works in an environment that produces feelings of nostalgia and grandeur around every corner. Closed through the beginning of Summer 2012, the museum is set to feature some of the most unique comic art in their upcoming season. A featured attraction, scheduled with the upcoming movie, is a collection documenting the vast history of the Dark Knight. A history of Batman in Japan, a look at the different artists that contributed to the various comic books, and a selection of work that inspired Michael Uslan to produce the Batman film series are all available right here in New York City. Looking for a one-of-a-kind experience? Take the time to stop in and visit the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art.

The former Yellowstone Art Center opened in October of 1964 in a building that once housed the historic Yellowstone County Jail. In the earliest years, there were just three staff.

At the Baranov Museum you can discover the history of Kodiak, Alaska through a variety of permanent and temporary exhibits, educational programs, and special events.
Explore Kodiak's rich history, from Alutiiq culture and the Russian colonial period to the early American era, WWII and the present day. The Baranov Museum is located within Kodiak's 200-year-old National Historic Landmark building known as the Russian American Magazin, or the Erskine House.

The purpose of the Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center, Inc., an educational institution of the Haines Borough, is committed to collecting, preserving and interpreting through history, art and unique blending of diverse cultures within the Chilkat Valley. The Sheldon Museum's presentation of artifacts, clan trust property, and memorabilia enhances quality of life for area residents and visitors; informs researchers and historians; inspires artists and creative writers; and encourages community pride through permanent, temporary, and traveling exhibits, and through a variety of programs for schools and the public.

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.

EdVenture’s mission is to inspire children to experience the joy of learning and to create new generations of lifelong learners.

The American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum is much more than a museum. It's a sight-and-sound, hands-on, window-seat look at the world of flight. It's an adventure offering you a chance to hear, see, touch and be a part of the exciting aviation industry. Best of all, it's a great place for the entire family - or any group - to enjoy, time and time again.
The C.R. Smith Museum is one of the few museums in the world dedicated solely to commercial aviation. The museum opened in July 1993 and is dedicated to past and present American Airlines employees and C.R. Smith, longtime American Airlines president and aviation pioneer.

Located at the corner of Fifth Street and Home Avenue, the Hartsville Museum and the Sculpture Courtyard anchor the cultural plaza in downtown Hartsville, SC. The museum, founded in 1980, is a local history museum. Housed in a 1930’s Post Office Building, the museum has kept many of the unique architectural features of the building. The skylight, original to the building, has been retrofitted with stained glass panels depicting the flora and fauna significant to the area. The Sculpture Courtyard added in 2000 features many different types of sculpture. The Showcase Gallery presents special exhibits focusing on history, the arts or present day events.

The Valdez Museum & Historical Archive's mission is to safeguard our community's valuable heritage materials; foster broad public understanding and appreciation of our unique heritage; celebrate our community's past accomplishments and provide context for future plans and programs; enhance the sense of community pride; and enhance the quality of life by fostering and supporting cultural programs

The Museum collects, preserves, presents, and interprets works of art of the highest quality from diverse cultures and many centuries, including that of our own time. The power of art, embracing responsibility to engage and educate the community, to contribute to cultural knowledge, and to advance creative endeavor.

The Children’s Museum of Wilmington stimulates children’s imagination, curiosity and love of learning.
The Children’s Museum of Wilmington celebrates the joys of childhood by providing magical and playful experiences for children of all ages. The Museum serves children ages 1-8 and their adult company. Learn amazing things about themselves and the world where we live, through informal, playful hands-on and child-directed experiences. In our warm and inviting environment, children and the adults who bring them find ample opportunities to explore and better understand the arts, sciences, culture and more, through engaging exhibits and programs.

Haines, Alaska, is home of a truly unique museum. The Hammer Museum is the world's only museum dedicated to hammers. The Hammer Museum provides a view of the past through the use of man's first tool. You will find over 1500 hammers on display, ranging from Roman times to the present.

The American Military Museum in Charleston, S.C., offers a one-of-a-kind experience in military history for travelers and residents.
Located in Aquarium Wharf adjacent to the debarkation point for tours to historic Fort Sumter, the Museum is filled with authentic artifacts from 14 American conflicts from the Revolutionary War through the recent war in Iraq.

Welcome to the Greenville County Museum of Art. The Museum is open Tuesday–Saturday from 11–5, remaining open until 8 on Thursday evenings. On Sundays, we're open from 1–5. Galleries are closed on Mondays and major holidays. Admission is always absolutely free

The mission of the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History is to inspire in visitors of all ages understanding and a sense of wonder, discovery, respect and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds through exhibits, programs and collections, as well as through links with UI research and activities.

The mission of the National Automotive Museum is to collect and preserve the automobile for future generations, with an emphasis on items collected by William "Bill" Fisk Harrah, to tell the story of the impact of the automobile on American society, and to perpetuate the legacy of Mr. Hannah as a renowned collector.

A small, community-run museum located on the beautiful Hamakua Heritage Coast of the Big Island of Hawai'i. Honoring the colorful history of the Hilo Railroad, which began in 1899 and lasted to 1946, when railroad tracks and facilities were irreparably damaged by a devastating tidal wave. The museum is located in an old railway company home, which is furnished as it would have been in the 1930s.

Circus World is a thrill for all ages — a chance to see how the circus has entertained people for generations.

Displaying more than 30 authentic Winston Cup race cars, the Winston Cup Museum chronicles RJ Reynolds Tobacco's 33-year sponsorship of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. The museum also displays a extensive variety of racing artifacts.

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.

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.

The North Dakota Museum of Art collects contemporary, international art in all media starting with the early 1970s (the founding of the Museum) onwards. It collects the visual history of the region. It is also assembling a survey collection of contemporary Native American art, starting with the early 1970s when the movement emerged. This does not preclude the acceptance of collections that are outside this focus if they would enrich the visual life of our audience, i.e. a historical textile collection.

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.

Two floors and over 10,000 square feet filled with the strange, the unusual, and the unbelievable! See in person the incredible "Believe It or Nots" you've read about in the Ripley books and cartoons and seen on television.