Early History of the California Coast
is a travel itinerary that highlights 45 historic places that help tell the story of Spanish colonization of California. Learn about forts, churches, adobe houses, historic districts, and other places. Find out about the Presidio, which was established in 1769 as the base for Spain's colonization efforts and was the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific Coast.
Boston's Arnold Arboretum: A Place for Study and Recreation
provides readings, maps, and lesson ideas about the first arboretum in the U.S., which opened to the public in the 1880s. This site, though focused on a place devoted to the study of trees, can help students learn how 19th-century urban conditions influenced the development of parks and how to research the history of parks in their own communities.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: A Moravian Settlement in Colonial America
looks at this area (along the Lehigh River) that became the center of industry and community for Moravians, a Protestant group that migrated to colonial America seeking opportunity and the chance to spread their religious beliefs.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Documenting the Uncharted Northwest
recounts the expedition's crossing of the Lemhi Pass and Lolo Trail, and the time spent at Fort Clatsop near the Pacific Ocean. Although the Corps of Discovery did not realize its dream of finding a water route to the Pacific Ocean, the expedition overcame many obstacles and dangers to open the Northwest to the influence of the U.S., established relations with American Indian tribes, and gathered useful scientific documentation.
The Great Chief Justice at Home
offers photos of John Marshall's residence in Richmond, Virginia. This website also describes how Marshall, who wrote 519 opinions in his 34 years as chief justice (1801-1835), transformed the Supreme Court from obscurity into a prominent, powerful institution.
The Battle of Horseshoe Bend: Collisions of Cultures
looks at the decisive battle of the Creek War (1813-1814), where Andrew Jackson fought 1,000 American Indian warriors who were trying to regain autonomy. It examines the history of the battle and provides maps, images, and readings.
Ohio and Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor
is a travel itinerary of 50 houses, farms, churches, historic districts, and other sites. Learn about the first organized American settlement in the Northwest Territory (1772) and the history and impact of canals and railroads. Read essays on transportation, ethnicity, industry, and preservation.
Iron Hill School: An African-American One-Room School
is a curriculum-oriented guide focusing on a school constructed in 1923 in a rural area of northern Delaware, one of more than 80 schools for African-American children built between 1919 and 1928 as part of philanthropist Pierre Samuel du Pont's Delaware experiment. The site shows photos, maps, and diagrams about the school itself and suggests student activities ranging from philanthropy to school architecture.
Chattanooga, Tennessee: Train Town
helps students see how geography and promotion combined to encourage the growth of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and how railroads shaped the organization and architecture of this and other cities from the mid-1800s to mid-1990s.
Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery
tells the story of Camp Chase, one of the largest prisoner-of-war camps for Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Located on the western outskirts of Columbus, Ohio, the camp -- now a cemetery for Confederate soldiers -- played a key role in the evolution of federal policy on marking Confederate graves.
The Frankish Building: A Reflection of the Success of Ontario, California
helps students gauge the impact of the Chaffey brothers and Charles Frankish on Ontario, California, and compare their efforts with those of similarly important figures in their own community's history.
Californio to American: A Study in Cultural Change
looks at an area that was once part of an Indian village, then an outpost shelter for vaqueros (cowhands), and then the site where Californios (Spanish settlers in what is now the state of California) built small adobe dwellings in the midst of their cattle ranges. Successive owners altered one dwelling into the elegant 18-room ranch house there today -- Rancho Los Alamitos.
Teacher's Corner at Badlands National Park
This site offers lesson plans on endangered species and ecology intended to for classrooms visiting the South Dakota park.
Aviation: From Sand Dunes to Sonic Booms
features 100 aircraft, airfields, research labs, military installations, battle sites, launch facilities, and other places that tell about people and events that made the U.S. a world leader in aviation. Highlights of this travel itinerary include stories of Lt. Edward Rickenbacker, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, and the Wright Brothers.
Weir Farm: Home of an American Impressionist
This site examines the farm acquired by painter Alden Weir (1852-1919), where he summered for nearly 40 years (northeast of New City). At a time railroads were expanding, populations were increasing, and America's agrarian system was being replaced by industry, Weir was an artist who found inspiration in the quiet everyday settings of New England, and, in many ways, defined our vision of the American landscape.
The Influences of Art on Yellowstone
This site features paintings, photos, and drawings, many of which contributed to the creation of the nation's first national park. The waterfalls, geysers, rock formations, and vistas in these works helped spread an appreciation of the wonders of Yellowstone. When President Grant signed into law the bill establishing Yellowstone as our first national park in 1872, he set in motion the tradition of preserving other tracts of great beauty for future generations.
American Visionaries: Thomas Moran
features paintings and sketches of the noted American landscape painter. Moran's pencil and watercolor field sketches and paintings captured the grandeur and documented the extraordinary terrain and natural features of the Yellowstone region. His artwork was presented to members of Congress by park proponents and helped inspire Congress to establish the National Park System in 1916.
Resources on Alaska History and Politics
This National Park Service website offers links to a variety of articles about the history and politics of Alaska. Users can download PDF articles about World War II in Alaska, the Alaska Goldrush, and national historic places. The site also features links to educational resources such as teachers' guides to teaching about historic places and culture.
Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
This resource presents a brief overview the glaciation that created the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. Links are provided to maps of the region, information about coastal geology, glaciers, volcanoes, mountains, and recommended reading.
Hot Colors- Windows into Hidden Worlds
The extreme environments of the thermal areas of Yellowstone are rich in microorganisms. These tiny life forms, existing in complex ecosystems, offer scientists clues to the origin of life on our planet. This electronic field trip allows students to explore the dangers and wonders of the hidden worlds of Yellowstone's hot colors.
