North America Museums and Culture

    American Merchant Marine Museum, United States

  Steamboat Rd - Kings Point, NY           
A glimpse at a map of the United States shows us that we are a maritime nation. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean; to the west, the Pacific; off our southern border, the Gulf of Mexico; in the north, the Great Lakes; and crisscrossing our states, great rivers like the Mississippi and other inland waterways.
Every hour of every day, ships of all types ply the waters in and around our nation. They leave our ports laden with U.S. goods bound for foreign markets, or arrive in our harbors with merchandise and materials for American consumers.
There are tankers traveling along the west coast with raw petroleum for our refineries; Great Lakes vessels loaded with iron ore, coal or other minerals for America's industry; huge containerships in Eastern ports, their box-like containers filled with manufactured goods; general cargo ships in the Gulf unloading pallets of coffee and crates of fruit; tugboats pushing and pulling barges carrying the Midwest's grain.
    House of Frankenstein Wax Museum, United States
  213 Canada Street - Lake George, NY            
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Foolish mortals beware! We love to put a little fright in your day. See if you survive the Black Hole. If so, you have made it through a journey of terror in the House of Frankenstein.
    Valdez Museum & Historical Archive, United States
  P.O. Box 8 - Valdez, AK           
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
    Timken Museum of Art, United States
  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.
    Seashore Trolley Museum, United States
  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.
    Varnum House Museum, United States
  57 Pierce St. - East. Greenwich, RI           
This mansion was built in 1773 by James Mitchell Varnum, a lawyer who entered the Revolutionary War and served as one of General George Washington's Continental Army Brigadier Generals. Varnum was later Major General in command of the entire Rhode Island Militia. The museum is furnished with period furniture and features many historic artifacts.
    San Diego Chinese Historical Museum, United States
  404 Third Avenue - San Diego, CA            
The San Diego Chinese Historical Museum is a nonprofit organization. The museum was founded in 1996, by the San Diego Chinese Historical Society under the leadership of its first three presidents: Sally Wong, Tom Hom, and Dr. Alexander Chuang. Charles Tyson donated the museum's current building, originally a Chinese mission located at 645 First Avenue, and in 1991, the City of San Diego graciously provided a piece of land in the original Chinatown area where the museum now resides.
Since opening in 1996, the museum has presented more than 47 exhibits highlighting the rich tradition of Chinese culture and history in San Diego and the world. The Museum also features a library of books on Chinese culture and a tranquil garden with koi pond.
    The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, United States
  1800 N. Congress Ave - Austin, TX           
The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in downtown Austin, Texas, tells the “Story of Texas” with three floors of interactive exhibits, the special effects show, The Star of Destiny, in the Texas Spirit Theater, and Austin's only IMAX Theatre, featuring the signature large-format film, Texas: The Big Picture. A 35-foot-tall bronze Lone Star sculpture greets visitors in front of the Museum, and a colorful terrazzo floor in the Museum’s rotunda features a campfire scene with enduring themes from Texas’ past. The Museum also has a Cafe with indoor and outdoor seating and a Museum Store with something for the Texan in everyone.
    ToonSeum, United States
  945 Liberty Avenue - Pittsburgh, PA            
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The mission of the ToonSeum is to celebrate the art of cartooning. Our goal is to promote a deeper appreciation of the cartoonists and their work through hands-on workshops, community outreach, cartoon-oriented educational programming, and exhibitions of original cartoon art.
    The Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf, United States
  145 Jefferson Street - San Francisco, CA             
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The spirit and energy of San Francisco is manifested in the history of one of its most popular landmarks - The Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf. Bedecked by colorful waving flags and surrounded by a complex of gifts shops and entertainment sites, the museum welcomes guests to one of the world's most visited spots. Three generations of the Fong family have kept the Wax Museum a vital and changing San Francisco attraction.
As one of the world's largest wax museums, the fully restored San Francisco attraction continues to show all aspects of life from the ignoble Chamber of Horrors to the inspiring Hall of Religion, including the historic Library of U.S. Presidents, the spectacular Recreation of King Tut's Tomb and the unique Palace of Living Art, where the world's most famous masters, and their masterpieces come to life through the magic of wax artistry.
    Ogden Museum of Southern Art, The, United States
  925 Camp Street - New Orleans, LA            
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, home to the largest and most comprehensive collection of Southern art in the world, and a unique and innovative destination to "See the South."
    Musée Bombardier, Canada
  1001 avenue J.-A.-Bombardier - Valcourt, QC           
Located in Valcourt, in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, the Musée Bombardier presents the life and work of the great inventor and entrepreneur Joseph-Armand Bombardier. This privately funded museum also describes the evolution of the snowmobile industry, in large part launched by this Quebec visionary.
    Art Gallery of Ontario, Canada
  317 Dundas Street West - Toronto, ON             
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Founded in 1900 by a group of private citizens as the Art Museum of Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museums in North America, with a physical facility of 486,000 square feet. Currently under construction, the AGO’s new facility will boast 583,000 square feet, and will re-open in 2008 with an innovative architectural design by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry.
The AGO currently has more than 68,000 works in its collection, spanning from 100 AD to the present.
    Nepean Museum, Canada
  16 Rowley Avenue - Nepean, ON           
The Nepean Museum, established in 1983, and housed in what was the first modern Nepean Library, is operated by Nepean Museum Inc., a non-profit organization. Complimenting the Board of Trustees is a professional staff, a strong membership base and a dedicated volunteer group.
The Nepean Museum is dedicated to collect, preserve, research, exhibit and interpret the works of man and nature, and thereby stimulate a greater interest in, knowledge of and enthusiasm for the City among both residents and visitors.
    Royal London Wax Museum, Canada
  470 Belleville Street - Victoria, BC           
A visit to the Royal London Wax Museum is a journey into the pages of time. The museum documents a myriad of events through some three hundred historical personages from early to contemporary times. Through its objects, artifacts, likenesses of pivotal personages, scenarios and multi-media exhibitions, all visitors will have a meaningful opportunity to see history come alive. This museum is an important educational resource.
    Vancouver Museum, Canada
  1100 Chestnut Street - Vancouver, BC
          
As Canada's largest civic museum moves into its second century, The Vancouver Museum continues to explore the human and natural history of the Vancouver region, the Pacific Northwest Coast and Pacific Rim with exciting, ever-changing new exhibitions. The Vancouver Museum continues to celebrate the rich legacy and heritage of Vancouver's diverse multicultural society through varied programs. http://www.vanmuseum.bc.ca/
    Musée Gilles-Villeneuve, Canada
  960 avenue Gilles-Villeneuve - Berthierville, QC           
The Gilles-Villeneuve Museum opened its doors to the public in 1988. On the initiative of members of the Berthier-Villeneuve comity regrouping volunteers and friends who knew Gilles Villeneuve, the museum followed the inauguration of Gilles-Villeneuve’s park and statue ( a real size bronze ). Berthierville will never forget the champion who put it on the map.
Since it’s foundation, the team of the museum is very active to perpetuate the souvenir of Gilles Villeneuve throughout years and generations. Through activities like golf tournaments, banquets, membership campaigns, etc..., and other actives related to racing ( karting and Auto Shows) the staff and volunteers of the museum never stop the efforts so that the legend of the little guy from Berthierville will be told for many many years ...
    Ontario Archaeological Museum, Canada
  1444 Queen St. E., Suite 102 - Toronto, ON           
The Ontario Archaeological Society is a registered charitable organization that promotes the ethical practice of archaeology.
Ontario's historic and prehistoric resources are continually being destroyed by urban, commercial and industrial development.
    Telephone Historical Museum, Canada
  10440 108 Ave NW - Edmonton, AB           
See, hear and do at one of the most enjoyable attractions in Edmonton! This Telephone Historical Centre is the largest of its type in North America. Perfect for all ages.
The Telephone Historical Centre opened to the public in 1987. It was founded by a group of ED TEL retirees who were dedicated to preserving the history of the telephone in the Edmonton area.
    The Canadian Clock Museum, Canada
  60 James Street - Deep River, ON           
The Canadian Clock Museum opened to the public in Deep River, Ontario in late May of 2000 as Canada's only clock museum. This non-profit, private museum operates as a federal corporation dedicated to preserving and promoting the products and history of Canada's many clock manufacturers and sellers from the early 1800s to current times.
A major collection focus is on clocks made by The Arthur Pequegnat Clock Company (Berlin/Kitchener, Ontario, ca. 1904-1941), Westclox Canada (Peterborough, Ontario, ca. 1920-mid 1980s), and Harry Snider's two companies (Toronto, 1950-1876).
    Currency Museum, Canada
  245 Sparks Street - Ottawa, ON           
The Bank of Canada's Currency Museum was opened in 1980. It is home to the National Currency Collection, the largest collection of Canadian bank notes, coins, and tokens in the world. The Museum is located within the first Bank of Canada building (built in 1934), just minutes from Parliament Hill.
    Bagotville Air Defence Museum, Canada
  P.O. Box 567 - Alouette, QC           
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.
    Greenland National Museum, Greenland
  Hans Egedevej 8 - 3900 Nuuk, GL           
Museet blev startet i midten af 1960`erne som det første museum i Grønland. Samlingerne er siden udvidet gennem indsamling, fra udgravninger og med tilbageført materiale fra Danmarks Nationalmuseum. Museet har landsdækkende arbejdsopgaver indenfor arkæologi, nyere tids historie, kunst og kunsthåndværk. Museet rummer de centrale registre om fredede bygninger og fortidsminder og varetager fredningslovens bestemmelser om fredning af fortidsminder og bygninger samt deltager i naturfredning og byplanlægning.
    Sisimiut Museum, Greenland
  Jukkorsuup aqq. 9 - Sisimiut, GL           
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...
    Durham Mining Museum
   - Greenland, GL           
"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."