North America Museums and Culture

    Staten Island Museum, United States

  75 Stuyvesant Place - Staten Island, NY              
Are you interested in a quirky change to the standard museum experience? The Staten Island Museum is a small but very fun museum located just two blocks west of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. The Staten Island Museum has a fun selection of exhibits that document the art, natural science and history that surrounds Staten Island. One great experience includes taking a look at the geological display that allows visitors to gaze through special microscopes that show the intricate designs within the local soil. Another fun fact is that the museum offers a wall of mounted butterflies and wildlife which is larger than any other display on Staten Island. The Ferry system is also extensively chronicled, showing the history of the ferry and how it has benefitted the people of New York. Always conscious of their family atmosphere, this modest New York museum even offers special free days for its visitors, which gives more people an added opportunity to experience the wealth of natural history. Featuring a variety of experiences and exhibits that are both informative and fun, the Staten Island Museum is really a crown jewel in the museum scene.
    Anacostia Museum, United States
  1901 Fort Place, SE - Washington, DC            
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As the Smithsonian Institution's museum of African American history and culture, the Museum explores American history, society, and creative expression from an African American perspective. The museum encourages the collection, protection, and preservation of materials that reflect the history and traditions of families, organizations, individuals, and communities.
    Queens County Farm Museum, United States
  73-50 Little Neck Parkway - Queens - Floral Park, NY           
A very intriguing throwback to the past is the Queens County Farm Museum. Located on the largest undisturbed tract of farmland, the museum is the only continuously worked farm site left in New York City. Visitors have an opportunity to forget the busy life of the city and instead enjoy the rural atmosphere through a variety of activities designed to give patrons an idea of how farm life used to be in New York. The museum itself is rich in activities, as visitors can do just about anything involving farm life. Interacting with livestock, a working greenhouse and guided exploration of the historic farm buildings are all part of the experience. The museum also plays host to many guest presentations, including representatives of the Native Americans originally in New York, the Queens County Fair and several antique car and motorcycle road shows. Starting in Spring 2012, the farm is offering hayrides which encompasses the entire compound and make you feel like one of the farmers back in the agricultural heyday. For a chance to experience New York’s past in one of the most beautiful parts of New York City, plan a visit to the Queens County Farm Museum.
    Sterling Hill Mining Museum, United States
  30 Plant Street - Ogdensburg, NJ            
The industrial complex that was once the Sterling Hill zinc mine is now open to the public as the Sterling Hill Mining Museum. Come and see underground mine tours, fantastic displays of "glow-in-the-dark" fluorescent minerals, extensive outdoor displays of mining machinery, and exhibit halls packed with things you've probably never seen before!
    National Lighthouse Museum, United States
  30 Bay Street - 5th floor - Staten Island, NY            
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A bright light on a dark coast, the National Light Museum in Staten Island is one of the newest contributions to American culture and distinguishes an often overlooked part of maritime development. Guest speakers from the museum explain the significance and development of the lighthouse on the east coast. They also speak of the various stories involving the history of shipping and waterways of the State of New York and the application of lighthouses to the modern day maritime world. In Spring of 2012, the National Lighthouse Museum was given a high honor by playing host to the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Titanic to New York. While the museum itself highlights some of the most unique and important developments for lighthouses and boating from the past, the crown achievement of the National Lighthouse Museum has been the development of in-depth boat tours chronicling the different lighthouses along the New York coast. The boat tour, in cooperation with the museum, establishes the history and importance of lighthouses and how they helped in everything from merchant travel to wartime efforts. The National Lighthouse Museum is a beacon, both literally and figuratively, of America’s growth and heritage.
    Sheldon Museum & Cultural Center, United States
  Box 269 - Haines, AK           
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.
    Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology, United States
  2455 Old Penitentiary Road - Boise, ID           
Located next to the Old Penitentiary in Idaho’s Historical District, the Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology (IMMG) offers exhibits and educational programs about Idaho’s fascinating geologic history and rich mining heritage.
    Socrates Sculpture Park, United States
  Broadway at Vermont Blvd. - Queens - Long Island City, NY           
Large Scale Exhibits! Multi-Media installations! A unique outdoor environment! The Socrates Sculpture Park offers one of the most unique and amazing artistic experiences in NYC. Located in Queens and occupying what was once an illegal dump site, this picturesque park has been transformed from a lowly and dirty area into one of the most beautiful artistic displays known to man. Artists in the park are encouraged to utilize their unique and sprawling designs to capture the masses and produce a unique form of creative expression. The Park not only displays these amazing works, but also offers a variety of hands-on experiences and guest lecturers to give the newly aspiring artists the motivation to break through society’s norms and create their own legacy. Coming up in Summer 2012, the Park will be offering several unique workshops focusing on giving back to the community and utilizing one’s talents for the greater good of society. These workshops will include demonstrations on personal wellbeing, ways to volunteer and give back to the community, and the benefits of green technology. The Socrates Sculpture Park has raised the bar on what a museum experience should be and continues to benefit not only New York City but also the world.
    El Museo Del Barrio, United States
  1230 5th Avenue - New York, NY           
Heralded by The New York Times as “an institution in its ascendancy”, El Museo del Barrio was founded in 1969 by artist Raphael Montañez Ortiz with the support of a group of Puerto Rican educators, artists, parents and community activists in East Harlem’s Spanish-speaking El Barrio. Since then, El Museo del Barrio has evolved into New York’s leading Latino cultural institution, having expanded its mission to represent the diversity of art and culture in all of the Caribbean and Latin America.
As the only museum in New York City that specializes in representing these cultures, El Museo del Barrio continues to have a significant impact on the cultural life of New York City and is now a major stop on Manhattan’s Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue. El Museo del Barrio thrives on the sustained excellence of its collections, exhibitions and public programming.
    Museum of Tolerance, United States
  9786 West Pico Blvd. - Los Angeles, CA            
The Museum of Tolerance provides a unique and provocative experience that challenges visitors to become witnesses to history, confront the dynamic of intolerance that is still embedded in society today.
Through powerful interactive exhibits, arts and lectures, special events and customized educational programs for youths and adults, the Museum engages visitors' hearts and minds in a journey of discovery to inspire change.
    Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, United States
  715 West Main Street - Louisville, KY             
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A nonprofit organization founded to promote and support art and craft excellence in Kentucky. In 2006, KMAC celebrated 25 years of supporting artists and providing educational programs to school children and adults. The Museum is supported in part by the Fund for the Arts and Kentucky Arts Council, a state agency of the Commerce Cabinet.
    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.
    Lucan Area Heritage & Donnelly Museum, Canada
  171 Main Street - Lucan, ON            
he Lucan Area Heritage Association operates a museum dedicated to the preservation and retelling of the most famous historical events of the area. Events such as Lucan being the first black settlement in Canada known as Wilberforce, continued development of the Irish settlers and the infamous Donnelly massacre are key chapters in Canadian history and a vital part of Canada's future.
    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.
    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/
    The Winnipeg Railway Museum, Canada
  123 Main Street - VIA Rail Station - Winnipeg, MB           
You are welcome to visit the only museum in Winnipeg dedicated to the preservation of Manitoba's rail heritage. See where it all began. View the first steam locomotive on the Canadian Prairies, The Countess of Dufferin. Continue on and view an early-generation diesel locomotive just like the ones still used today.
    Firefighter Museum, Canada
  4124 – 11 Street S.E. - Calgary, AB           
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.
    Glenbow Museum, Canada
  130 - 9th Avenue S.E. - Calgary - Alberta, CA           
At the Glenbow Museum, intriguing stories from Western Canada connect with extraordinary art and artifacts from around the world. Combining a museum, art gallery, library and archives all under one roof, Glenbow boasts over a million artifacts and some 28,000 works of art in its vast collections and is one of the largest museums in Canada. Through a variety of dynamic programs and changing exhibitions and programs, and a broad collection of art, artifacts and historical documents, Glenbow Museum builds on a commitment to preserve our cultural and western heritage while simultaneously providing visitors with a glimpse of the world beyond.
    The Good Shepherd Museum, Canada
  14, rue Couillard - Québec, QC           
The Good Shepherd Museum tells the captivating story of the Good Shepherd Sisters of Quebec. The Museum also tells the story of marginalized women and abandoned children in 19th and 20th century Quebec.
    Victoria Children's Museum, Canada
  Box 8220 - Victoria, BC             
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The Victoria Children's Museum, a registered charity with a board of committed community members, has begun developing plans and started fund-raising for the first children's museum in BC. The Victoria Children's Museum's mission is to inspire children to explore and discover their world in a creative, safe, hands-on environment, where fun and play magically transform into learning.
    Canadian Museum of Nature, Canada
  PO Box 3443, Station D - Ottawa, ON             
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From valuable minerals and fossils hidden beneath our feet to the trees that make the oxygen we breathe, from Arctic plants to zebra mussels and everything in between, nature touches every aspect of our lives. The Canadian Museum of Nature is more than a natural history museum that creates and develops exhibitions for public viewing. Come inside!
    Bytown Museum, Canada
  P.O. Box 523, Station B - Ottawa, ON           
The Bytown Museum tells the story of Ottawa’s first century.
The Museum is located in the heart of downtown Ottawa, at the Rideau Canal locks between Parliament Hill and the Château Laurier – one of the most picturesque sites in the city.
    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."
    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...