AA Destination Details

Mission San Juan Capistrano, a historic landmark and museum, is the Birthplace of Orange County. It was founded more than two hundred years ago as the 7th of 21 missions statewide and features a chapel still standing where Saint Serra once celebrated Mass.

Today, it is a monument to California’s multi-cultural history, embracing its Native American, Spanish, Mexican and European heritage. Originally built as a self-sufficient community by Spanish Padres and Native Americans, the Mission was a center for agriculture, industry, education, and religion.

Famous for the Annual Return of the Swallows, Mission San Juan Capistrano is the “Jewel of the California Missions” and welcomes over 300,000 visitors each year.

– Hosts one-of-a-kind artifacts, treasures, and paintings; considered the American Acropolis, ruins of the Great Stone Church.
– Visit the iconic bell wall and catch the tradition of bell-ringing daily, honoring the legacy of Saint Junipero Serra who founded the Mission in 1776.
– Don’t miss the two original bells that once hung in the Great Stone Church which was completed in 1806 and destroyed in an earthquake in 1812.
– Enjoy permanent exhibits such as “Mission Treasures: Historical Collection Revealed” featuring historical artifacts, precious and rare paintings, religious artifacts, and more related to the Mission’s history.
– Participate in hands-on activities in the Mission Clubhouse; weave a basket like the Native Americans.
– Visit the newly conserved Serra Chapel, the only standing church where Father Serra is known to have said Mass. Revel in the 400-year-old golden retablo, historic paintings, and wall decor.
– See a snapshot of California’s history by touring our exhibits and museum rooms with a Docent guide.
– Relax in peaceful and stunning gardens.

People sometimes wonder why such a large railroad depot is located in such a small town. The reason is that Etowah was created by the Louisville & Nashville (L&N) Railroad in 1906 to serve as a planned community for its workers as well as headquarters for the Atlanta Division of the L&N Railroad System. The Depot, a two-story Victorian railroad station, was the first building erected in the town. Downstairs exhibits tell the story of the town and its relationship to the railroad. An upstairs gallery offers rotating exhibits. Visitors can look out the upstairs windows and watch trains switching in a still-active rail yard. Home to the “Hiwassee River Rail Adventure,” a train excursion ticket office is also located in the building. The front lawn is home to scores of community festivals including the “Old Fashion Fourth of July Celebration.” Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Earl Scruggs Center combines the life story of legendary five-string banjo master and Cleveland County native, Earl Scruggs, with the unique and engaging story of the history and cultural traditions of the region in which Mr. Scruggs was born and raised. It was in the nearby Flint Hill community where Mr. Scruggs learned to play banjo and began the three-finger playing style that has come to be known around the world as “Scruggs Style.”

The Earl Scruggs Center explores Mr. Scruggs’ innovative career and the community that gave it shape while celebrating how he crossed musical boundaries and defined the voice of the banjo to the world. Mr. Scruggs embraced tradition while also adapting to the changing times and looking toward the future—themes that resonate throughout the Center. Engaging exhibits, special event space, and rich programming provide a uniquely rich experience for visitors.

The World War II Home Front Museum showcases how ordinary Americans worked hard at home to support the troops overseas. Discover Coastal Georgia’s extraordinary contributions to what President Franklin D. Roosevelt called the “Arsenal of Democracy,” including rapid construction of Liberty cargo ships and being the home of both radar training and airship reconnaissance at two unique Naval Air Stations. Test your skills as a plane spotter watching the skies for enemy aircraft. Train to direct fighter pilots like the officers at Naval Air Station St. Simons. Build a Liberty ship to transport critical supplies to troops overseas. Experience all this and more in the immersive galleries and interactives at the World War II Home Front Museum.

Business Hours

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Open 12:00 PM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM / Close 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM

The St. Simons Lighthouse Museum explores the fascinating history of coastal Georgia and lighthouse technology through exhibits of rare artifacts, historical photographs, and interactives designed for the whole family.  Climb the 129-step spiral staircase to the top of the Lighthouse or explore the Keeper’s Dwelling at its base for new perspectives on St. Simons Island’s rich history. Visit the period rooms on the second floor of the Dwelling and imagine yourself back in the year 1907, when the lighthouse keeper and his family lived and worked here before electricity and indoor plumbing.

Business Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Open 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM / Close 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM

The Evolution of Justice

In March of 1925, the state of Tennessee passed the Butler Act, which banned the teaching of evolution in schools. The nascent American Civil Liberties Union objected. The civil rights organization enlisted John Scopes, a local high school science teacher, to challenge the law. Scopes was then arrested for teaching evolution, and he went on trial in the summer of 1925.

The trial was a national sensation, the first to be broadcast live on radio. Taking place at the Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton, Tennessee, it featured two of the leading advocates of the day. Clarence Darrow, on behalf of the ACLU, was seeking to show that the law was unconstitutional, as it went against the separation of church and state.  William Jennings Bryan, a noted orator, and former presidential candidate argued the state’s case.  Scopes was found guilty and fined $100, although that verdict was reversed by a higher court. However, the Butler Act itself was deemed constitutional by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Nonetheless, the debate surrounding the trial effectively discouraged states from prohibiting the teaching of evolution, thus cementing its significance in U.S. history.

The courthouse itself is a restored Romanesque Revival-Italian villa-style courthouse built in 1891. The Scopes Trial courtroom contains the original judge’s bench, four tables, jury chairs, and spectator seats. In the basement, a newly-refurbished museum showcases exhibits and touchscreens serving to educate visitors on the context of the trial.

 

When you’re looking for bounce house rentals, look no further than Mr P’s Party Rentals. They also offer water slides, slip and slides and other classic USA lawn games, plus fun food and concession machines that are pure American, such as snow cones and hot dogs.

The Port of Ludington Maritime Museum brings history to life with digital storytelling, authentic images, and artifacts, and engaging interactive exhibits that entertain, enlighten, and inspire a deeper appreciation for the region’s maritime history.

A Big Breath of History

The Joseph Priestley House, Northumberland, PA

The name Joseph Priestley may not sound familiar to lay people, but scientists know him as the person who discovered oxygen. That’s why The Joseph Priestley House is not only a National Historic Landmark, but a National Historic Chemical Landmark as well. 

Polymath Priestley was an 18th-century British theologian, who was also a philosopher, political theorist, and a scientific dabbler. He discovered both oxygen and carbon monoxide. Despite his scientific achievements, Priestley’s liberal political and religious views generated so much negative sentiment against him that he chose to emigrate to America in 1794.

After a brief spell of sermonizing in Philadelphia, Priestley moved to Northumberland, PA. Priestley’s first wife designed the house, which faces the Susquehanna River.  It’s a well-preserved example of late 18th-century architecture, a Georgian home with Federalist highlights. 

Costumed docents lead tours through the two-and-a-half story frame house, which contains living quarters and a laboratory. Period furnishings are historically accurate, and some of Priestley’s original scientific apparatus is displayed in the laboratory and library. The house has been restored by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

The complete Joseph Priestley Timeline can be found in the nearby Pond Building. The series of panels that present accomplishments during different periods of his life.

Business Hours

Saturday, Sunday
Open 1:00 PM, 1:00 PM / Close 4:00 PM, 4:00 PM

The Trailing of the Sheep Festival will celebrate its 25th year, October 6–10, 2021, in the picturesque Wood River Valley of Idaho. Each Fall, the popular Festival celebrates the 150+ year tradition of moving sheep (‘trailing’) from high mountain summer pastures down through the Valley to traditional winter grazing and lambing areas in the south. This annual migration is Idaho living history and a family-friendly festival (with an estimated attendance of 25,000 people) that highlights the people, arts, cultures, and traditions of sheep ranching in Idaho and the West.

The St. Simons Lighthouse Museum explores the fascinating history of coastal Georgia and lighthouse technology through exhibits of rare artifacts, historical photographs, and interactives designed for the whole family.  Climb the 129-step spiral staircase to the top of the Lighthouse or explore the Keeper’s Dwelling at its base for new perspectives on St. Simons Island’s rich history. Visit the period rooms on the second floor of the Dwelling and imagine yourself back in the year 1907, when the lighthouse keeper and his family lived and worked here before electricity and indoor plumbing.

Business Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Open 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM / Close 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM

80th Anniversary of the historic Armistice Day Storm and its impact on West Michigan.

Business Hours

Wednesday
Open 1:00 PM / Close 7:00 PM

The Lower East Side Tenement Museum, located at 97 and 103 Orchard Street in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, is a National Historic Site. The Museum’s two historical tenement buildings were home to an estimated 15,000 people, from over 20 nations, between 1863 and 2011.

Melrose Plantation is an Antebellum historic house museum located in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.

Discover the two-hundred-year history of the beautiful Melrose Plantation. The birth of a slave, Marie Therese Coincoin, and her ten Franco-African children with Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer became the legacy of the Isle Brevelle Creole Community. Descendants of the Metoyer family live along Cane River today, a people proud of their heritage and culture.

Come realize the impact of the American Civil War and Reconstruction on Cane River and the survival of a southern plantation along with the establishment of the Melrose freedman school by Fanny Hertzog.

Explore the wonders of the early 20th-century Melrose artists’ retreat founded by Carmelite Garrett Henry and follow the discovery of Clementine Hunter, one-time Melrose cook, as she emerged to become Louisiana’s most celebrated primitive artist.

A National Historic Landmark, Melrose Plantation contains nine historic buildings including the African House, Yucca House, Weaving Cabin, Bindery, and the Big House. A collection of work by world-famous African American folk artist Clementine Hunter is available for viewing, including her popular African House Murals.

Business Hours

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Open 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM / Close 4:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 4:00 PM

Where the Industrial Revolution Was Born

Old Slater Mill, built in 1793, was the first cotton spinning factory in the United States. As an apprentice in England, Samuel Slater gained a thorough knowledge of cotton manufacturing. He brought that expertise to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where he established one of the first successful cotton mills in the United States. The factory was revolutionary due to its use of a water-power technique that went on to play a big role in American industrial history. That’s why the mill is often considered the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution.

The Old Slater Mill Historic Landmark District, located in downtown Pawtucket, is made up of three buildings that demonstrate the progression of textile manufacturing from handcrafting to large-scale industry. The Sylvanus Brown House, built in 1758,  is filled with textile artifacts such as looms, spinning wheels, and other old-school tools used for textile assembly. Old Slater Mill is filled with examples of textile machines dating from 1775 to 1922. Finally, the 1810 Wilkinson Mill sports an impressive 16,000-pound waterwheel. Hour-long tours, led by trained professional interpreters, include visits to all three buildings and demonstrations of equipment.

Where Workers Altered the Fabric of America

During the second half of the 19th century, Paterson, New Jersey became an industrialized city, with a specialty in silk and fabric production.  By 1900, 175 companies there processed two-thirds of all the silk in the country. Immigrant labor ran the machinery under grueling conditions. Workers were paid by the piece and they were expected to put in ten hour days, plus a half day on Saturday.

 

Unhappy with working conditions, strikes were not uncommon. Between 1880 and 1910 at least 140 strikes or work stoppages were recorded. By 1913, as factory owners converted to higher-speed looms, which increased the workload, the workers went on strike again, bringing production in Paterson’s mills to a stop. International Workers of the World organizers moved protests to nearby Haledon, whose mayor was sympathetic to the cause. Haledon was also the home to many mill workers. Pietro Botto was one of them.

 

The Pietro and Maria Botto House became the focal point of the strike. Every Sunday from March through July, the residence hosted speeches by labor leaders, which were given from the balcony of the home. As many as 20,000 striking silk workers would gather in the yard, which resembled a natural amphitheater.

 

After five months, the strike ended without most of the sought-for results. However, while the strike did not have an immediate impact, it did have lasting effects. The effort raised attention for the plight of immigrant workers and helped lay the groundwork for reforms such as minimum wages, the forty-hour week, and child labor laws.

 

Today, the Pietro and Maria Botto House has been transformed into The American Labor Museum, dedicated to teaching the public about the history and contemporary issues of workers, the workplace, and organized labor with special attention to the ethnicity of working people. The 1908 Victorian home is interpreted to 1913, featuring typical furnishings and clothing of the time.  In the museum, there’s a permanent exhibit on the 1913 Paterson Silk Strike and changing exhibits relating to work and labor issues.

 

^{A Place for Miracles}

^{Ivy Green, a simple white clapboard house built in 1820, would likely not be notable were it not the birthplace and childhood home of Helen Keller. Keller, who was born in 1880, became a world-famous social activist and champion for educating the blind and deaf. After an early childhood illness left her deaf, she learned to communicate thanks to the efforts of teacher Anne Sullivan. After that, she didn’t stop. She studied at Radcliffe College and became the first deaf and blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She proceeded to write books and give speeches around the world.}

 

^{There are three important structures on the Ivy Green property. The main house contains personal items from Keller’s life, including books, gifts, and mementos from her travels.  The cottage, located to the right of the main house, was Keller’s actual birthplace.  Finally, the outdoor water pump where the blind and deaf Keller first communicated with Sullivan (aka The Miracle Worker) in 1887. During summer weekends, a production of  “The Miracle Worker” is performed on the grounds of Ivy Green. Those grounds are lush, landscaped with English boxwoods, ivy, magnolia bushes, and a variety of vibrant flowers.}

We provide party rentals such as bounce houses and moonwalks to events in Sugar Land, Houston, Cypress and surrounding areas. 

Construction on the Octagon House, which sits several blocks from the National Mall, started in 1798. Designed by William Thornton, the first architect of the U.S. Capitol, it became a fill-in White House during the War of 1812. When the British burned the executive mansion in 1814, James and Dolly Madison moved in for nearly a year. Dolly continued hosting her entertaining affairs here, while James was attending to affairs of state. In fact, the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812, was signed in The Octagon House in February 1815. The chair and table used by Madison when the document was signed are the most important historical items in the house.

 

The three-story Octagon House is owned by the American Institute of Architects Foundation. And perhaps only an architect can explain why the Octagon House is so named, despite having only six sides. Here’s the answer–an architectural feature called an Octagon Room was the vogue in upper-class houses of the era.  Although these central rooms were circular in shape, their foundations were designed with eight sides. It is thought that, due to the prominence of the Octagon Room’s location in the house (it was placed at the entry), the Octagon name stuck.

04/16/2021

The Blessing of the Fleet is an annual festival that the Darien-McIntosh County Chamber of Commerce hosts to celebrate our biggest industry, shrimping. This three-day fun-filled event consists of an art show, various food and drink vendors, arts and crafts, a YMCA 5K, children’s activities, a classic car show, nightly live entertainment, and a marine parade.

On Sunday we Bless our shrimp boat captains with a safe and prosperous season. Darien’s Blessing of the Fleet is the largest on the East Coast! This weekend-long festival is a great celebration of food, family, and fun that usually draws in a crowd of 30,000+ throughout the weekend.

Riding through History

Although the Pony Express was only in operation for 18 months during 1860 and 1861, it has gone down in history as an icon of America’s westward expansion. Growing Western settlement in the mid-19th century prompted the need for a reliable means of mail delivery. Hence, the Pony Express, a route of nearly 2,000 miles and 190 relay stations, where riders, who rode up to 75 miles a day, would change out horses every 10 to 15 miles When the rider arrived at a relay station, he removed his mail pouch from one horse and threw it over the saddle of the fresh horse, and it was off to the races.

 

The Hollenberg Pony Express Station, located in Hanover, Kansas, is a rare example of a Pony Express station standing unaltered in its original location.  The building was erected in 1858 by Gerat H. Hollenberg as both a residence and a business. The business was first a grocery store and tavern. In 1860, it became a Pony Express station. But thanks to the development of the transcontinental telegraph, the Pony Express went defunct the next year, and Hollenberg’s business went bankrupt. However, he recovered his fortunes after he transitioned to farming and real estate.

 

The station building’s rooms are decorated with period furnishings and Pony Express memorabilia. The visitor center has exhibits detailing stories of westward expansion, its impact on Native Americans, and the Pony Express itself.

 

The Red Bank Battlefield is located along the Delaware River in National Park, Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. It was the location of the Battle of Red Bank in the American Revolutionary War on October 22, 1777.

            Hotel de Paris has changed hands six times in its life since Frenchman Louis Dupuy opened his hotel and restaurant in 1875. The lavish European-inspired hotel expanded to half a city block to accommodate business from the silver boom before the housekeeper inherited it upon Dupuy’s death in October 1900. The hotel was leased by Sarah Harrison and James Burkholder in 1901 and purchased by them in 1903. It maintained its reputation as a fine hotel and first-class French restaurant into the 1920s. 

            When private automobiles arrived in the mountains, the Louis Dupuy’s French menu was retired and managers who leased the hotel from the Burkholder’s daughter (Hazel Burkholder McAdams) began serving a more modern and American offering of trout, steak, and chicken dinners in a more casual diner style format (much like the 1945 American film noir, Mildred Pierce). Hazel retired from the Clear Creek County School District in the 1940s and ran the hotel as a boarding house until 1949. The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Colorado purchased the hotel in 1954 for $15,100 and restored the site to its 1890s appearance. The Colonial Dames still own and operate the site, now as a museum. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Famed western author Louis L’Amour fictionalized the setting in his 1978 novel, The Proving Trail.

Like many museums, the Hotel de Paris moved away from decorative arts and room-specific descriptions to a more theme- and story-based interpretation. Pre-Covid, docent-led tours of about 45 minutes were the big attraction, where visitors learn about Louis Dupuy as well as workers and guests as they explore the three levels of the former hotel and restaurant. Stories of the workers and guests contribute to the Content has also expanded to focus more on the Chinese and Jewish contributions at Hotel de Paris. Printed translations of tours are available in French, German, Japanese, and Spanish.

 

Business Hours

Sunday, Monday, Friday, Saturday
Open 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM / Close 4:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 4:00 PM

The interactive nautical history museum is located in a restored 1934 coast guard station at the Port of Ludington on the banks of Lake Michigan. Open since 2017, this museum shares the history, artifacts, and stories of industry, commerce, fishing, recreation, and the lake’s ecosystem.

Business Hours

Friday, Saturday
Open 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM / Close 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM

Built in 1927, Mount Baker Theatre was one of the last grand vaudeville movie palaces to be built in the Pacific Northwest. From silent films to live performing arts, MBT has preserved history while also serving the demands of modern, continuously changing economy, technology, and society. Due to COVID-19, the theatre is currently dark but hopes to reopen soon.

Great little country store located right off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Floyd, Virginia. In addition to cafe and retail store (featuring works of local artists), the store is best known as a popular music venue.

Business Hours

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Open 11:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:00 AM / Close 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 8:00 PM, 8:00 PM, 5:00 PM

Providing bounce houses, moonwalks, concession machines and a whole lot more for events in Fort Worth, Arlington, Midlothian and other nearby locations. 

Chautauqua Institution is a not-for-profit, 750-acre community on Chautauqua Lake in southwestern New York State, where approximately 7,500 persons are in residence on any day during a nine-week season, and a total of more than 100,000 attend scheduled public events.

Chautauqua is dedicated to the exploration of the best in human values and the enrichment of life through a program that explores the important religious, social, and political issues of our times; stimulates provocative, thoughtful involvement of individuals and families in creative response to such issues; and promotes excellence and creativity in the appreciation, performance, and teaching of the arts.

S.P. Dinsmoor, retired Civil War Veteran, started building the Cabin Home and Garden of Eden in 1904, at the age of 64. When Dinsmoor retired from farming and moved to town, he built a house, the Cabin Home, intended to be both a residence and a source of income. For the exterior, he chose postrock limestone, the fine-quality building stone used in many commercial buildings, houses, barns, and fence posts in the area. His sculptures are as interesting as his biography, with each and every element having a story to tell.

The St. Simons Lighthouse Museum explores the fascinating history of coastal Georgia and lighthouse technology through exhibits of rare artifacts, historical photographs, and interactives designed for the whole family.  Climb the 129-step spiral staircase to the top of the Lighthouse or explore the Keeper’s Dwelling at its base for new perspectives on St. Simons Island’s rich history. Visit the period rooms on the second floor of the Dwelling and imagine yourself back in the year 1907, when the lighthouse keeper and his family lived and worked here before electricity and indoor plumbing.

Business Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Open 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM / Close 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM

Trailing of the Sheep Festival
Commemorative Monument Pavers

Place your order now for a Festival Monument paver!  You can be a part of this amazing opportunity by making a lasting tribute or memorial to commemorate a special person or entire family, pet, treasured event, business, memory of someone you cherish or through a meaningful inscription. The proceeds will be used to complete the installation and beautification of The Good Shepherd monument in 2021 and you can proudly say that you had a part in making this project a reality for all to enjoy for years to come.

Explore the St. Simons Lighthouse Museum in the Keeper’s Dwelling and discover the fascinating history of Coastal Georgia through colorful exhibits of rare artifacts, historical photographs, and interactives designed for the whole family. The development of lighthouse technology is also traced.

Visit the period rooms on the second floor of the Dwelling and imagine yourself back in the year 1907, when the lighthouse keeper and his family lived and worked here before electricity and indoor plumbing.

Business Hours

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Open 12:00 PM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 10:00 AM / Close 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:00 PM