5 Dedicated Organizations Studying & Showcasing Local History

History is not inert material that exists in dusty old books: it's always all around us, whether in the landscapes we cross or the buildings we enter. Museums and historical societies are essential to preserving this past and reminding us of its enduring legacy. The ones included here provide vital information about heritages in regions throughout the US and Canada. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

5 Historical Societies & Museums Focused on Local Heritage

Organization Location Mission
The La Jolla Historical Society San Diego, California Inspire and empower the community to make La Jolla's diverse past a relevant part of contemporary life, encouraging exploration of the past in ways that inform the present and shape the future
The Fort Bend Museum Richmond, Texas Share and preserve Fort Bend County history
The Fernie Museum Fernie, British Columbia Promote the living landscapes and cultures of Fernie and the Elk Valley-Crowsnest Pass region through the museum and archives' feature exhibitions, permanent collections, public programming, and community engagement
The Troutdale Historical Society Troutdale, Oregon Gather and preserve material relating to the history of the community of Troutdale, the Sandy River, the Columbia River Gorge, and nearby areas to be available for public viewing
Historic Saranac Lake Saranac Lake, New York Preserve and present area history and architecture to build a stronger community

The Importance Of Historic Preservation

Ways To Engage In Lifelong Learning

  • Visit one of the museums or historic sites listed above
  • Read both fiction and non-fiction as often as you can
  • Teach others what you know
  • Explore new places
  • Start a creative project, like a vlog or podcast
  • Get a good desk for your home
  • Join a study group
  • Take a hike through nature
  • Listen to different types of music
  • Look up words you don't know in the dictionary

10 Engaging & Informative Books About American History

Title Author(s)
1. I’ll Be Seeing You Karen Berkey Huntsberger
2. Unshackling America Willard Sterne Randall
3. Custer’s Trials T.J. Stiles
4. Love For Sale David Hajdu
5. The Long Shadow of 9/11 Brian Michael Jenkins & John Paul Godges
6. Empire of Self Jay Parini
7. Lincoln’s Last Trial Dan Abrams & David Fisher
8. The Fleet at Flood Tide James D. Hornfischer
9. Lies My Teacher Told Me About Christopher Columbus James W. Loewen
10. The Strange Career of William Ellis Karl Jacoby

Saranac Lake's Curative Past

In Depth

The study of history enables individuals to benefit from the lessons of the past. There are a number of museums, societies, and organizations that bring the stories of yesterday to life through informative and interactive experiences. Here, in no particular order, are groups committed to preserving and highlighting bygone times.

At #1 is the La Jolla Historical Society. It is a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a mission to inspire the community to make its diverse past a part of contemporary life. The organization hosts art and photography exhibits, storytelling projects, and classic film festivals. The Young Architects Summer Program immerses students in learning about local residential buildings from different eras, while providing them with design instruction.

One of the group's most popular events is The La Jolla Concours d'Elegance & Motor Car Classic. It is among the top automotive events in the world, celebrating historic and contemporary automobiles and motorcycles. Visitors from throughout Southern California, as well as travelers from national and international destinations, come to enter the judged competition.

One of the group's most popular events is The La Jolla Concours d'Elegance & Motor Car Classic.

In the #2 spot is the Fort Bend Museum in Richmond, Texas, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing and preserving the history of the local county. Its Texian Time Machine educational outreach program brings frontier life to school campuses across Houston. Through immersive role playing and hands on activities, it exposes students to the colonial experience.

Highlights of a visit to the Fort Bend Museum include a tour of the 1883 historic Moore Mansion, home to Congressman John. M. and Lottie Dyer Moore. Four generations of the family lived in the home, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. The Long-Smith Cottage, originally owned by Jane Long, the Mother of Texas, is another popular destination.

Coming in at #3 is the Fernie Museum. Through its permanent collections, public programming, and community engagement, it promotes the cultures of Fernie and the Elk Valley-Crowsnest Pass region in British Columbia, Canada. It offers a variety of curriculum coordinated programs for students including a presentation on the Morrissey Internment Camp, which details the imprisonment of men, women, and children during The Great War.

It offers a variety of curriculum coordinated programs for students including a presentation on the Morrissey Internment Camp, which details the imprisonment of men, women, and children during The Great War.

The Fernie Museum's shop, named after the Trites-Wood Department Store, features a curated collection of jewelry, clothing, and toys representative of the local culture and heritage. Popular books available for purchase include No Free Man and The Rise and Fall Of Emilio Picariello, which tells the story of one of the community's most notorious residents.

Entering the list at #4 is the Troutdale Historical Society in Oregon. It maintains the Harlow House, the Depot Rail Museum, complete with 1975 Union Pacific Caboose, and the Barn Exhibit Hall. These institutions educate the immediate community and visitors with rotating exhibits, such as the King of Roads, a celebration of the Historic Columbia River Highway and the local residents who helped to build it.

A favorite onsite destination is a reproduction of the Lovers Oak. Formed by an 1876 Columbia River flood into the shape of the letter S, the original tree was a popular meeting spot until a storm destroyed it in 1962. It was once the subject of a Ripley's Believe It or Not nationally syndicated cartoon. The society installed a replica in 2018.

The society installed a replica in 2018.

Finishing up the list at #5 is Historic Saranac Lake, an architectural preservation organization in New York State. It publishes a wide range of books and pamphlets such as A Rare Romance in Medicine: The Life and Legacy of Edward Livingston Trudeau by Mary B. Hotaling. It is a biography of the doctor who established the Adirondack Cottage Sanitarium, which treated tuberculosis patients.

The Cure Porch on Wheels is a mobile public space that hosts a variety of arts and culture activities. The venue is home to the Story Phone, a do it yourself recording booth. Visitors can share their own tales, answer to the prompt of the week, and listen to a selection of pre-recorded narratives.