Groundspeak Portal

I can think of at least four historic villages within 50 miles of my home.  These are basically outdoor museums with a collection of old buildings.  Some are quite large, like Greenfield Village, and some are just four or five houses in a park-like setting, run by a city.  They are often used for field trips, camps, fairs, photo ops, and even weddings.  I don't see a category for these (Relocated Structures might fit, but this is many buildings in one spot, and they're not always necessarily relocated).  Would there be interest in one?  Maybe a subset of Museums?

I should state that I am not currently a Premium Member, but I've been meaning to re-up, and getting into this has given me more reasons.

Here are links to some near me:
http://www.thehenryford.org/village/index.aspx
http://northville.lib.mi.us/community/groups/history/
http://www.waterfordhistoricalsociety.org/museums/index.html
http://www.ci.troy.mi.us/Museum/

There's one about 20 minutes from me that is associated with the town's museum:

http://www.cashmeremuseum.org/pioneer.html

I think this could be an interesting category.  Would it also include these "Ghost Town" museums (whole towns that have been converted into an outdoor museum) that you find here and there in the west?

I've noticed the lack of category for this sort of location too.  I think that you will need to refine what you are asking for, though.

There are sites as you described ... original, restored or reconstructed (often completely fabricated) "Living History Museums" that interpret life in the 1st person (pretending to be from that time period) or 3rd person (dressing and doing activities from that time, but not pretending to BE from that time).  Locations for this category would probably have an educational mission and have a 501 (c)3 nonprofit status.  Sites in this category would include Colonial Williamsburg, Mystic Seaport, etc.

Take a look at the website for the Association of Living History, Farming, and Agricultural Museums, www.alhfam.org.  I think this is what you're proposing, right?

What you want to do is make sure that you aren't opening the gates for any old collection of buildings, working farms, or Historic districts.  Half of Amish Country could fit here too. These are locations that have lots of old, original buildings but they have not been designated for educational purposes.  This might included ghost towns (with no commercial development), West Alexandria, The Boston Commons, NO's French Quarter, etc.

 

 

 

Living history museums are accepted in the History Museum category.

Pahaska_1:

I've noticed the lack of category for this sort of location too.  I think that you will need to refine what you are asking for, though.

There are sites as you described ... original, restored or reconstructed (often completely fabricated) "Living History Museums" that interpret life in the 1st person (pretending to be from that time period) or 3rd person (dressing and doing activities from that time, but not pretending to BE from that time).  Locations for this category would probably have an educational mission and have a 501 (c)3 nonprofit status.  Sites in this category would include Colonial Williamsburg, Mystic Seaport, etc.

Take a look at the website for the Association of Living History, Farming, and Agricultural Museums, www.alhfam.org.  I think this is what you're proposing, right?

What you want to do is make sure that you aren't opening the gates for any old collection of buildings, working farms, or Historic districts.  Half of Amish Country could fit here too. These are locations that have lots of old, original buildings but they have not been designated for educational purposes.  This might included ghost towns (with no commercial development), West Alexandria, The Boston Commons, NO's French Quarter, etc.

You're correct, I'm distinctly not thinking of historic districts or the like.

Most of the ones I know of don't really have a "population" (Greenfield Village does, and is a member on the ALHFAM site), they're almost more like parks, open places you can come to and look around.  There may be a groundskeeper or two but no one dressed the part.  I don't know if that's the same as a Living Museum, though Living Museums would certainly fit.