HISTORIC PLACES TO VISIT
I once participated in a Facebook survey about the ideal vacation. I answered the questions about the activities I enjoy- museums, history museums, historic houses, antique stores, gardens & parks & my final score showed that my ideal destination was historic places to visit. Well, duh.
But what shocked me is that there are other types of vacations & many people prefer those! I have never been on a cruise. It never appealed. I haven’t seen the beaches of Hawaii, nor gone on a ski trip & I haven’t camped since the Girl Scouts. My brother owned a ski house in Colorado & I did visit there- in the summer & I visited every historic place within 100 miles. I hit a few antique shops too!
I am so glad that I married a man who majored in history & shares my interests. (Though he would like to go hiking more & occasionally sits in the car with a book when he’s done with antiquing.)
Advances in technology & communication have homogenized the unique aspects of our culture, many of which were responses to the cultures, climates & other characteristics of the region. The features of historic houses which helped inhabitants survive in various locations throughout the U.S., tell a diversity of tales in how they responded. Historic house museums & history museums also provide information, with their changing exhibits covering the details of different times & cultural topics.
Here are some historic place to visit in the U.S. that we love!

HISTORIC HOUSE MUSEUMS IN THE SOUTHEAST U.S.
I have learned a great deal about the Southeast U.S. from visiting house museums. After having read so much material on old houses, it is wonderful to visit the complete homes, most restored with the best preservation practices. Often they contain at least some...

BUNGALOW HEAVEN IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
Bungalow Heaven, a neighborhood of 800+ historic homes in Pasadena, CA, truly is a paradise. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the area was built between 1900 & 1930 & designated in 1989, as a local landmark district. Thankfully, this status...

BUNGALOW CHARACTERISTICS- Part 4
INSCRIPTION: “Bungalow Terrace [in Hyde Park, Tampa, Florida] was developed by Alfred Swann and Eugene Holtsinger [major developers in South Tampa] on what was Morrison Grove in 1913. The Bungalow Style home was modeled after the bungalows in California because of the...

HOUSE MUSEUM IN SARASOTA
Let me warn you that Sarasota, in addition to being home to some of the finest museums & house museums & gardens in the United States, is well-populated with an abundance of the best antique stores in the country. I have made many happy purchases there! (Hubby...

FLORIDA’S HISTORY MUSEUMS & HISTORIC HOUSE MUSEUMS
Florida’s history museums & historic museum houses tell a 3D tale of the state & the land boom of the 20's that cannot be fully expressed in any book, though I have to admit that I did a pretty good job in the historic documenatry film I produced! The...