American Heritage guide to Historic Houses of America of Open to the Public. Listed alphabetically by state and city.

Tells the story of life in America in terms of the houses Americans have planned, built, and lived in. From this we can reconstruct the growth of ideas, of cultural patterns, and of practical expedients that have led to the problems and possibilities that are our present inheritance.

The name “Historical Society” or “Historic House” has a bad rap. Before potential visitors even know your museum, they may assume it’s not for them, even if you lead progressive, inclusive tours and host innovative programs. If you’re part of the leadership team of a historic house museum or historical society, you may have considered rebranding -- either renaming your organization or developing a new look – to be more appealing to a younger, more diverse audience or to reflect changes to your mission, interpretation, site, etc. Using examples from museums of all sizes across the country, this book helps you decide whether to move forward with a rebranding effort and give you a concrete outline to work from. The book will help you: Decide if you should rebrand (and that you’re not just putting lipstick on a pig) Nitty-gritty details about how to go about it How to react when someone says you’re making a huge mistake How much it will cost and where you can cut corners How to evaluate what you’ve done. Rebranding: A Guide forHistoric Houses, Museums, Sites and Organizations is a step-by-step guide that helps Executive Directors, Board members, and staff at history organizations decide if it’s time to rebrand and, if so, how to go about it. The book will guide readers through the process of deciding if a rebranding is in order, testing ideas, developing a plan and budget, implementing the launch, and even handling naysayers. It’s an essential guide for anyone rebranding a history organization.