Mark,

You might be interested in Living History Farms near Des Moines.

http://www.lhf.org/about.html 


Blane H. Nansel, RPA
Highway Archaeology Program
The University of Iowa
700 Clinton Street Building
Iowa City, IA 52240-1030
(319)384-0729
[log in to unmask]
http://www.uiowa.edu/~osa/

-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mark
Branstner
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2007 12:51 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Historical Archaeology Destinations

Hi All,

I just got back from a weekend trip to the Lake Geneva, Wisconsin area,
and had the great pleasure of "discovering" a Wisconsin Historical
Society property called "OLD WORLD WISCONSIN" - a 160-acre complex of
woods and fields with various reconstructed farmsteads reflecting
Wisconsin's ethnic heritage.  Using salvaged buildings from various
locations, there were German, Finnish, Norwegian, Polish and other
farmsteads, as well as various other 19th century buildings, cows,
chickens, interpreters, etc.

Having grown up with Henry Ford's Greenfield Village in Dearborn,
Michigan, I am certainly familiar with the concept, but I was very
impressed with the Old World Wisconsin execution -- sort of reminded me
of the Cade's Cove section in the Smokey Mountains National Park ....

Being new to Illinois, does anyone have suggestions for other historic
sites, building zoos, or similar attractions that I should be thinking
about here in the central Midwest ... or anywhere else, for that matter?
Other people's favorites?

Thanks in advance,  Mark
-- 

Mark C. Branstner
Historic Archaeologist

Illinois Transportation
Archaeological Research Program
209 Nuclear Physics Lab, MC-571
23 East Stadium Drive
Champaign, IL 61820

Phone: 217.244.0892
Fax: 217.244.7458
Cell: 517.927.4556
[log in to unmask]


"Liebe: eine Gleichung mit zwei Unbekannten"

- Gerhard Branstner (1927- )

"There is also an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth,
without either virtue or talents ... The artificial aristocracy is a
mischievous ingredient in government, and provisions should be made to
prevent its ascendancy."

- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)