Travel back in time by visiting these living history museums

Peltz explains that the community includes well-known figures such as Thomas Jefferson, as well as other individuals such as women, enslaved people, and Indigenous people. “We’re really

committed to telling a full story,” she says. SPECIAL EVENTS: July 4 Celebration. Programming throughout the day ends with a fireworks display, Peltz says. She adds that free admission to

the historic area and art museums has been offered during this event. Old World Wisconsin immerses guests into rural Wisconsin between the 1840s and the 1930s, says Maria Comiskey, the

general manager of experiences and events. Here, a visitor is taught how to work with wood. Courtesy Old World Wisconsin OLD WORLD WISCONSIN LOCATION: Eagle, Wisconsin ADMISSION: $20 for

adults, $18 for adults 65-plus OFFERINGS: The community focus of Old World Wisconsin is on European immigrants and migrants coming from other parts of the United States who lived in a rural

Wisconsin village between the 1840s and 1930s, says Maria Comiskey, the general manager of experiences and events. At the 600-acre site, you can watch interpreters demonstrating crafts and

trades or explore several different farms. SPECIAL EVENTS: Midsummer Celebration. The June event, which Comiskey says is a Scandinavian celebration, marks the longest day of the year. During

the celebration, people spend time outdoors, connect with nature, and enjoy festivities, she says. EL RANCHO DE LAS GOLONDRINAS (“THE RANCH OF THE SWALLOWS”) LOCATION: Santa Fe, New Mexico

ADMISSION: $8 for adults, $6 for adults 62-plus OFFERINGS: “Our focus is on the Spanish, Mexican and territorial periods in New Mexico,” says Daniel Goodman, the museum director. He explains

that the ranch, which is 500 acres with 34 historic buildings and 10 modern museum structures, covers from the 1700s up until statehood. Dressed in traditional clothing of the time,

volunteers help visitors understand how to run a grist mill or be a blacksmith. There are hands-on activities so visitors can learn about the culture and history, Goodman says. SPECIAL

EVENTS: Santa Fe Harvest Festival. Voted the second-best harvest festival in the country by _USA Today_, this event invites visitors to stomp grapes for winemaking or crush apples to create

cider. Guests at Conner Prairie can participate in immersive experiences. Courtesy Connor-Prairie CONNER PRAIRIE LOCATION: Fishers, Indiana ADMISSION: $25 for adults, $23 for adults 65-plus

OFFERINGS: Visitors can explore historic sites across 1,000 acres, including the 1816 Lenape Indian Camp, Prairietown, and the 1859 Balloon Voyage. At the 1816 Lenape Indian Camp, visitors

can learn about the culture and relationships between the Lenape people and American fur traders. Prairietown, an outdoor 19th-century village, offers immersive experiences. “You can study

in the one-room schoolhouse, help with chores, or watch a tradesperson at work,” says Hyacinth Rucker, senior manager of public relations and communications.