Virtual Museum Tours

 I always have my students write a paper about a virtual museum tour, it is a great way to explore history without having to fight the traffic.

Travel + Leisure Magazine has a nice jumping off point, 16 museums which have the virtual tour option available:

https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours 

Hopefully this sparks your interest in getting to the museum you view. there's nothing better than being there, but this can be a good substitute at the right time. 

Smithsonian Magazine

The Smithsonian Magazine is available online, no subscription needed. Keep up on the latest finds, new explorations and the best coverage of history anywhere.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ 

If you need a reminder, subscribe to the newsletter. They will send you links to great stories according to your preferences. 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/email/ 

Museums on Us

 Bank of America offers our cardholders free general admission – during the first full weekend of every month – to cultural institutions across the United States.

So, if you have a debit card or credit card from BofA, add this to your free travel planning.  

 https://about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/museums-on-us-find-locations-map

Chase Museums on Us is a fantastic program that offers eligible Chase credit and debit cardholders free admission to hundreds of museums, historical sites, and cultural institutions across the United States on the first full weekend of every month.  

https://www.wonderfulmuseums.com/museum/chase-museums-on-us/ 

History and Travel

 Those of us who love exploring history, many times also love travel. The crossover is easy to see. You read and learn about it, then you want to see the location. One way you can do this without leaving the house or breaking the bank is online. I like Rick Stev es Monday Night Travel. Give it a try, I'm sure you'll like it too: 

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/travel-classes/monday-night-travel 

He introduces the events in this way: Are you dreaming of travel? Join us live on Mondays for our Monday Night Travel series! Together we'll journey to destinations across Europe and beyond with expert guests leading the way. Each week, you'll learn about art, history, food, and culture while picking up tried-and-true travel tips along the way. You'll even have a chance to ask questions during a live Q&A. Whether you're planning a specific trip, dreaming up vacation ideas, or craving a virtual adventure with our merry band of travelers, Monday Night Travel welcomes you aboard! 

Grant Writing for Historic Organizations

 All local historic societies and locations need help to stay running. Think ab being that help from home!

Take the grant writing courses through the following sites and build up your resume, skills and professional portfolio material. 

https://www.nonprofitready.org/grant-writing-classes 

https://alison.com/tag/grant-writing 

https://www.learngrantwriting.org/free-grant-writing-course/ 

https://ylai.state.gov/online-courses/fundamentals-of-grant-writing/ 

https://www.eventbrite.com/d/online/free--events/grant-writing-classes/ 

Once you feel ready, take the exam for certification. (https://www.grantcredential.org/) This is an asset to any organization. Take the knowledge and ask to write a grant for your local library or park system to get a foot in the door and experience with the process. Grant writing is a large WFH segment of the workforce!

Genealogy

 This topic may seem a stretch, but your own history is very valuable and can teach you a lot about daily lives. Genealogy is the tool to a second passport (I can cover this more in the future) and learning about your own path to where you are. Familysearch.org is a free site and easy to use for locating ancestors. The documents they hold are immense. You can see pictures and documents from your family you never knew existed. Let this be a jumping off point for a deeper dive into history!

Ancient Tools Story

With all the scary news from the Middle east, this story caught my eye. The historians and archeologists are still doing the work we need. 

Archaeologists in Israel have unearthed 10 "extremely rare" prehistoric stone hand axes that were crafted to deliberately include geological features, including fossils and geodes, a new study finds. 

https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/human-evolution/homo-erectus-tools-include-stunning-geodes-and-fossils-possibly-as-a-way-to-connect-with-the-cosmos-study-finds