The Beecher Tradition
http://newman.baruch.cuny.edu/digital/2001/beecher/default.htm
“Families that have been influential in American life and culture are often recognizable by their signature names. The Beecher family is an example of one such family whose deep religious convictions and social conscience spanned the nineteenth century and made them prominent historical figures whose impact on religion, education, abolition, reform movements, literature and public life were exceptional.”
This website paints little pictures of Beecher family members. Lyman, Harriet, and Catherine Beecher all receive attention here. The information describes their childhood, major accomplishments, and effects on American History. In addition to the narratives, browsers can access images and primary documents. The images are of relatively clear quality and worth examining. Overall, this site is designed for those interested in an introduction to a leading family in American History.

Cabildo Online Exhibit
http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/cabildo/cabildo.htm
“Welcome to the Cabildo, the site of the Louisiana Purchase Transfer ceremonies in 1803 and our State's most important historical building. Several important historical events took place within the Cabildo and it has been visited by five American Presidents. The emphasis throughout the Cabildo exhibit is on the people of Louisiana, the many diverse ethnic groups who came here and who collectively comprise Louisianians today.”
Although this information focuses on Louisiana, students can deduce cultural and social patterns of the Antebellum and Civil War Eras for the rest of the nation. As a whole, this website offers a good deal to its visitors. The State of Louisiana has played a crucial role in the History of the United States. During the Early Republic, the Louisiana Purchase consumed the attention of settlers, civilians, and soldiers. Also, the culture of Louisiana during the Antebellum Period reflected the social patterns and values of the Deep South. Finally, during the American Civil War, New Orleans was critical to the Union strategy of cleaving the Confederacy in half. After Admiral David G. Farragut’s bold maneuver at New Orleans, it was only a matter of time before this seaport fell to Union soldiers. Overall, this website is informative and contains material that students and teachers can integrate into the classroom.

James Madison Center
http://www.jmu.edu/madison/center/index.htm
“The James Madison Center was founded in 1999 to honor the legacy of the nation's fourth President and Father of the United States Constitution. Located on the campus of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, the Center serves as a repository for information on Madison's life and times (1751-1836) as well as that of the Federalist Era.”
As a founding father and early president, James Madison’s career and ideology helped shape American politics. Utilizing narratives, images, and primary documents, this website illustrates his centrality to early American political history. Regarding narratives on the Madison Administration, students will find information about political parties, American expansion, U.S.-Native American relations, slavery, and the Supreme Court. Finally, browsers will find historic documents scattered throughout the website.

The Star-Spangled Banner
http://web8.si.edu/nmah/htdocs/ssb-old/2_home/fs2.html
“At the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, we are engaged in a significant effort to preserve this icon, which has been endangered by time, and exposure to pollution and the elements.”
As another link from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History website, The Star-Spangled Banner Preservation Project is “saving an American treasure--the flag that inspired our national anthem.” Included in this site is the Star-Spangled Banner's origins and history, an area addressing the flag's symbolism, the conservation team's progress, and “educational offerings.” In the Educator Information section one can find ideas and materials to supplement and expand curriculum focusing on the Star-Spangled Banner, the War of 1812, and various other American historical moments.

Territorial Kansas Online
http://www.territorialkansasonline.org/cgiwrap/imlskto/index.php
“Explore the turbulent times of ‘Bleeding Kansas.’ Hundreds of personal letters, diaries, photos, and maps bring to life the settling of Kansas during the fierce debate over slavery.”
This site is absolutely loaded with primary documents and images surrounding “Bleeding Kansas,” the debate over slavery, and the territorial process of state formation. It includes digital copies of letter, legislation (the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 et al), the Annals of Kansas, and much more. The website designers also include lesson plans covering John Brown and the Wyandotte Constitution. In creating this site, the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, Kansas State Historical Society, and University of Kansas have done a wonderful job.

Thomas A. Edison Papers
http://edison.rutgers.edu/
“The Thomas A. Edison Papers is a documentary editing project sponsored by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, the National Park Service, the Smithsonian Institution, and the New Jersey Historical Commission...The extensive collection of papers preserved in the archive at the Edison National Historic Site—approximately 5 million pages in all—is the product of Thomas Alva Edison's sixty-year career as inventor, manufacturer, and businessman.”
Thomas Edison was one of the most prolific inventors in U.S. history and deeply influenced not only America, but the entire world. As described on this website, the sheer immensity of his archived papers have deterred many from conducting much research in them. This project has helped make his works more accessible by producing edited volumes as well as digitized resources. The site has a complex internal search engine that can help narrow down results by numerous different factors. There are also bibliographies, maps and information on Edison’s numerous business ventures. There is so much information provided that small research projects could provide countless avenues of investigation for students. (BR)