Globetrotting

Past and present

THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION has named 12 Distinctive Destinations for 2005. They honor communities the organization considers unique and lovingly preserved. They include:

Helena, Mont., with 19th-century mansions, restored pioneer dwellings and gold mining-era businesses, not to mention its mountain surroundings.

Bisbee, Ariz., a one-time mining town in the Mule Mountains that is now an art colony.

Oak Park, Ill., a suburb of Chicago with the world's largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright designed buildings.

Bath, Maine, an old seafaring town with historic buildings and rugged beaches.

Natchitoches, La., with a 33-block historic district and picture-book architecture.

New Braunfels, Texas, founded by German immigrants in 1845, it honors its heritage with activities such as the Wurstfest, a 10-day celebration of sausage.

More on the Web: www.nationaltrust.org

Literary license

THE TENNESSEE WILLIAMS /NEW ORLEANS Literary Festival will be March 30-April 3 in the Big Easy. The writer referred to New Orleans as his "spiritual" home. Master classes, theatrical productions, panel discussions and food and wine events are on tap. www.tennesseewilliams.net

New York museums

THE STRONG MUSEUM in Rochester, N.Y., is home to the world's largest collections of toys, miniatures and dolls, as well as the National Toy Hall of Fame; www.strongmuseum.org. The Corning Museum of Glass houses a celebrated collection of glass that illustrates the evolution of glass over 3,500 years; www.cmog.org. The National Baseball Hall of Fame is in Cooperstown, with an impressive collection of memorabilia; www.baseballhalloffame.org. New York City's Rubin Museum of Art, 150 West 17th St., www.rmanyc.org, is dedicated to Himalayan art and culture. Now showing: "Tibet: Treasures from the Roof of the World," featuring sculptures, paintings and textiles.

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E-mail: kclayton@desnews.com