Fredericksburg is famous for its colonial and Civil War history – but what about before that history? Decades of archaeological excavations at George Washington’s Ferry Farm have revealed millennia of human development and technology from pre-historic Native American Clovis spearpoints to 18th-century wig curlers and beyond. While our main focus rests on young George Washington's … Continue reading Five Cool Ancient Artifacts Found at Ferry Farm [Photos]
When Games are Serious Business: Chunkey
Sometimes games are just fun but sometimes games can make you or break you. This is the case with chunkey, a Native American game. Invented around 600 AD by indigenous peoples of the Cahokia region (near modern day St. Louis, Missouri), chunkey was a popular game that spread across much of North America. There were … Continue reading When Games are Serious Business: Chunkey
The Brick Building Where George Didn’t Sleep: A History of Ferry Farm’s Visitor Center
The Visitor Center at George Washington’s Ferry Farm is a lovely red brick colonial revival building with towering white columns and cool architectural details built in the 1960s. What’s not to love? The only problem with having a 20th century building that looks like it could be from the 18th century is that people who … Continue reading The Brick Building Where George Didn’t Sleep: A History of Ferry Farm’s Visitor Center
Experimental Archaeology: Making Cordage [Video]
In this video, archaeologist Mara Kaktins demonstrates how Native Americans used plant fibers to make rope. See other experimental archaeology demonstrations during "ArchaeoFest: Exploring Ancient Technology" at George Washington's Ferry Farm on Saturday, October 26. For event details, visit here.
Little George Goes to London [Photos]
A staff member who works at George Washington’s Ferry Farm and Historic Kenmore recently vacationed in London. Little George accompanied her and visited places related in some fashion to George Washington and his era as well as the city’s most popular tourist sites. Here is a collection of photos documenting Little George’s travels! Little George … Continue reading Little George Goes to London [Photos]
We Really Dig History!: Summer 2019’s Excavation at Ferry Farm
From late May through early August of 2019, archaeologists at George Washington's Ferry Farm were busy working in the field again, excavating a block of 18 5’x5’ units located on the east side of the Washington house. It’s not obvious today, but the area directly to the south and west of our 2019 block had … Continue reading We Really Dig History!: Summer 2019’s Excavation at Ferry Farm
In Utensils Revealed: The Washingtons’ Forks, Spoons, and Knives [Video]
In this video, curator Meghan Budinger and archaeologist Laura Galke discuss how small things like eating utensils recovered archaeologically reveal big things about the Washington family.
Thievery, Espionage, and Fancy Dishes: Why Porcelain Was a Big Deal for the Washington Family
Porcelain is the king of all ceramics. As resilient as it is beautiful, porcelain has long fascinated many people. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), the Chinese began exporting porcelain to Europeans, who coveted the precious dishes to the point that porcelain became more valuable than gold. Europeans obsessed over how it was produced and … Continue reading Thievery, Espionage, and Fancy Dishes: Why Porcelain Was a Big Deal for the Washington Family
George Washington Slept Here… Twice!
The black darkness of night -- before electric lights – is hard for us to imagine today. We assume life simply stopped as our ancestors awaited day’s return, though historical research suggests it did not. People cleaned, cooked, plowed, prayed, and even visited neighbors in the dead of night. In one instance, George Washington wrote … Continue reading George Washington Slept Here… Twice!
The Furniture Makers: Tom Snyder and Astrid Smith [Video]
In this video, we visit with Tom Snyder and Astrid Smith of Williamsburg Art Conservation to see how they upholstered the leather bottom chairs in the hall of the Washington house replica. Watch other videos and read more about rebuilding the Washington house here.
Lives & Legacies 