On Tuesday, May 1, 2018, Dr. Kelly Brennan Arehart, Manager of Interpretation & Visitor Services at The George Washington Foundation, presented a lecture titled “Betty Washington Lewis and Women's Health.” Betty Washington Lewis gave birth to 11 children; a feat almost unheard of today. Kelly explored Betty’s journey from childhood to womanhood, from maiden to … Continue reading Lecture – Betty Washington Lewis and Women’s Health [Video]
Video: The Seven Easy Pieces of Furniture – Episode 1: Low Post Beds
In this video, Fredericksburg, Virginia-based furniture maker Steve Dietrich discusses some of the techniques he used to create four low post beds for the reconstructed Washington house at George Washington's Ferry Farm. Watch other videos and read more about rebuilding the Washington house here.
Finding a Boyd’s Battery: An “Electrifying” Ferry Farm Story
"THE BLOOD IS THE LIFE!" ACCOMPLISHED AT LAST! THE EFFICACY OF ELECTRICITY!! Nearly all Diseases Effectually Cured by BOYD’S MINIATURE GALVANIC BATTERY! This is the opening pitch of an 1879 advertising circular for a popular medical medallion called a Boyd’s Battery. The battery was a disc, about 1¼ inch in diameter, meant to hang from … Continue reading Finding a Boyd’s Battery: An “Electrifying” Ferry Farm Story
Video – Eggsperimental Archaeology: Preserving Eggs before the Age of Refrigeration, Part 1
In this video, we do some experimental archaeology and try four different techniques used to preserve fresh uncooked eggs before the advent of refrigeration. You can also read about meat preservation techniques prior to the invention of refrigeration here.
Tacks-ation without Representation
Let’s do our tacks! I know you’ve been dreading doing your tacks, and putting it off as long as you could, but time is running out. It is time to do our tacks, friends. Whether iron alloy or copper alloy, tacks provide important clues to the presence of upholstered furniture, trunks, and horse tack at … Continue reading Tacks-ation without Representation
Surveying the Bird Life at George Washington’s Ferry Farm
Recently, on a gray overcast March morning, four members of the Fredericksburg Birding Club bundled up against the unseasonable cold to trudge across the open fields and through the forests of George Washington’s Ferry Farm to conduct their latest bird survey. It was their fourth such survey in the past seven months. During these surveys … Continue reading Surveying the Bird Life at George Washington’s Ferry Farm
Video: Inside the Archaeology Lab – Why Does That Glass Look Funny?
Mara Kaktins, archaeology lab supervisor at George Washington's Ferry Farm, explains the weird patination on some glass artifacts excavated by our archaeologists. For other "Inside the Archaeology Lab" videos, visit the Archaeology at George Washington's Ferry Farm playlist our YouTube channel.
What Is This Artifact?
With building work on the reconstructed Washington family home at George Washington's Ferry Farm nearly finished, our archaeologists are in the midst of identifying Washington-owned plates, bowls, glasses, and other household artifacts to be used to furnish the house once construction is finally complete. While working to identify things, archaeologists sometimes encounter a "mystery artifact" … Continue reading What Is This Artifact?
Snow at George Washington’s Ferry Farm & Historic Kenmore
Historic Kenmore and George Washington's Ferry Farm experienced a snowstorm on Wednesday, March 21, 2018. Our staff took these photos of the snowfall from around the Lewis and Washington homes. We also setup a timelapse camera at the Ferry Farm Visitors Center to capture the snowfall over the course of the storm. Closely watch the … Continue reading Snow at George Washington’s Ferry Farm & Historic Kenmore
How the Enlightenment Transformed Cats into Pets
We look at our cats today as the furriest, purriest companions known to humankind. But most cats in colonial America worked for their status as the designated house cat. It wasn’t all lazy days trying to squeeze into the smallest box possible or snoozing in that tiny sliver of sunlight on the living room floor. … Continue reading How the Enlightenment Transformed Cats into Pets
Lives & Legacies 