Benjamin Franklin once wrote that “Nothing is certain except death and taxes.” And with the deadline to pay the federal income tax only days away it would be difficult to disagree with the founding father. However in the 200 years since the American Revolution, a few popular misconceptions attach themselves to that universal truth. This blog … Continue reading Some Tax Myths… Busted!
Photos: Glue Through a Microscope
While living at Ferry Farm, Mary Washington, mother of George, owned a creamware punch bowl with beautiful hand-painted enamel depicting a floral motif and cherry accents. Archaeologists excavated pieces of this bowl from the cellar of the Washington home and subsequently discovered glue residue on the sherds. We've written about the importance of the bowl's discovery here … Continue reading Photos: Glue Through a Microscope
These Are A Few Of My Favorite (Broken) Things: Cobalt Blue Decanter Stopper
Archaeologists are somewhat unique in their appreciation for all things broken, mostly due to the coveted information discarded items can tell us about those who died long ago. However, occasionally a fragment is unearthed which is both informative and beautiful. Such is the case with a lovely cobalt blue decanter stopper excavated on the grounds … Continue reading These Are A Few Of My Favorite (Broken) Things: Cobalt Blue Decanter Stopper
Video: UV Light in Museums
Ultraviolet light is an important and useful tool within the museum world. In this video, we show you how archaeologists and curators use UV light in their work with artifacts and historic objects.
Lives & Legacies: The Exhibit
Want to see "in real life" the 18th century ceramic fruit dish we wrote about last August? You can see it and the matching sherds excavated by archaeologists on your next visit to George Washington's Ferry Farm. The dish sits inside the Ferry Farm visitor center in a museum display case now dedicated to Lives & Legacies. In this … Continue reading Lives & Legacies: The Exhibit
Photos: It’s Spring. Let’s Dig!
Last week, another archaeological excavation season began at George Washington's Ferry Farm. Here are some scenes from the first week of digging. On weekdays, see Ferry Farm’s archaeologists working at the excavation site from now through late-June or, if you can't visit before June, spend a day on the dig site by watching the video below. … Continue reading Photos: It’s Spring. Let’s Dig!
Between the Lines: Teasing out Tame’s Story
In this day and age, it is easy to discover the particulars of someone’s life simply with the click of a button. Phone number, age, home address, professional resume and more can easily be obtained by searching through public records on the Internet or at the library. A treasure trove of current primary and secondary … Continue reading Between the Lines: Teasing out Tame’s Story
Video: How to Play Whist
Colonial Americans often played cards for leisure and enjoyment and one of the most popular card games of the period was Whist. In this video we show you how to play this game. You can read a bit about the history of playing cards themselves here.
The Truth As We Know It
I love stories. I mostly love true stories but I also love those stories that may not actually be true but are perceived by many to be true. It is in those perceived truths that one can make discoveries about how people and societies see history. Likewise, studying a collection of one’s own oral stories … Continue reading The Truth As We Know It
Photos: Posh Pots and Decadent Dishes
New specialty tours at Historic Kenmore provide opportunities for guests to explore a deeper understanding of Kenmore by focusing on the topics that make us uniquely Kenmore. One such tour, "Posh Pots and Decadent Dishes: The Lewis Family Life through their Ceramics," explores how everyday objects can teach us about how families lived. In the 18th … Continue reading Photos: Posh Pots and Decadent Dishes
Lives & Legacies 