Archaeologists at Ferry Farm regularly find evidence of 'expedient' tool making by Native Americans. These quickly-made tools were created for a single, immediate job and, once used, just discarded. In this video, we break off a flake of obsidian and use it to fillet a fish. See the other videos in our Experimental Archaeology series: glue-making, … Continue reading Video – Experimental Archaeology: Stone Tool Making
Thanksgiving in George Washington’s Virginia?
As thanksgiving approaches we turn our thoughts to tradition, family, and feast. Thanksgiving traditions call to mind family around a table full of food, a roast turkey with cranberry sauce, or maybe even a romanticized recreation of New England meal from the 17th century. But what is the history behind that tradition? What would people … Continue reading Thanksgiving in George Washington’s Virginia?
Photos: Night in Washington’s Day at Historic Kenmore
This past Friday, November 13, visitors enjoyed "Night in Washington's Day," a special evening event at Historic Kenmore that explored the history of nighttime in the 18th century. Night was an active time 200 years ago. People cleaned, cooked, plowed, prayed, and visited neighbors at night. Darkness inspired scientists to make incredible discoveries that led to centuries … Continue reading Photos: Night in Washington’s Day at Historic Kenmore
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!
Photos: Fall at Ferry Farm
Scenes from a recent autumn stroll around George Washington's Ferry Farm. This semester's Fleming-Smith Scholar Courtney Kuzemchak, a student at the University of Mary Washington, captured these seasonal images. You can see photos of Ferry Farm in winter here and a video from summer here.
A ‘Link’ Between the Washingtons and William and Mary
This cuff link or ‘sleeve button’ – made in the mid 1700s – was recovered by archaeologists from George Washington’s boyhood home at Ferry Farm. It is one of the earliest examples of the Washington family’s resistance to King George III. What makes this sleeve button so interesting is the man depicted: King William III, … Continue reading A ‘Link’ Between the Washingtons and William and Mary
History in the Night Sky
The night sky is the astronomer’s workspace, the explorer’s final frontier, and, perhaps surprisingly, the historian’s library of epic tales, myths, and legends. This library of stars connects us to the cultures and civilizations of our past in a uniquely special way. The Ancient Greeks, Native Americans, enslaved Africans, British colonists of the 18th century, … Continue reading History in the Night Sky
Video: The Colonial Kitchen – An Orange Fool
In this video, we make a rare colonial-era treat known as "An Orange Fool" recently featured in a written blog post about where colonial Americans got their fresh fruit from. You can find the blog post and the "Orange Fool" recipe here.
Kenmore’s Famed Gingerbread
Historic Kenmore was associated with gingerbread for decades. Many people’s first memories of Kenmore involve the square of gingerbread and a cup of tea that used to be served at the end of every tour. The dessert welcomed visitors to the world of colonial Fredericksburg, it comforted soldiers on their way to war in Europe … Continue reading Kenmore’s Famed Gingerbread
Ledger Book Zero
Daily ledgers, journals, cash account books, letters, invoices – these are the kinds of documents an 18th-century plantation owner and businessman needed to manage his land and property successfully. Tracking everyday expenses and the purchasing of items that couldn’t be produced on one’s farm was a necessary routine in daily life. Dry good items such … Continue reading Ledger Book Zero
Lives & Legacies 