We are excited to be celebrating George Washington's 290th birthday (although it's the day before his actual birth date) on President's Day! On February 22, 1732, George was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Some interesting facts are associated with his birth-date and the subsequent birthday celebrations he would have as an adult. For instance, did … Continue reading Happy Birthday, George!
Archaeology
Behind the Glass of the Archaeology Lab: Creating an Exhibit
It can be daunting to look at a blank space and realize you are in charge of filling it. And not just filling it, you need to create something that will leave a lasting impression on the public. The process of creating an exhibit is much more complicated than it seems. From the initial idea … Continue reading Behind the Glass of the Archaeology Lab: Creating an Exhibit
Dig These Dishes! We Recreate an 18th Century Table Setting Using Only Artifacts.
On a typical day at George Washington’s Boyhood Home at Ferry Farm, visitors experiencing the house tour are ushered into the main hall upon which a dining table is set out before them with 18th-century reproductions of plates, glassware, wine bottles, and serving dishes. This setting creates an interactive experience for our visitors, transporting them … Continue reading Dig These Dishes! We Recreate an 18th Century Table Setting Using Only Artifacts.
The Archaeological Process [Infographic]
Playing Around: 20th Century Die-Cast Toys Excavated at Ferry Farm
A lot of people don’t realize how many 20th century artifacts we excavate at George Washington’s Ferry Farm. Up until the 1990s, families lived and farmed on the property, leaving tens of thousands of artifacts behind. Some of our favorite modern artifacts are the toys we recover, whether marbles, plastic army and cowboy figurines, doll … Continue reading Playing Around: 20th Century Die-Cast Toys Excavated at Ferry Farm
“Have you found anything today?”: A Review of the 2021 Archaeological Excavation at Ferry Farm
“Have you found anything today?” was (and always is) the most-asked question posed by our daily visitors who stopped by our archaeological site at George Washington's Ferry Farm this summer. Everyone wants to understand what is going on in the very large square hole we have made in the lawn. “Yes, we find something every … Continue reading “Have you found anything today?”: A Review of the 2021 Archaeological Excavation at Ferry Farm
A Day at the Dig at George Washington’s Ferry Farm [Video]
In this video, spend a day with the archaeologists digging at George Washington's Ferry Farm this summer. https://youtu.be/bX-sK0Hlyyg
We’re Still Digging!: An Update on 2021’s Archaeological Excavation at Ferry Farm [Photos]
The 2021 archaeological dig season at George Washington’s Ferry Farm is over two-thirds complete. Here’s a collection of photos taken in the field of a few artifacts discovered thus far. You can read an overview of our expectations and goals for this year’s dig here. Visitors can ask archaeologists questions and observe their work Monday … Continue reading We’re Still Digging!: An Update on 2021’s Archaeological Excavation at Ferry Farm [Photos]
We’re Digging!: A Preview of 2021’s Archaeological Excavation at Ferry Farm
Visitors to George Washington’s Ferry Farm will once again be able to meet and talk to our staff archaeologists as they work at our archaeological dig this summer. The dig opened this past Monday, June 7 and runs through Friday, August 20. Archaeologists dig Monday through Friday. Approximate location of the 2021 archaeological dig at … Continue reading We’re Digging!: A Preview of 2021’s Archaeological Excavation at Ferry Farm
The Fossils of Ferry Farm
Archaeologists have one pretty big hang up, and that is when people ask us if we dig for dinosaurs. We’re so obsessed with making sure that people know we don’t dig dinosaurs that you can find shirts, coffee mugs, keychains, and other merchandise that all say “Archaeologists Don’t Dig Dinosaurs.” But we get it: dinosaurs … Continue reading The Fossils of Ferry Farm
Lives & Legacies 