Postcards were a staple of vacations. Collected and sent back to friends and family so they could be part of your adventures. Many of us can remember trying to pick up postcards on the first day of vacation to get them in the mail quickly so they would arrive back home before you. Postcards were … Continue reading Wish You Were Here: Historical Documentation Through Postcards
Behind the Scenes
Meet the Crew 2025
We are heading into the final stretch of this yearโs exploration of the 18th-century kitchen at George Washingtonโs Ferry Farm, and it definitely hasn't disappointed! The finds are getting bigger and better as we continue excavating deeper into the cellar and expand our look into the surrounding area. We have made a ton of progress … Continue reading Meet the Crew 2025
It’s That Time of Year Again: 2025 Dig Preview
Itโs the most wonderful time of the year! Thereโll be dirt out for screening, ceramics for cleaning, and lots of good cheerโฆ. Okay, sorry, that might be a little too far. But it is a super exciting part of the year here at Ferry Farm, George Washingtonโs Boyhood Home. We have officially started this summerโs … Continue reading It’s That Time of Year Again: 2025 Dig Preview
Making our mark…on the laundry
18th-century household linen management and its 21st-century historic house equivalent For the modern historic house museum collections staff, the care and cleaning of our spaces and objects are some of the most important tasks we do.ย Proper dusting and routine cleaning helps preserve historic objects, vacuuming floors and wiping down woodwork help to maintain our … Continue reading Making our mark…on the laundry
One Manโs Trash is Another Manโs TPQ: Modern Materials in Archaeological Excavations
Archaeology is trash. There, I said it. Before you call Mr. Jones and have me thrown in a pit of snakes, let me explain. Generally speaking, archaeology focuses on understanding the past through the items that people left behind, i.e., their trash. Most of the things we find are left around because they were broken … Continue reading One Manโs Trash is Another Manโs TPQ: Modern Materials in Archaeological Excavations
Archaeology Is Not For The Faint Of Heart โ But We Love It Anyway
A lot of people have told me that they want or wanted to become archaeologists. I always find this flattering. Yours truly was only in my single digits when I declared the same to my family and anyone who would listen. After reading every National Geographic magazine I could get my hands on, โexcavatingโ abandoned … Continue reading Archaeology Is Not For The Faint Of Heart โ But We Love It Anyway
Behind the Glass at Ferry Farmโs Archaeology Lab
The observer stands behind glass and watches. The one being watched picks up the object with her bare hands turns it carefully to see every angle, then sets it down to record data into her computer. Then she washes her hands, unwraps another object โ and eats it! Visitors to George Washingtonโs Ferry Farm can … Continue reading Behind the Glass at Ferry Farmโs Archaeology Lab
No Nails? No Problem! The Construction of the Great Oak Pavilion
What do you get when you have a canoe, tools, and a dream team of builders? The Great Oak Pavilion! Okay, maybe the canoe wasnโt completely necessary, but it is a very interesting part of the construction of the Great Oak Pavilion. Many visitors at Ferry Farm have questions about this building and how it … Continue reading No Nails? No Problem! The Construction of the Great Oak Pavilion
Expanding Ferry Farm: The Quarter
If you have visited Ferry Farm recently or follow us on social media, you may have noticed the construction of two buildings near the Washington House. These new structures represent ones that stood in these spots during George Washingtonโs time. Identified through archaeology, their reconstructions allow us to better tell the stories of the people … Continue reading Expanding Ferry Farm: The Quarter
Slides That Saved Kenmore
On January 1, 1925, a group of well-dressed women in hats and long fur coats assembled at Kenmore to hand over the final $1,000 payment and gain full possession of the house and land. This meeting was the culmination of thirty-two months of persistent work and determination by the ladies of The Kenmore Association to … Continue reading Slides That Saved Kenmore