Behind the Scenes

The Brick Building Where George Didn’t Sleep: A History of Ferry Farm’s Visitor Center

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The Visitor Center at George Washington’s Ferry Farm is a lovely red brick colonial revival building with towering white columns and cool architectural details built in the 1960s.  What’s not to love?  The only problem with having a 20th century building that looks like it could be from the 18th century is that people who … Continue reading The Brick Building Where George Didn’t Sleep: A History of Ferry Farm’s Visitor Center

Primary Sources: Interpreting the Past in the Present

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At George Washington’s Ferry Farm, we focus on archaeology as one way to learn about both the Washingtons and the other people who lived and worked on this landscape.  We rely on archaeology because many of these residents did not leave behind documentary primary sources for us to study.  A primary source is a “letter, … Continue reading Primary Sources: Interpreting the Past in the Present

Dressing the Past: Costuming Challenges at Ferry Farm & Kenmore

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We have been working tirelessly to improve the accuracy of the costumes that actors and staff wear when performing for or interacting with the public at Historic Kenmore and George Washington’s Ferry Farm. This is no easy task, but it improves the visitor experience and helps them better understand the Washington and the Lewis families … Continue reading Dressing the Past: Costuming Challenges at Ferry Farm & Kenmore

“I wonder if this was mine?”: Robert Bailey’s Ferry Farm

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We have a unique situation here at the Ferry Farm Archaeology Lab.  One of our volunteers, who has spent hundreds of hours washing, sorting and labeling excavated artifacts, is oddly enough, also partially responsible for creating some of those artifacts in the first place! Robert Bailey, his father Ray, mother Peggy and older brother Ray … Continue reading “I wonder if this was mine?”: Robert Bailey’s Ferry Farm

Inside the Archaeology Lab: Putting Artifacts on Exhibit

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Here on Lives & Legacies we’ve shown you a variety of important tasks that take place inside the Archaeology Lab at George Washington’s Ferry Farm. You’ve seen how we wash, catalog, label, and then mend vessels with archival glue. One goal of all this work is to piece together whole artifacts from the many broken … Continue reading Inside the Archaeology Lab: Putting Artifacts on Exhibit

Photos: Historic Kenmore Behind-the-Scenes Tours

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On rare occasions, Historic Kenmore offers special behind-the-scenes tours that take visitors into portions of the home not usually open to the public during regular tours. Additionally, Meghan Budinger, Aldrich Director of Curatorial Operations,  leads the tour and shares her expert insights and knowledge into the mansion's history, furnishing, and ongoing preservation. This past weekend, visitors once … Continue reading Photos: Historic Kenmore Behind-the-Scenes Tours

Photos: Thank You, Volunteers!

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The George Washington Foundation held its annual Volunteer Appreciation Reception on Thursday, October 20 at George Washington's Ferry Farm.  Volunteers contributed over 11,000 hours of work at Ferry Farm and Historic Kenmore over the past year! Without them, we'd be history! If you're interested in volunteering, click here.