With building work on the reconstructed Washington family home at George Washington's Ferry Farm nearly finished, our archaeologists are in the midst of identifying Washington-owned plates, bowls, glasses, and other household artifacts to be used to furnish the house once construction is finally complete. While working to identify things, archaeologists sometimes encounter a "mystery artifact" … Continue reading What Is This Artifact?
artifacts
A Thimble of My Love
Thimbles were once a popular token of affection given to ladies by family members, close acquaintances, or sanguine suitors. These essential tools formed an ideal gift for a beloved family member or an appropriate token of affection during those early, initial stages of a budding romance. They were considered a less intimate gift than perfume … Continue reading A Thimble of My Love
The Fly …uh, Snail… in the Ointment …Pot
It’s flu season again. And for most of us who get sick that means a trip to the doctor, perhaps some prescribed medicines, and lots of rest. But what did George Washington do when he got sick? Although most of us likely think of our first president as perpetually healthy and strong, he was actually … Continue reading The Fly …uh, Snail… in the Ointment …Pot
The Wine Bottle: Ubiquitous and Informative
Ah, the humble wine bottle. There are few historical archaeological sites without them and Ferry Farm is no exception. Our current mending project has produced about a dozen wine bottles from one Washington house cellar feature alone. Readily identifiable because their form has changed little in the past 250 years, these beauties are sometimes overlooked … Continue reading The Wine Bottle: Ubiquitous and Informative
Finding Clues in Curtain Rings
What do you think curtains look like after hundreds of years in Virginia’s soils? Naturally, the cloth portions of such tasteful textiles quickly erode away. But archaeologists do occasionally discover curtain rings. It’s likely that brass rings such as these became separated from their stylish drapery due to cloth tearing or – occasionally - because … Continue reading Finding Clues in Curtain Rings
The Colorful Glass Tablewares of the Washington Household
As work continues on the reconstructed Washington family home at Ferry Farm, we archaeologists are identifying items that were owned by the Washingtons so we can eventually fill the reconstructed house with plates, bowls, glasses, and many other objects based on artifacts we’ve discovered. In a previous blog post, we looked at some of the … Continue reading The Colorful Glass Tablewares of the Washington Household
“A Silly Bauble”: Ferry Farm’s Sputnik Moment
EDITOR'S NOTE: Sixty years ago today, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, Earth's first artificial satellite, into orbit. It was an event with consequences, both great and small, that spanned the globe, even reaching Ferry Farm, once the boyhood home of George Washington, in Virginia. Today, we reshare this blog post about Ferry Farm's Sputnik moment. … Continue reading “A Silly Bauble”: Ferry Farm’s Sputnik Moment
Video – Lecture: “The Rooms at Ferry Farm”
On Tuesday, September 19, 2017, Meghan Budinger, Aldrich Director of Curatorial Operations at The George Washington Foundation, presented a lecture titled “The Rooms at Ferry Farm.” Meghan surveyed how we plan to furnish the reconstructed Washington house using traditional decorative arts scholarship but also adopted skills from genealogists, architectural historians, material cultural experts, scientists, and … Continue reading Video – Lecture: “The Rooms at Ferry Farm”
Video – Lecture: “The Mother of the Father of Our Country”
On Tuesday, September 12, 2017, Laura Galke, archaeologist, small finds analyst and site director at The George Washington Foundation, presented a lecture titled “The Mother of the Father of Our Country.” Laura examined how historical documents and newly-unearthed artifacts indicate that Mary Washington, George’s mother, faced challenges, governed her home, and managed the family’s plantations … Continue reading Video – Lecture: “The Mother of the Father of Our Country”
Video – Lecture: “Building George’s House, Introducing the New Ferry Farm”
On Tuesday, September 5, 2017, Dave Muraca, director of archaeology and vice president of museum content at The George Washington Foundation, presented “Building George’s House: Introducing the New Ferry Farm,” his account of the last eighteen months as George Washington's Ferry Farm witnessed the careful reconstruction of the Washington house using many traditional techniques. Dave … Continue reading Video – Lecture: “Building George’s House, Introducing the New Ferry Farm”
Lives & Legacies 