As you drive down the road, sometimes, there are enough signs to make your head spin. It can be tempting to just drive by these stark white cast iron road markers with black text when you see them. Even so, sometimes you can’t help but let a word or a phrase catch your eye, sparking … Continue reading Pull Over!! The Virginia Highway Historical Markers of The George Washington Foundation
Ferry Farm
Behind the Glass at Ferry Farm’s 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 – and eats it! Visitors to George Washington’s Ferry Farm can … Continue reading Behind the Glass at Ferry Farm’s 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 wasn’t 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: Preparing For The Long Winter In The Cellar House
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 those that stood in these spots during George Washington’s time and were constructed using 18th-century methods. Identified through archaeology, their reconstructions allow us to tell … Continue reading Expanding Ferry Farm: Preparing For The Long Winter In The Cellar House
Cowrie Shells: Cultural and Economic Ties in the 18th-Century Atlantic World
Figure 1: Ferry Farm cowries Many readers will undoubtedly recognize these two artifacts (Fig. 1). Known as cowrie shells, these artifacts have become synonymous with slavery and serve as identifiers for the presence of free and enslaved Black individuals in the Americas. Still, the role of cowries in the 18th century goes far beyond that … Continue reading Cowrie Shells: Cultural and Economic Ties in the 18th-Century Atlantic World
Bread Talk: A Slice of History in Colonial America
In 2020, many of us spent a great majority of our time at home. This gave us the opportunity to get creative and explore new hobbies. One such hobby that became a viral sensation, plastered across social media, food blogs, and television news outlets, was that of baking bread. Bread has been around in some … Continue reading Bread Talk: A Slice of History in Colonial America
Meet the 2024 Field Crew
The dig is in full swing, and we are a little over halfway through our 11-week dig season. Over the past few weeks, we have made lots of new exciting discoveries, and as you may have noticed, added quite a few new faces to our crew. Hosting a field school from the University of South … Continue reading Meet the 2024 Field Crew
Horsing Around: Archeological Finds at Ferry Farm
Think about a portrait or painting of George Washington. What is a common element in the paintings? His uniform, yes, he is indeed painted quite a bit in his impressive military uniform. But how about a horse? George is often painted riding beautiful horses with a quiet dignity and noble appearance we expect from the … Continue reading Horsing Around: Archeological Finds at Ferry Farm
Happy Birthday, Mr. President!
Not every president gets their birthday celebrated every year with a federal holiday, but George Washington, a favorite of his countrymen and the first president, has had that privilege since 1879. But one year was a little different from the others: 1932. It marked Washington’s 200th birthday, and the United States was going to make … Continue reading Happy Birthday, Mr. President!
What’s on your Thanksgiving table?
Thanksgiving is next week, and families and friends across the United States will gather again to celebrate the past year's blessings. Days for giving thanks have been proclaimed throughout history for many reasons – most often to celebrate a bountiful summer or fall harvest, the end of a war, or even the beginning of a … Continue reading What’s on your Thanksgiving table?
Lives & Legacies 