Over the last week on Lives & Legacies, we've been talking a lot about the Washington house corner cupboard! We're obviously excited because not only is the cupboard beautiful and a beautifully-made piece but because it also represents a shift from building the structure of the Washington house itself to an increased focus on the … Continue reading Video: Furnishing George’s House – Painting the Corner Cupboard
Furniture
Furnishing George’s House: The Corner Cupboard
As construction of the Washington house at Ferry Farm continues, our attention is turning to the furnishings of the house. Our goal is to furnish the house entirely with reproductions of 18th century pieces, so that our visitors can fully interact with them, without fear of damage to an irreplaceable piece. Guests will be able … Continue reading Furnishing George’s House: The Corner Cupboard
Video: Building George’s House – The Corner Cupboard
In this video, we learn from Curator Meghan Budinger about how we will furnish the Washington house reconstruction, we see a corner cupboard for the house being built, and talk with Master Joiner Ted Boscana from Colonial Williamsburg about making the cupboard. Learn more about the Washington House here and view other videos, photos, and … Continue reading Video: Building George’s House – The Corner Cupboard
Digging Up a Card Table
Tantalizing evidence of historic furniture use exists within the soils of George Washington’s Ferry Farm and that evidence gives us a more complete view of how the Washington family lived in the 1700s. The hundreds of items archaeologists and students have uncovered represent the remains of furniture broken or embellishments lost. The ruthless outdoor elements … Continue reading Digging Up a Card Table
Video: Picnicking with Washington
In this video, we talk about how people, including George Washington, picnicked in the 18th century and take a closer look at one particular piece of furniture used while on a picnic 200 years ago. You can read more about picnicking customs of the 1700s here.
Keeping Secrets, 18th Century Style
In today’s world we keep our valuables, like money, important documents, jewelry, etc. locked safely in a bank vault or safety deposit box. These options for safe-keeping of valuables were not available in 18th century America, and so our ancestors had to be a bit more creative in hiding their important items from would-be thieves … Continue reading Keeping Secrets, 18th Century Style
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