A pest is a broad term for any organism that spreads disease, causes destruction, or is generally a nuisance. In the 21st century, we still constantly battle pests from squirrels who chew through your internet cables or spiders who set up house in the high corner of the ceiling, watching and judging you to evil … Continue reading Of Mice and Men: A brief exploration of rodents’ history in America
George Washington
No Buttons for the Ladies
Whilst I costume actors, living historians, and myself from time to time in 18th century clothing, I find myself puzzled about the stark difference between the closures and attachments of ladies’ and men’s garb. I have to lace myself into my stays, tie on layers of padding and petticoats around my waist, and finally pin … Continue reading No Buttons for the Ladies
Corncrib: A Building as Corny as it Gets
If you have followed the news of our excavations, you will have kept up to date with our building finds. The past two summers helped uncover evidence of one such structure, which we now believe represents a corncrib. While the name may seem self-explanatory, we have frequently heard the question, “What is a corncrib?” To … Continue reading Corncrib: A Building as Corny as it Gets
Bane of the Washingtons: Deaths in the Next Generation and Amongst the Enslaved
Welcome back to our 3-Part Blog charting tuberculosis (TB) in the extended Washington Family. If you are new to this series, Part I examined how the disease works, charted its history and explained standard courses of treatments in the 1700s. Part II looked at victims from George’s generation, including his brothers Lawrence and Samuel and … Continue reading Bane of the Washingtons: Deaths in the Next Generation and Amongst the Enslaved
Bane of the Washingtons Part II: The Deaths of Lawrence, Fielding, and Samuel
Welcome back to our 3-Part Blog charting tuberculosis in the extended Washington Family. If you are new to this series, Part I examined how the disease works, charted its history, and explained standard courses of treatments in the 1700s. You can find the blog here, and we encourage a review of the “Treatment” section. In … Continue reading Bane of the Washingtons Part II: The Deaths of Lawrence, Fielding, and Samuel
“To Rendezvous at Fredericksburgh”: The Washington-Lewis Family, Fredericksburg, and the World War of 1754-1763: Part I
Editor’s Note: As the two-hundred-sixty-ninth anniversary of the skirmish of Jumonville Glen approaches this Sunday, May 28th, some recent and exciting discoveries have occurred at the battlefield. The National Park Service (NPS) released an announcement this week stating that after a four-week archeological investigation, objects have been found to verify the location of the first … Continue reading “To Rendezvous at Fredericksburgh”: The Washington-Lewis Family, Fredericksburg, and the World War of 1754-1763: Part I
2023 Ferry Farm Dig Preview
Spring is here, which means another season of exciting archaeological work at Ferry Farm is about to begin! Ferry Farm, the boyhood home of George Washington, has been conducting archaeological investigations for over 30 years with the aim of recreating and analyzing the 18th-century farm landscape that shaped George Washington during his formative years as … Continue reading 2023 Ferry Farm Dig Preview
Bane of the Washington Family Part I: The Disease
Epidemics and pandemics loom large in history. Few have not heard of the Black Death or Spanish Flu, and Covid-19 still affects our lives. Short, two to three-year outbreaks of these diseases kill quickly and in staggering numbers, but what about the diseases that have stuck around throughout history and brought about death in a … Continue reading Bane of the Washington Family Part I: The Disease
Cooking up holiday treats: Gingerbread and Flip
This year at our annual Twelfth-Night celebrations, visitors could enter the kitchen for a short lecture and demonstration. The archaeology and curatorial teams gave the talks to explain two important food items that play a part in Kenmore's history and the holiday, gingerbread and flip. Our first demonstration was done by Emma Schlauder, Research Archaeologist … Continue reading Cooking up holiday treats: Gingerbread and Flip
Oyster Ice Cream: The Enigma
This past week the curatorial and archaeology departments came together to fulfill a long-held dream to make oyster ice cream. Many people asked "why?" others said "gross," and many just shook their heads at our endeavor. But we are not easily put off by odd things in history. In fact, many of us seek them … Continue reading Oyster Ice Cream: The Enigma
Lives & Legacies 