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
leisure time
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.
“Dined at the Barbicue”: Washington Goes Picnicking
In the summer of 1770, George Washington came to Fredericksburg for an extended stay. His time here would seem familiar to anyone who has gone back to their childhood hometown. While in town he visited his mother, went to the tavern to play cards with old friends, and stayed with his sister and brother-in-law. But … Continue reading “Dined at the Barbicue”: Washington Goes Picnicking
Video: How to Play Whist
Colonial Americans often played cards for leisure and enjoyment and one of the most popular card games of the period was Whist. In this video we show you how to play this game. You can read a bit about the history of playing cards themselves here.
Lives & Legacies 