by gwffoundation | Dec 2, 2015 | Historic Kenmore, Holiday History, Lives & Legacies
Although Fielding Lewis certainly built a home capable of hosting the elaborate Christmas celebrations popular in 18th century Virginia, Historic Kenmore probably never saw occasions on such a lavish scale, with the possible exception of the family’s first Christmas...
by gwffoundation | Nov 23, 2015 | Archaeology, Lives & Legacies
Archaeologists at Ferry Farm regularly find evidence of ‘expedient’ tool making by Native Americans. These quickly-made tools were created for a single, immediate job and, once used, just discarded. In this video, we break off a flake of obsidian and use...
by gwffoundation | Nov 18, 2015 | Holiday History, Lives & Legacies
As thanksgiving approaches we turn our thoughts to tradition, family, and feast. Thanksgiving traditions call to mind family around a table full of food, a roast turkey with cranberry sauce, or maybe even a romanticized recreation of New England meal from the 17th...
by gwffoundation | Nov 16, 2015 | Historic Kenmore, Lives & Legacies, Natural History
This past Friday, November 13, visitors enjoyed “Night in Washington’s Day,” a special evening event at Historic Kenmore that explored the history of nighttime in the 18th century. Night was an active time 200 years ago. People cleaned, cooked,...
by gwffoundation | Nov 11, 2015 | Lives & Legacies, Natural History
The black darkness of night — before electric lights – is hard for us to imagine today. We assume life simply stopped as our ancestors awaited day’s return, though historical research suggests it did not. People cleaned, cooked, plowed, prayed, and even visited...
by gwffoundation | Nov 9, 2015 | George Washington's Ferry Farm, Lives & Legacies
Scenes from a recent autumn stroll around George Washington’s Ferry Farm. This semester’s Fleming-Smith Scholar Courtney Kuzemchak, a student at the University of Mary Washington, captured these seasonal images. You can see photos of Ferry Farm in winter...
