by gwffoundation | Mar 11, 2021 | History of Slavery, Lives & Legacies
Most of us have heard of Phineas Taylor “P.T.” Barnum, founder of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. During his life, P.T. Barnum was a businessman and politician but was most famously known for being an entertainer. His name became synonymous with...
by gwffoundation | Sep 4, 2019 | Lives & Legacies, Natural History
The night sky is the astronomer’s workspace, the explorer’s final frontier, and, perhaps surprisingly, the historian’s library of epic tales, myths, and legends. This library of stars connects us to the cultures and civilizations of our past in a uniquely special...
by gwffoundation | Apr 4, 2019 | George Washington, Lives & Legacies
Originally, this post was going to explore colonial America’s fear and fascination with lightning and the practical tools created to help prevent destructive lightning damage. During my research, however, I encountered a tale about Mary Ball Washington and a close...
by gwffoundation | Feb 21, 2019 | George Washington's Ferry Farm, Historic Kenmore, Lives & Legacies
If you’ve been to Historic Kenmore, you’ve likely been awestruck at the beauty of the plaster ceilings throughout the first floor. Although the identity of “The Stucco Man” is lost to history, he left behind a lesson above the fireplace in the Dining Room. The plaster...
by gwffoundation | Oct 11, 2017 | Fashion in History, George Washington's Ferry Farm, Lives & Legacies
Previously on Lives and Legacies, curator Meghan Budinger laid out a wonderful summary of the Colonial Revival movement. At no point did she weigh-in with her opinion of Colonial Revival and she should be applauded for her diplomacy. To be honest, though, many...
