The Blog of Colonial Williamsburg
More than two decades ago, the first Leicester Longwool Sheep arrived in the Revolutionary City, and since then, Colonial Williamsburg has worked hard to preserve them. I spoke to Layne Anderson with Coach & Livestock about the breeding and birthing process needed to keep this particular type of sheep alive….
It’s become a tradition that we know (or at least hope) many of you look forward to each year. In April, the social media team rolls out what we have dubbed “Sheep Week.” And for five glorious days, you’ll get a dose of cuteness that’s bound to bring a smile to your face. (Because seriously, who doesn’t get just a little bit happier at the sight of our lambs?). And we always start… with a naming contest….
You know spring is in the air when you see a sociable touring through the streets. The open-air version of the Randolph carriage is a new option for touring our town in style….
Starting in mid-March the Coach & Livestock Department will be featuring Rare Breeds at Market Square. We will be bringing some of our Leicester Longwool Sheep to the market 5 days a week from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Other livestock like chickens, cattle and horses may also make appearances!…
If someone would have told me a year ago I’d be taking nine of my colleagues out to Great Hopes Plantation to spend the day tending chickens, cooking, gardening, fetching water, and cleaning… I would have called you crazy. And yet, that’s exactly what we just finished doing. I’m still reveling in the experience and fighting off the disbelief. We did actually get to do this!…
I’ve got a 15-year old son who will be driving soon, so when I had the opportunity to see how Colonial Williamsburg was training coach drivers, I jumped at the chance.
Steve Holm, who has been working with horses and driving coaches for half a century, was in town to evaluate the driving skills of ten Colonial Williamsburg coach drivers. Unsurprisingly, they all easily hit their marks….
We looked up from our desks to see the first flurries falling mid-morning Friday. By noon the snow was falling steadily. Here’s what it looked like….
The questions I get asked most frequently is: “What’s it like being Liberty’s handler?” Honestly, it is extremely rewarding and fun. Most people don’t know that my work with Liberty goes beyond her job in the Historic Area. Liberty not only works by my side, she also lives with me!…
This month marks 30 years since our first Rare Breeds cow, Nora from New Hampshire, launched our program. Since then, we’ve expanded our breeds to include several different animals. In addition to cattle, we have horses, sheep, pigs, and poultry. Join us this weekend for a very special tribute to all the hard work that’s gone into preserving these animals and see first hand how they’re used daily to help us interpret and teach lessons about life in the 18th century….
I was able to attend Haunting on DoG Street first on Friday night as a volunteer and then Saturday with my family. Both evenings, it was evident—while all of my colleagues did a stellar job, the Coach & Livestock crew definitely stole the show! Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what it took to pull off such an amazing live Halloween display.
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