In the 18th century, when 90 percent of the working population was farmers and most families found themselves living well outside of town, firearms were necessary for protection, hunting, and pest control. Almost everyone learned how to operate and shoot a rifle by the age of 13, and in the back country, each home contained roughly one gun per family member. Flintlock rifles, pistols, and fowling pieces were a part of everyday life in the 1700’s and are still made and used in the Revolutionary City today….
Not Your Average Classroom: Apprenticeships, Animals & Chocolate
Many of you know Colonial Williamsburg is a living museum but did you know we were also the first in our area to offer a home educator program? Last year, more than 8,000 children and family members took advantage of the fun, safe, interactive learning experience we offer. From joining our tradesmen as apprentices, to cracking spy codes, to making chocolate—we’re gearing up for another exciting week to welcome students!
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Early American Dollhouses: They Just Don’t Make ’em Like They Used To!
As a little girl who grew up in the 80s, I can remember playing with my Barbie “Dream House” for hours. I would carefully place Barbie, Ken, and Skipper around the table to eat with their tiny plastic forks, then sit them on their red velvet couch to watch their make-believe television. Yep. Those were the days. So imagine how my inner child did backflips when I learned about the dollhouse exhibit inside our Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. I just had to see it for myself. I just had to.
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Trading Secrets: Just What the Doctor Ordered
Ebola quickly became the “buzz word” of 2014 but in the 18th century, smallpox was Public Health Issue #1. The disease was highly contagious, disfiguring, and often deadly. There were four known outbreaks of smallpox in the colonial capital during the 1700s as well as documented cases of malaria, dysentery, whooping cough—even scurvy. And you can bet that almost all of those patients turned to the apothecary for treatment….
DIY Colonial Ladies Mitts
In the 18th century, women wore mitts with open fingers to allow them to utilize their hands. In the 21st century, the need to use our hands hasn’t changed. But the “work” we need to complete has—all thanks to the digital age and touch screens. What if you could have the best of both worlds?…
Watch a Giant Block of Ice Transform into a Reindeer!
Executive Chef Rhys Lewis has talents that extend well beyond the kitchen. He’s the resident ice sculptor for Colonial Williamsburg. You may have seen his works of art (and they truly are just that) inside the Williamsburg Inn and Williamsburg Lodge during various holidays. We talked to the chef about how he learned his cool party trick and also got to see him in action. Watch him transform a massive chunk of frozen water into a beautiful, intricate member of Santa’s team. Then, help us name it!…
Mail Christmas Cards and Letters to Santa From the Colonial Williamsburg Post Office
Not only will the post office on Duke of Gloucester Street mail your Christmas cards, it will also add a personal 18th-century stamp of approval to your holiday wishes. Oh, and don’t forget to drop off your letters to Santa!…
Trading Secrets: A Different Kind of Baking Project (Bricks)
If you love the smoky smell in the air during fall as much as I do, the Brickyard is the place to be. It’s Colonial Williamsburg’s annual brick baking. Our brickmakers work hard during the warmer months, making and drying bricks (with your help!) that will later be stacked in a clamp—also referred to as a kiln-and baked until just perfect….
Hot Chocolate to Help a Cold?
Today, we know there are more than 200 viruses that cause the common cold. But in the 1700s, sudden changes in temperature were thought to be the reason people got sick. When it was cold outside, you would try to keep from “catching cold” by walking quickly. That’s not the only difference between 18th century and 21st century views on prevention and treatment. Wait until you hear what supposedly cured symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat, and fever!…
Trading Secrets: Weaving the Past Into the Present
The basketmaker is listed as a trade in the Historic Area but in reality, during the 18th century, it wasn’t a trade at all. Here in the agricultural colony of Virginia, basketmaking was an essential skill almost every farmer mastered. Baskets were needed as containers to haul everything from vegetables to fish to manure around the farm….
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