Travel Back in Time

Last Friday we packed lunches, jackets, water and camera....oh don't forget the stroller and headed north to the Frontier Culture Museum in Stanton for a stroll back through time.

We visited the homesteads of German, Irish, English and West African farms. Sans, the boat ride, we then traveled to an American 1760's frontier homestead....then a 1820's and lastly a farmstead from the 1860's. We rolled up our sleeves (and pant legs) and immersed ourselves into experiencing what life was like for our ancestors from these countries and time periods. Actually, we started with the American homesteads first, and then traveled back in time to the immigrants native homelands.

Early American Frontier--1760's
Our first stop was a homestead from the 1760's time period.
Cailin, Delaney and Liam got to try their hand at spliting logs for a split rail fence. They all said the "hammer" was quite heavy.

The historical guide offered to help Liam...he barely touched the hammer and then ran!!
1820's American Homestead Ohhh, I was so jealous of this gorgeous garden. I probably took 10 pictures of just this one garden. I didn't get a photo of the house head on, but they had many fun activities for the kids to do in this home...
(I didn't get a photo of the 1820's or 1860's houses, you can see both here at the top of the picture--sort of.)

Getting the hands all dusty with flour and making noodles for a pot of beef soup.

Just down the lane was a school house. The kids had fun experiencing what it was like for our ancestors to go to school. They had a historical guide act as a teacher from the past and drill the kids on their spelling words.


Just a few days before our trip, Cailin asked what mountain men or fir trappers were. I explained and here, in front of the 1860's home she got to "meet" a fur trapper and see some of his pelts.

They had on display a bear, fox and raccoon furs.

Inside the home of the 1860's homestead.

Now here is an activity I would love to get my hands on.

On the back porch there were hand games for the kids to try. Liam had success with this toy.

Taking a break!

In the barn using the tools....shovels, pitch forks, a gadget that took the corn of cobs, straw brooms, there were sheep close by too.

And now were are off heading east over the ocean and back in time to homesteads from Germany, Ireland, England and West Africa...

Germany--

Liam trying to pick up some water pails brimming full of water.
I didn't realize that the Germans wore wooden shoes, but it makes sense that they would have in the northern part of the country.

This gentleman was preparing cabbage to be made into sauerkraut.

Each of the kids got to help tamp out the air of the cabbage in the crock

which will be made into sauerkraut.

Liam and Brian found this game of "bowling" and it instantly became a hit with Liam. He loved it, so much so, that days later he kept asking me to make one for him to have at home. I dug around in the garage, found some bits of old fence posts, brought them out and set them up for him. Using a soccer ball he knocks the "pins" down and is a very happy little boy.

Washing dishes....with our dishwasher down they think all is horribly lost about having to wash by hand....they had so much fun washing these dishes that I think I'll have them wash ours outside to make the work load more fun and bearable :)
Ireland--

Oh, what is behind the stone fence?

Pigs!!

Okay, the smell was awful!! I definitely wouldn't want to have livestock so close by.

A thatched roof.

England--
Playing a game...can't remember the name but the kids had fun!

Carding wool

Grating cheese

Preparing proof for bread dough.

Africa -- an Ibbu tribal family home. Many of the slaves that were brought to the Virginia area came from the west Africa area, home of the Ibbu tribes. This fenced in area is what would typically be a family home. There is a separate building for the husband, wife #1, wife #2, and a common building where all would gather together.
In front, the husband's home, in back, the first wife's home, to the right was the common building.

Inside the home of the first wife.

Using their heads to carry water and wood helped to eased the physical burden for the women. Here the girls got to try it out. They first placed a rope circle on the crown of their head which helped to balance the heavy load. Then using one had to further keep the basket or basin from falling they traveled back home to prepare the food and keep the fires burning.

In the outdoor kitchen of the second wife's home.
Puddling...this was probably the best hands on activity we enjoyed all day. They couldn't wait to take off their shoes and sink their toes in the gooey earth.
Gathering mud and shaping them into balls, letting them dry for a 24 hour period and then piling them one on top of the other is how they made their homes and fences. The tour guide told us that it took a team of 20 people an entire summer to make two of the homes and the fence.

Whew, that's a lot of work.

Ooey, gooey, mooshy, mushy fun!

Entering/leaving the Ibbu family farm.

We had a great day traveling through time...but now we're ready for some comforts of the 21st century....automobiles, radios or books, McDonald's food and our own comfy bed to climb into once we get home.