February 11, 2009
by Mount Vernon Education Department
It’s that time again… Colonial Days at Mount Vernon! Starting next Wed, February 17th through March 13th, our colonial crafters take up residence on the Pioneer Farm, and students have the chance to observe crafts such as paper making, candle making, woodworking, spinning and even hoe-cake cooking over an open fire. In addition, our animals are brought out to play, including our horses and baby oxen, and our costumed interpreters will be storytelling and playing colonial games. In honor of Black History Month, students will be able to visit the slave cabin and meet firsthand several of the slaves that lived and worked at Mount Vernon, including Billy Lee. Billy Lee was Washington’s enslaved man-servant for over thirty years and even rode alongside the General through the Revolutionary War.
Colonials Days is a free school program but online reservations must be made.
Photo by L. Toshio Kishiyama.
Category: First-Person Interpretation, Slavery
February 5, 2009
by Mount Vernon Education Department
In a recent study of 5000 outdoor history museum visitors, 82% said that they visited these sites to “hear stories of everyday people.” The second and third runner-ups were, “because they were places for children to learn history” (79%) and, “to immerse themselves in the past” (62%).* At Mount Vernon, one of the most popular activities for visitors of all ages is the chance to meet our first person interpreters. Our first person interpreters have to strike the perfect balance between history professor and Hollywood actor, all while riding a horse, making hoe-cakes over an open fire, performing 18th century dances, or embroidering pillows. On top of that, you throw in heavy costumes, weather extremes, and fifty 8th graders trying to stump you. The South Park episode at the “1864 Pioneer Park,” always comes to mind as you watch children looking excitedly for the digital watch or the lone black hair under the white wig!
If you would like to “hear stories of everyday people” that lived in Washington’s World, Mount Vernon’s first person interpreters, such as Dr. Craik, Billy Lee, and Charlotte, can be seen on the estate everyday, rain or shine, and perform in the Greenhouse every afternoon. Visitors can also enjoy an audience with Martha Washington five days a week in the Little Theater.
More information about Washington’s World can be found on our website.
*The study was conducted by Reach Advisors.
Category: First-Person Interpretation
February 2, 2009
by Mount Vernon Education Department
Finally, the world is starting to acknowledge what we at Mount Vernon have realized all along- Martha rocked! She was intelligent (she ran her first husband’s very large estate after his death), generous (she graciously hosted hundreds of visitors to Mount Vernon every year), compassionate (she raised money for wounded Revolutionary War veterans’ hospitals), and brave (she risked her life during the war to spend winters in her husband’s camp). And yes, she was beautiful! For the official record, Martha Washington was not born fat, wrinkled, and white-haired. Shocking!
If you are wondering why we have stepped on the Martha soapbox today, it is to let you know that the Washington Post has written a wonderful article announcing Martha Washington’s greatness to the world. Spurred by her “sassy” purple wedding shoes (featured in a previous GWW post), the article is titled, “Fresh Look at Martha Washington: Less First Frump, More Foxy Lady,” which sums it up pretty well. The television show, “Inside Edition” has also latched onto this breaking news and will be broadcasting a feature tonight on the First Lady’s image.
To bring Martha Washington to your classroom, get a free DVD copy of Mount Vernon’s production, “The Real Martha Washington,” featuring historians Cokie Roberts and Rosemary Zagarri. Request it now to receive in time for Women’s History Month in March!
Category: Educational Video/DVD, Martha Washington
It’s that time again… Colonial Days at Mount Vernon! Starting next Wed, February 17th through March 13th, our colonial crafters take up residence on the Pioneer Farm, and students have the chance to observe crafts such as paper making, candle making, woodworking, spinning and even hoe-cake cooking over an open fire. In addition, our animals are brought out to play, including our horses and baby oxen, and our costumed interpreters will be storytelling and playing colonial games. In honor of Black History Month, students will be able to visit the slave cabin and meet firsthand several of the slaves that lived and worked at Mount Vernon, including Billy Lee. Billy Lee was Washington’s enslaved man-servant for over thirty years and even rode alongside the General through the Revolutionary War.
