A Traveler's Guide: America's Living History-The Early Years, See Inside the Book, Meet the Authors

I N    T H E    S P O T L I G H T
Holiday Living History - 2007 Events

NOTE: Holiday events in this list end on December 31, 2007.
For a listing of dozens of summer activities taking place
all across the country in May and June, 2008, click...

Living History Events - May & June 2008

By Suzanne and Craig Sheumaker
authors of the new travel book
America's Living History-The Early Years (ISBN: 978-0-9792598-0-7)
http://www.AmericasLivingHistory.com

October 23, 2007 - The Thanksgiving and Christmas season can be an especially enjoyable time to visit America’s historical attractions. Many sites have special events ­ often recalling a fascinating history and always focused on pure pleasure. We used our book, America's Living History - The Early Years, to help us create the following period-oriented list for November and December. Take your pick, check the websites for details, and see additional listings too numerous to mention here. Then transform your holiday season into a fun-filled experience.

Next Chapter

America’s Native Peoples

Acoma Pueblo, Acomita vicinity, New Mexico
(800) 747-0181.
http://www.skycity.com/index.aspx?nav=1&level=3&pk=131&fk
Nov 24-25 - 5th Annual Native American Arts & Crafts Show - Native crafts to give to loved ones or treasure as fine works of art. At the Sky City Cultural Center and Haak’u Museum, situated just below the ancient pueblo.

Alaska Native Heritage Center, Anchorage, Alaska
(907) 330-8000.
http://www.alaskanative.net/66.asp
Nov 17 - Intertribal Gathering - In the tradition of the Pow Wow, see indigenous storytellers, dancers, drummers and other artists perform works from their Native cultures.
Dec 1 - Holiday Bazaar - Bountiful array of contemporary and traditional Native arts and crafts for sale.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville, Illinois
(618) 346-5160.
http://www.cahokiamounds.com/calendar.html
Nov 4 - Raptor Awareness Day - Learn about native birds of prey. See a live demonstration and flight show by the World Bird Sanctuary of St. Louis.
Nov 23-25 - 5th Annual Indian Market Days - Just in time for holiday gift giving! Buy jewelry, paintings, crafts, clothing, weavings, carvings, baskets, pottery, sculpture and more from vendors and American Indian artists.
Dec 23 - Winter Solstice Sunrise Observance - Personal, spiritual experience. At reconstructed Woodhenge, hear about the discovery, form and function of the ancient Mississippian Indian sun calendar. No ceremonies performed.

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, Mandan, North Dakota
(701) 667-6380.
http://www.fortlincoln.com/Custer%20Christmas.htm
Dec 8-9 - Custer Christmas - Tour General Custer’s home in the festive fashion of 1875. Meet re-enactors of the General and Frontier Army. Enjoy carolers and wagon/sleigh rides. Pose for “old time” photos in the Commissary Period Room. Attend a Church Service in the Custer House, with music by the Mandan High Choir Group.

Ganondagan State Historic Site, Victor, New York
(585) 742-1690.
http://www.ganondagan.org/events.html
Dec 8 - Native American Winter Festival & Art Market - Iroquois traditional dancing and storytelling. Raffles. Fine Native American art for sale.

Ocmulgee National Monument, Collinsville, Illinois
(478) 752-8257.
http://www.nps.gov/ocmu/planyourvisit/events.htm
Dec 11 - Evening Walk - Rare and special opportunity during full moon! Visit reconstructed Mississippian Council Chamber and walk to top of the Great Temple Mound. Also, possibly see deer, turkeys, beavers and other wildlife.

Petroglyph National Monument, Albuquerque, New Mexico
(505) 899-0205.
http://www.nps.gov/petr/planyourvisit/events.htm
Nov 3 - Introduction to Nature Journaling - Join artist Ray Kriese for free workshop, and learn to see the natural world through a combination of writing and drawing. You don’t need a lot of skill or experience - just a love of nature.
Nov 24 - Holiday Open House and Zuni Carving Sale - Here’s your opportunity to buy Zuni carvings and other fine Native American artwork. Also browse through hundreds of books on national and regional parks as well as New Mexico history, native plants and animals, geology, crafts and cookery. Refreshments and live music.

SunWatch Indian Village & Archaeological Park, Dayton, Ohio
(937) 268-8199.
http://sunwatch.boonshoftmuseum.org/special_events.html
Nov 3, Dec 1 - Family Day: Hunting and Tools - Explore insightful aspects of archaeology and Native American culture.
Nov 11, Dec 9 - Miami Valley Native American Flute Circle Performance - Hear traditional and not-so-traditional flute music.
Dec 21 - Winter Solstice Sleepover - This is an educational treat! See short introductory film about the village and its original inhabitants. Explore the museum exhibits and store. Then take a nighttime tour of the Village, create replica crafts and listen to Native American stories. At the end of a fun evening, settle down for a cozy night in one of the reconstructed houses. Advance registration is required.

Taos Pueblo, Taos, New Mexico
(505) 758-1028.
http://taospueblo.com/calendar.php
Dec 24 - Procession of the Virgin - Sundown religious procession with bonfires and children’s dancing.
Dec 25 - Deer or Matachines Dance - A religious ceremony.
Tourists are welcomed at both events; but out of courtesy, please don’t take photos.

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

European Colonization

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, St. Augustine, Florida
(904) 829-6506, ext. 234.
http://www.nps.gov/casa
Dec 1-2 - British Night Watch - Commemorating the British period of 1763-1784 in St. Augustine’s history. Living history re-enactors portray the lives of British soldiers, sailors, Native allies and loyalists during the American Revolution. Events include historic weapons demonstrations as well as demonstrations of military and civilian life. Saturday evening concludes with a torchlight parade through the streets of St. Augustine.

Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area, Williamsburg, Virginia
1-800-447-8679.
http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/visit/eventsAndExhibits/calendar/index.cfm
Nov 22-Dec 31 - A Season Filled with Fun - Lively music, Christmas carols, the Fifes and Drums, special walking tours, living history demonstrations, theatre performances, history-inspired tavern and restaurant fare, beautiful holiday decorations. Pick your days and enjoy! Highlights include The Grand Illumination on Dec 2 with candles, fireworks, 18th-century music and re-creations of entertainment two centuries ago; Christmastide At Home tours of the impressive Robert Carter House; five Holiday Weekends for kids; several Holiday Memories events offering kids the chance to visit with a character interpreter, make holiday decorations and play colonial games; and an 18th-Century New Year’s Eve.

The Fort at No. 4, Charlestown, New Hampshire
(603) 826-5700.
http://www.fortat4.com/calendar.php
Nov 22 - 33rd annual Thanksgiving Dinner - Two sittings available at this living history fort. Reservations are required.

Fort de Chartres State Historic Site, Prairie du Rocher, Illinois
(618) 284-7230.
http://www.ftdechartres.com
Nov 3-4 - Winter Rendezvous - A typical Rendezvous featuring camp life, traders and a woods-walk team shooting contest (a popular event that was first held at Fort de Chartres).

Fort King George State Historic Site, Darien, Georgia
(912) 437-4770.
http://www.cr.nps.gov/goldcres/sites/ftkg.htm
Nov 10 - Fall Encampment - A wide variety of living history presentations highlight the cultures and peoples that inhabited the region before the colony of Georgia was established in the 1730s. Afternoon battle re-enactment.

Historic Natchitoches, Natchitoches. Louisiana
(800) 259-1714
. http://events.natchitoches.net/index.php
Nov 17 - Festival of Lights Opening Ceremonies - In the Downtown Historic District. Includes children-friendly activities, street performers, Holiday Open House in downtown shops and restaurants, live entertainment by The Classics, the Grand Lighting Ceremony and fireworks.
Nov 29, 30 - Christmas Production - By the Northwestern State University Theatre Department.
Nov 30 - Christmas Flotilla and Live Entertainment - Parade of lighted barges on Cane River Lake in the Downtown Historic District. Decorated barges compete for prizes. Free entertainment on downtown riverbank stage provided by Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin' Cajuns. ,
Dec 1-31 - A Month of Celebrations - Too numerous to detail here, they begin with the 81st Annual Christmas Festival with arts and crafts, food, parade, entertainment, fireworks, light show and illumination. Other major events: holiday tours of homes; a traditional Creole Christmas at Cane River historic sites; an 18th-century style Christmas at Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site; and, of course, a New Year’s Eve Gala.

Historic New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana
(800) 673-5725.
http://www.frenchquarterfestivals.org
Dec 1-31 - A Month of Celebrations - More than 100 festivities showcasing the cultural diversity that adds spice to the gumbo of New Orleans’ heritage. Topped off on New Year’s Eve by one of the nation’s largest street parties, in Jackson Square, and a Metropolitan Opera performance at Tulane University accompanied by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and New Orleans Opera Chorus.

Historic St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Florida
(904) 829-5681.
http://www.oldcity.com/calendar.cfm?displayform=OK
Nov 17-Jan 31 - Celebrating in a Big Way - It all begins Nov 17 with the 14th Annual Nights of Lights illumination of millions of tiny white lights along the ancient streets and on historic buildings, recalling the Spanish tradition of displaying a lighted white candle during the Christmas holidays. An array of exciting activities follow in the weeks ahead - including nighttime tours of historic homes and inns led by storytellers in period clothing; the Fall Arts and Crafts Festival, a juried event on Nov 24; train and trolley tours through the narrow brick streets; an extravaganza on Dec 1, with Morning Christmas Jazz Concert, Christmas Parade and Grande Illumination torchlight parade; art walks featuring more than 30 galleries serving free holiday refreshments on the first Friday in December and January; special Saturday night antique shopping events; a dazzling regatta; and much more.

Historic St. Mary’s City, St. Mary’s City, Maryland
(240) 895-4991.
http://www.stmaryscity.org/events.html
Dec 7,-9, 14-16 - Holiday Madrigal Evenings - Start the season with beautiful music, rousing toasts, a crackling fire, and a scrumptious repast. Reservations are required.

Historic Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico
(505) 983-7317.
http://santafe.org/Calendar/index.html
Rich in culture and steeped in traditions, Santa Fe is a very satisfying place to visit during the holiday season. Among the many festivities:
Dec 1-2 - Winter Spanish Market - Annual event at Santa Maria de la Paz, where you can buy handcrafted items from an estimated 100 traditional artists. Also enjoy continuous music and tasty regional foods.
Dec 14 - Christmas at the Palace of Governors - Celebrating Hispanic, Anglo and Native American traditions with carols, story telling, Santa and his elves, music, cider and cookies.
Dec 16 - Las Posadas - This traditional Hispanic play re-enacts Joseph and Mary's search for shelter before the birth of Christ and ends in the central plaza at the Palace of the Governors.
Dec 20-24 - Baroque Christmas - A French Noel featuring music by Rameau, Rebel and Boismortier as well as traditional carols performed by Santa Fe Pro Musica at Loretto Chapel.

Jamestown Settlement; Yorktown Victory Center, Williamsburg vicinity, Virginia
(888) 593-4682.
http://www.historyisfun.org/calendar.htm
Nov 22-24 - Foods & Feasts of Colonial Virginia - Beginning on Thanksgiving Day, explore Virginia foodways of the 17th and 18th centuries. At Jamestown Settlement, learn how food was gathered, preserved and prepared on land and at sea by Virginia’s English colonists and Powhatan Indians. At the Yorktown Victory Center, learn about typical soldiers’ fare during the American Revolution and trace the bounty of a 1780s farm from field to kitchen.
Dec 22-Dec 31 - A Colonial Christmas - Experience 17th- and 18th-century holiday traditions. At Jamestown Settlement, a film and special guided tours compare and contrast English Christmas customs of the period with the difficult realities of the early years at the Jamestown colony. At the Yorktown Victory Center, hear accounts of Christmas and winter in military encampments and glimpse holiday preparations on a 1780s Virginia farm.

La Hacienda de los Martinez, Taos, New Mexico
(505) 758-0505.
http://taosmuseums.org/calendar.php
Dec 31 - Fandango! - An annual event of New Year’s Eve dancing and celebrating. All ages are welcomed. Registration is required for participation.

Old Fort Niagara, Youngstown, New York
(716) 745-7611.
https://oldfortniagara.org/events
Dec 7-8, 14-15 - The Castle by Candlelight - Exceptional opportunity to explore this fully outfitted French military “castle” and surrounding fort by candlelight. Meet re-enactors of historic people. See the decorations!

Old York, York, Maine
(207) 363-4974.
http://www.oldyork.org/visit/events.html
Dec 1 - 14th Festival of Lights - Join the Old York Historical Society and the York Parks and Recreation Department for an all-day celebration including craft fairs, open house celebrations, caroling, a beautiful parade, church suppers, caroling groups, concerts, Santa Claus and more. Also on this day: A Christmas Tea with festive holiday desserts at historic Jefferds’ Tavern.

Plimoth Plantation, Plymouth, Massachusetts
(508) 746-1622.
http://www.plimoth.org/calendar/month.php?mo=11&yr=2007
Nov 3, 10, 17, 18, 21, 24 - 1627 Harvest Dinner - Highly popular evening of entertainment and hospitality re-creating the year 1627. Sit down to a “groaning board” filled with seasonal foods. Discover the table manners that traveled across the Atlantic with the “Pilgrims,” and find out what really happened at the harvest celebration of 1621. During dinner, you will be entertained with psalms and songs and perhaps even join in the singing yourself. Advance reservations required. (800) 262-9356 ext. 8353, 8364, or 8365.
Nov 10-12 - Hands-On Family Activities: Games & Education - Saturday will be fun and games. Sunday will be wreath making. Monday will be colonial games.
Nov 17-18 - Hands-on Family Activities: Thanksgiving & Food - Saturday will be "turkeys, turkeys, turkeys." Sunday will be making cranberry orange relish and Thanksgiving placemats.

Shirley Plantation, Charles City vicinity, Virginia
(800) 232-1613.
http://www.shirleyplantation.com/calendarofevents.html
Nov 17 - Harvest Day, “From Dirt to Dishes” - Hear costumed storyteller and historian “Farmer Frank” talk about how foods transitioned from the “dirt to dishes.” See Felix Simmons, a costumed cooper from Williamsburg making barrels, buckets and other items for food storage and preservation. Meet Paul Fritz, a blacksmith hammering away, and Carrie MacDougal, a maiden spinning wool.
Dec 1-Jan 6 - Twelve Generations of Christmas - Guided house tours feature holiday-decked rooms and family stories representing four centuries of the Carter family’s Christmas celebrations.

Strawbery Banke, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
(603) 433-1100.
http://www.strawberybanke.org/calendar.html
Dec 1-2, 8-9, 15-16 - Candlelight Stroll - During three holiday weekends, the quaint lanes of this living history museum are aglow with hundreds of luminaria; the historic homes are festively decorated; and the alluring scents and sounds of the holiday season fill the air.
Dec 3-30 - Holiday House Tours - Guided 90-minute weekday tours (except Dec 24-25; Dec 31) focused on the evolution of winter traditions over the centuries. Visitors tour five historic houses and experience a wide variety of decorations, sights, sounds and smells of the holidays and winters past. Hot cider and hearth cooking.

Village of Sainte Genevieve, Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
(573) 883-3686. http://www.ste-genevieve.com/events.htm
Dec 1-2 - 23rd Annual Country Christmas Walk - Christmas parade, strolling carolers, Art Guild show and sale, open house at the historic La Maison de Guibourd-Vallé and the Linden House (decorated and only open for Christmas), entertainment, tree lighting and more.

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

Religious & Secular Groups

Amana Colonies, Amana, Iowa
(800) 579-2294.
http://amanacolonies.com/calendar.htm
Nov 30-Dec 2 - Prelude to Christmas - This is the Colonies' advent celebration. Shop on candlelit streets in the village of Amana, tour the Tannenbaum Forest, and visit the Amana Church Craft Bazaar and Cookie Walk. Also enjoy the Glimpse of Christmas Past program of songs, poetry and storytelling, which lets you experience a Christmas in communal Amana a century ago.
Dec 1-2 - Christmas Haus Tour - Tour historic, private homes decorated for the holidays and take part in the special ambiance of Christmas here. Visit with homeowners and get to know the Amanas in a whole new way with stories as remarkable and varied as the Colonies themselves. (319) 622-3678. www.amanaartsguild.com

Canterbury Shaker Village, Canterbury vicinity, New Hampshire
(603) 783-9511.
http://www.shakers.org
Nov 16-18 - Gift in Hand Artisan Gathering and Holiday Sale - Meet talented area artisans as they demonstrate their traditional handicrafts. Items for sale are chosen for their quality, uniqueness and style. The Shaker Table restaurant will be serving lunch and dinner on Friday and Saturday, and brunch on Sunday.
Nov 23-25 - Gingerbread Showcase - Decorate gingerbread people. Take a holiday-inspired tour of the Village. Make your own Christmas ornaments. Listen to spirited readings of holiday children’s stories. See a gingerbread village of completely edible goodies made by children, families and professionals, with prizes awarded for creativity and craftsmanship. (Workshops on gingerbread house construction offered in the weeks prior to the event.) The Shaker Table restaurant will serve lunch and dinner on Friday and Saturday, and brunch on Sunday.
Dec 1-2 - Holiday Gifts Workshop Weekend - Make your Christmas gifts here and learn new skills in the process! The Village offers many classes, from sewing to metalworking.

Enfield Shaker Museum, Enfield, New Hampshire
(603) 632-4346.
http://www.shakermuseum.org/calendarofevents.htm
Nov 11 - Herbal Gifts from the Garden and Kitchen - Hands-on opportunity to make products from herbs and flowers grown in the garden and from common kitchen items. Learn how to make herbal vinegars, herb and tea mixes, unusual pestos and sauces, bath blends, a lip conditioner, an exquisite face cream and more! Take home samples made in class plus recipes and information sheets.
Dec 1 - Candlelight Holiday Dinner - Enjoy the Great Stone Dwelling Dining Room by candlelight with an elegant, family-style dinner.

Ephrata Cloister, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
(717) 733-6600.
http://www.ephratacloister.org/events.htm
Dec 10-11 - Christmas at the Cloister - Spend a moment in quiet reflection with seasonal readings and holiday music in the historic Saal. Seating is limited, and advance tickets are required.
Dec 27-30 - Lantern Tours - Visit the Cloister as it may have appeared in the 1700s. A cast of junior and senior high school students play the roles that bring history to life. Reservations are required.

Historic Nauvoo, Nauvoo, Illinois
(888) 453-6434.
http://www.historicnauvoo.net
Dec 8 - A Walk to Remember - When evening approaches, horse-drawn wagons with sleigh bells jingling pull travelers through the historic town. See 30 decorated homes and shops. Enjoy a special Christmas presentation and live nativity in the Old Cultural Hall. Have a cup of cider and cookies at the Family Living Center.

La Purísima Mission State Historic Park, Lompoc vicinity, California
(805) 733-3713.
http://www.lapurisimamission.org/
Nov 3 - Village Day - Experience some of the traditional skills and crafts brought to the Mission in the 1700s by Chumash Indians, including grinding acorns, making a basket, building a tule house, making stone and shell beads, shaping a tule doll, arrow making and playing Chumash games.
Dec 8 - Founding Day - An evening of candlelight and music, with 400 luminarias leading to the church. Fellowship and refreshments afterwards. Obtain free tickets well in advance.

Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo, San Antonio, Texas
(210) 932-1001.
http://www.nps.gov/saan/planyourvisit/events.htm
Nov 2-4 - Day of the Dead - Mission San José is the major orientation point for San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Early November activities and programs explain the history behind the Day of the Dead symbolism and relevance. Ofrendas, or altars, will be constructed in the Visitor Center and the historical park’s churches.
Nov 3-4 - A Celebration of Folk Art - American, Texan, Mexican, Honduran and Guatemalan folk artists demonstrating and selling their works.
Dec 29 - Los Pastores - Hispanic folk play depicting the shepherds' journey to worship the Christ Child and the obstacles placed before them. This traditional play has been presented each year at Mission San José since 1947.

Mission San Juan Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, California
(949) 234-1300.
http://www.missionsjc.com/christmas.html
Dec 1 - Christmas at the Mission - The official City ceremony and lighting of the San Juan Capistrano Christmas tree begins early evening with a visit from Santa Claus, a Live Nativity Presentation, Merchant Open House, Music and Santa’s workshop for kids.

Old Economy Village, Ambridge, Pennsylvania
(724) 266-4500.
http://www.oldeconomyvillage.org
Dec 8 - Christmas at the Village: German Traditions - Tour the early 1800s Village decorated in the traditional German-style. Enjoy musical performances, German food, crafts and family activities. Shop at the Weihnachtsmarkt for unique, handmade gifts. Ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

Old Salem Museums & Gardens, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
(336) 721-7350.
http://www.oldsalem.org/index.php?id=275
Nov 3-Dec 31 - Lots of Holiday Workshops and Events - The holidays are a great time to be at this Moravian living history site that dates back to the mid-1700s. November museum classes enable you to make special gifts, such as pewter spoons and slip-decorated plates, and create unusual decorations for the holidays. Kids events include the Adventures in Toys! on Nov 17 and Puppet Show : The Great Turkey Trot on Nov 23-24. In addition, the 19th Century Christmas Candlelight Tours in late November and December enable you to experience the traditions of a Moravian Christmas during the 1800s in Salem.

Pennsbury Manor, Morrisville, Pennsylvania
(215) 946-0400.
http://www.pennsburymanor.org/JanDec07.htm
Dec 6-7 - Holly Nights - A community tradition for over 25 years! Experience the enchantment of famed Quaker leader William Penn’s reconstructed home by candlelight. Enjoy crackling fires, hot-mulled cider, colonial craftspeople and merry carolers strolling the grounds.

Presidio La Bahia, Goliad, Texas
(361) 645-3752.
http://www.presidiolabahia.org/calendar.htm
Dec 1 - A Very Special Day - The city of Goliad celebrates the 20th Annual Pony Express Ride between Goliad and San Antonio, hosts a Re-Enactors Frontier Rendezvous, celebrates Christmas in Goliad with the Las Posadas Procession, a traditional Mexican cultural event recalling Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging, and also holds the 40th Annual La Bahia Awards Presentation honoring authors/writers of Spanish Colonial Texas history.

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg vicinity, Kentucky
(800) 734-5611 ext 1547.
http://www.shakervillageky.org/events_calendar/index.cfm
Nov 24 - Blessing of the Hounds - Join Shaker Village and the Woodford Hounds fox hunters for this traditional event, which features a blessing of the hounds, riders and the fox. Witness this grand event, followed by the first meet of the season, where riders dress in formal hunting attire with foxhounds alongside.
Dec 1 - A Day of Pleasures - Among them: Holiday Teas at the Inn Begin with tasty teas and assorted goodies; Craft Store Open House with refreshments, visiting craftspeople and seasonal music; Christmas in the Shaker Spirit highlighted by solo music performances and Shaker music choral concerts presented by The Pleasant Hill Singers; Community Christmas Caroling in the Village along the lantern-lit village road.

This is the Place Heritage Park, Salt Lake City, Utah
(801) 582-1847.
http://www.thisistheplace.org/events/parkevents.html
Nov 23-Dec 22 - Evenings at Heritage Village - Enjoy an old-fashioned Christmas in an authentically re-created mid-1800s village with many historic buildings. The holiday fun includes making ornaments, visiting with Father Christmas, dancing at the schoolhouse and riding the Candlelight Express.

Zoar Village, Zoar, Ohio
(800) 262-6195.
http://www.zca.org/calendar.html
Dec 1-2 - Christmas in Zoar - Experience an historic German-flavor Christmas. Tour Zoar’s decorated private homes and museum buildings. Buy holiday gifts at the craft show and Zoar shops. Enjoy organ music and carolers.
Dec 8 - Foodways Class, Historic Cooking - Learn to make an authentic German meal. Class includes special lantern tour, meal at conclusion and cookbook of recipes to take home. Reservations are required. (330) 874-3011.

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

Road to Independence

Daniel Boone Homestead, Birdsboro, Pennsylvania
(610) 582-4900.
http://www.danielboonehomestead.org/calendar.htm
Nov 4 - Daniel Boone Birthday Program - Daniel Boone was born at what is now the Daniel Boone Homestead on November 2, 1734. Celebrate his 273rd birthday with a free program for all ages that begins in the Wayside Lodge. Learn about the Pennsylvania Long Rifle, one of the symbols of the American frontier, which Daniel learned to use here as a boy and carried throughout his life. Staff will be molding rifle balls in the Blacksmith Shop, and members of the First Pennsylvania Regiment will demonstrate shooting the rifle at the Rifle Range.

Fort Boonesborough State Park, Richmond vicinity, Kentucky
(859) 527-3131.
http://parks.ky.gov/findparks/recparks/fb/events
Nov 24-25 - Winter Trade Days at the Fort - 18th-century merchants and traders “set up shop” in the Fort’s cabins and blockhouses, offering their wares for sale. This is a perfect opportunity for holiday shopping!

Fort Loudoun State Historic Area, Vonore, Tennessee
(423) 884-6217.
http://www.fortloudoun.com
Nov 3-4 - Garrison Weekend & King’s Birthday - Interact with living history interpreters who “bring back” the 1700s. See a variety of tasks common to a frontier fortification, including cooking, laundering, blacksmithing, musket demonstrations and a crew of soldiers firing the fort’s cannon. Also see an 18th-century infirmary, daily life in an enlisted soldier’s barracks, the Commandant’s quarters and an 18th-century Cherokee camp.
Dec 1 - 18th-century Christmas at the Fort - Decorated for the Christmas holidays. Interact with costumed interpreters as they demonstrate a variety of tasks common to a frontier fortification, including cooking, laundering, blacksmithing, musket demonstrations and firing the fort's cannon. See an 18th-century infirmary, daily life in an enlisted soldier's barracks, the Commandant's quarters and an 18th-century Cherokee camp.

Fort Stanwix National Monument, Rome, New York
(315) 338-7730.
http://www.nps.gov/fost
Nov 10-11 - Revolutionary War Living History Weekend, Wintering at the Fort - Morning and afternoon events. Troops assembly, weapons inspection, historic weapons demonstration, flag bastion and re-enacted Court Martial. Fife and drums perform.
Nov 24-25 - Holiday Open House - Candlelight tour of the fort, 18th-century music, and an insightful view of what the holidays were like 200 years ago at the fort.

Gunston Hall Plantation, Lorton, Virginia
(703) 550-9220.
http://www.gunstonhall.org/events/index.html
Nov 10-11 - Militia Muster: America at Peace - Military re-enactment for the entire family. Mansion tours throughout the day focus upon George Mason (who contributed greatly to the U.S. Constitution) and America’s successful war for independence. You can explore the role of the militia in post-Revolutionary Virginia, join drill practice, watch a sham battle intended as a recruiting tool, and experience the rigors of daily life at camp.
Dec 7-8 - Plantation Christmas - The magic of an 18th-century plantation holiday with costumed characters. The path of lanterns will lead you to George Mason’s mansion with its splendid candlelit rooms. Ride in a horse-drawn carriage, savor hot cider in front of a bonfire, and sample food prepared over an open hearth. With advance reservations, also enjoy the Plantation Christmas Holiday Buffet. (703) 339-0460.

Historic Brattonsville, McConnells, South Carolina
(803) 684-2327.
http://www.chmuseums.org/calendar/brattonsville.htm
Nov 23-24 - Thanksgiving Time - Far from today’s hustle and bustle, step into the holiday season of the 18th and 19th centuries. Tour the historic buildings. Have a fireside chat with costumed interpreters as they do their daily chores. Shop for special presents at the gift shop.
Dec 7-9 - Christmas Candlelight Tours - Voted a Southeast Tourism Society top 20 event and featured in Southern Living Magazine! Brings to life the festivities of the Carolina Piedmont in Christmas past. This year, more than 60 costumed interpreters will depict how Christmas celebrations evolved in the Carolinas from the 1780s to just before the Civil War. Walk the candlelit paths, and interact with interpreters in a variety of scenarios - including a group of gunners “shooting in” the holiday, a minister discussing colonial Christmas customs, the Bratton family hosting a “wassailing” party, enslaved African Americans discussing their Christmas customs, a Christmas ball and a German family lighting their Christmas tree.

Historic Daniel Boone Home and Boonesfield Village, Defiance, Missouri
(636) 798-2005.
http://www.lindenwood.edu/boone/special_events.asp
Nov 30, Dec 1, 7-8, 14-15 - Annual Candlelight Tour - Each building is decorated in 19th-century fashion and illuminated by thousands of candles and bonfires. Period music will echo through the valley.

Middleton Place House, Charleston vicinity, South Carolina
(800) 782-3608.
http://www.middletonplace.org
Nov 3, 10, 17, 24 - Plantation Days - Craftworkers demonstrate skills practiced by slaves as they prepared the antebellum plantation for harvest time. Each Saturday, a different aspect of 18th- and 19th-century plantation life will be explored: domestic skills, African American traditional arts, low-country foodways, the natural environment.
Dec 1-31 - Town and Country Christmas - From the Big House to the Quarters, enjoy festive holiday decorations and learn about 19th-century holiday traditions. Take a carriage ride. Tour the House Museum.
Dec 15 - Plantation Yuletide - Enjoy storytelling around a warm fire, Christmas caroling, wreath and ornament making, candle dipping, a live nativity scene featuring many of the Plantation’s animals, and craftspeople working in their shops by candlelight. Hot cider and seasonal refreshments. Reservations are required.

Peter Wentz Farmstead, Philadelphia vicinity, Pennsylvania
(610) 584.5104.
http://www.peterwentzfarmsteadsociety.org/candelphoto.html
Dec 1 - Candlelight Open House - Evening tours enable visitors to experience the hospitality of the Wentz home decorated in the fashion of 18th-century entertaining. Volunteers in period costumes fill the house with holiday music, the aroma of hearth cooking and good cheer.

Valley Forge National Historical Park, Philadelphia vicinity, Pennsylvania
(610) 783-1077.
http://www.nps.gov/vafo/planyourvisit/events.htm
Nov 3-4 - Muhlenberg Brigade Living History Interpreters - History interpreters discuss the soldiers’ life and the Valley Forge Encampment. Storytelling around the Campfire - Gather at dusk around the campfire, and join a park ranger in a discussion about the Philadelphia Campaign and the Valley Forge Encampment.
Nov 10-Dec 30 - Weekend Living History - Muhlenberg Brigade living history interpreters discuss the soldiers’ life and the Valley Forge Encampment. Lunch and Learn 2007 - Bring a bag lunch. Lemonade provided. Learn more about the Revolutionary War from park rangers and volunteers.

Washington Crossing Historic Park, Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania
(215) 493-4076.
http://www.ushistory.org/washingtoncrossing/info/calendar.htm
Nov 11 - A Visit With a Colonial Housewife on Baking Day - Learn about the types of breads eaten by the Colonials, how a beehive oven really worked, how long it took to make bread and who would have made it.
Dec 25 - Washington Crosses the Delaware River - Witness the 54th annual Crossing of the Delaware at this traditional re-creation of a crucial historic event. River crossings are contingent upon safe conditions for participants. If conditions discourage crossing of the river, ceremonies and riverside activities still occur.

Washington Crossing State Park, Trenton vicinity, New Jersey
(609) 737-2515.
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/washcros.html
Nov 17 - 18th-century Harvest Feast - At the Johnson Ferry House, watch historic foodways demonstration and other related early America activities.
Dec 21 - Holiday Lantern Tours - Two tours available to see the Nelson House, Stone Barn and Johnson Ferry House. Refreshments included. Advance registrations are required.

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

Our New Nation

Allaire Village, Farmingdale, New Jersey
(732) 919-3500.
http://www.allairevillage.org/Events/EventsCalendar.htm
Nov 18 - 1836 Thanksgiving Day Celebration - Historical re-enactment of a Thanksgiving Service is presented at the Village Chapel. Interpreters demonstrate the arts of 19th-century cooking. Various homes in the historic village offer an understanding of how families in the early 19th-century celebrated Thanksgiving. The blacksmith, carpenter, tinsmith and wheelwright demonstrate their skills.

Ash-Lawn Highland, Charlottesville, Virginia
(434) 293-9539.
http://www.ashlawnhighland.org/se--museumevents.htm
Dec 8-31 - House Decorated for Christmas - Fresh boxwood, fruits, holly and more adorn the historic home in the early 19th-century style of President James and Elizabeth Monroe. Emphasis on the Victorian building addition.
Dec 9 - Gingerbread and Lace Ornament Workshop - The head kitchen and craft interpreter will direct an ornament workshop. Each participant will be guided through the process of making Victorian-inspired decorations.
Dec 26-27 - Sounds of the Season Holiday Concert - This informal concert features classic instrumental music and sing-along carols followed by an evening open house in the festively decorated James Monroe home. Reservations are recommended.

Compass Inn, Laughlintown, Pennsylvania
(724) 238-4983.
http://www.compassinn.com
Nov 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 - Candlelight Harvest Tours - Cheery wood fires in three fireplaces and the glow of nearly 100 candles enhance the informative and entertaining tour. An 1862 building addition displays many interesting items that cannot be seen any other time of year. Hot mulled cider and cookies.
Nov 23-25, Dec 1-2, 8-9 - Christmas Tours (Thanksgiving Weekend) - Experience the 1800s beauty of Compass Inn decorated with all-natural accents. On Nov 24, also enjoy cookhouse and blacksmith demonstrations.

Conner Prairie, Fishers, Indiana
(800) 966-1836.
http://www.connerprairie.org/planyourvisit/calendar.aspx
Dec 1-30 - Gingerbread Village, Tuesdays-Sundays - Start a new holiday tradition! Wander through a festive gingerbread land. See colorful creations of all shapes and sizes. (Closed Mondays, Christmas Eve and Day.)
Dec 7-9, 14-16 - Conner Prairie by Candlelight, Fridays-Sundays - Experience an 1836 Christmas Eve. Travel lantern-lit paths at your own pace. Visit the Campbells as they prepare for a Christmas party. Stop by a Jewish home as they unpack their menorah. Encounter others who aren’t celebrating at all. Reservations are required.

Fort McHenry National Monument, Baltimore, Maryland
(410) 962-4290.
http://www.nps.gov/fomc
Dec 15 - Yuletide Candlelight Tours - Discover how Yuletide celebrations and Fort McHenry’s role changed over time. Join the Park Rangers for an exciting walk through the ages and a rare glimpse of Fort McHenry at night! Also see the Grand Ball, and join the dancers of Choreographie Antique as they perform historic dances that were seen in Baltimore during the Civil War! With performers dressed in period attire and each dance meticulously researched, you will feel like you stepped back in time.

Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, Delaware
(302) 658-2400.
http://www.hagley.lib.de.us/events.html
Nov 23-Jan 1 - Christmas at Hagley - While visiting this remarkable living history museum, stop at the Eleutherian Mills residence to see the holiday decorations. Holly, pine roping with ribbons, poinsettias, dried plant materials and fruit are all used. See Christmas trees, wreaths and decorative mantelpieces as well as many other decorations. Holiday music adds to the spirited holiday atmosphere.

Historic Arkansas Museum, Little Rock, Arkansas
(501) 324-9351.
http://www.historicarkansas.org/calendar/
Dec 2 - 40th Annual Christmas Frolic & Open House - This event celebrates Christmas as it was in the 1800s with living history, carols, re-enactments, live music, dancing and more. Visitors come from across the state every year for the famous hot cider and ginger cake, as well as the Arkansas-made shopping in the museum store.

Historic Concord, Concord, Massachusetts
(978) 369-3120.
http://www.concordchamberofcommerce.org/calendar.htm
Dec. 9 - A Holiday Tour of Concord’s Historic Inns - Visit Concord’s beautifully decorated historic inns and enjoy treats from local food specialty shops at each stop.

Historic Roscoe Village, Coshocton, Ohio
(800) 877-1830.
http://www.roscoevillage.com/Roscoe%20Village%20Special%20Events.pdf
Dec 1, 8, 15 - Christmas Candlelightings - The first three Saturdays in December, share in the tradition of lighting the Christmas tree, and participate in lighting your own candle as “Silent Night” is sung throughout the crowd. Enjoy a visit with Santa, strolling carolers, live reindeer (December 1 only), chestnuts roasting over an open fire, candlelight tours, complimentary hot-mulled cider and cookies, plus other holiday festivities.

Historic Saint Charles, Saint Charles, Missouri
(800) 366-2427.
http://www.historicstcharles.com/event/default.aspx
Nov 23-Dec 23 - St. Charles Christmas Traditions - Early Americana holiday festivities include carolers, chestnuts and authentically costumed Santas from around the world. Santa Parade every Saturday & Sunday. Trains On Main on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays: At the 200 block of North Main at Washington, you'll see an interactive, 0-27 model train layout featuring animated figures; meet the “Sleighbell Special” Train Conductor and “Hans Brinker” and the Silver Skates; receive a “Believer's Bell” (as featured in “the Polar Express”). Old Fashioned Evening Shopping & Lantern-Lit Caroling Procession on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, a time to join Santa, carolers and other characters for one-of-a-kind shopping on Main Street until 9:00pm.
Nov 23-Jan 1 - Lights On Main - This year the festival of lights on Main will stretch from Boone’s Lick Road up Main Street to Clark Street and will include the Foundry Art Centre area and Frontier Park.

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, Birdsboro vicinity, Pennsylvania
(610) 582-8773.
http://www.nps.gov/hofu
Dec 1 - Iron Plantation Christmas - Christmas was observed in many ways at Hopewell Furnace, a company operation that was the workers’ home as well as workplace. Glimpse holiday activities as they changed over the course of 100 years. The “Belsnickel” will give out treats or punishments to children whom he judges deserve them Christmas songs will be played in the Bethesda Church, and visitors are invited to join in their singing.

James Madison’s Montpelier, Orange. Virginia
(540) 672-2728 ext 100.
http://www.montpelier.org/visit/calendar_events.php
Nov 3 - Montpelier Hunt Races - Experience the thrill of steeplechase horse racing at the 73rd running of the Montpelier Hunt Races. Come early to see the Jack Russell Terrier races, stick horse races, dog agility demonstrations and other entertainment. (540) 672-0027.
Nov 4 - Walking Tour of Confederate Winter Camp Site and Freedman’s Farm - Guided walking tour of the archaeological site of the 1863-64 Confederate South Carolina Brigade winter encampment and Gilmore Farm, which was the 1872 home of George Gilmore, a freedman born a slave at Montpelier. Led by Montpelier Interpreter Jayne E. Blair, author of two books on the Civil War. (540) 672-9272.

Old Bedford Village, Bedford, Pennsylvania
(814) 623-1156.
http://www.oldbedfordvillage.com/events.htm
Dec 1, 8 - Old Fashioned Christmas Evening - Stroll through the candlelit Village, and be a part of an old-time Christmas. Live music. Hot cider in the tavern. Horse and carriage rides.

Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, Massachusetts
(508) 347-3362.
http://www.osv.org
Lots of events in this living history village. Among them:
Nov 3, 17 - Dinner in a Country Village -
Here's a unique opportunity to prepare and eat a meal the way early New Englanders did.
Nov 3-4 - Discovery Camps - For youths. Celebrating the harvest, baking a traditional Thanksgiving treat on the open hearth, helping take care of the farm animals, and going to an old-fashioned barn dance.
Nov 10 - An Evening of Illumination - Providing a different kind of experience, with 1800s lighting.
Nov 10, 17-18, Dec 8, 15 - Crafts at Close Range - Historical craft workshops varying from blacksmithing to woodworking, textile crafts and more.
Nov 22 - Thanksgiving Day Celebration - Traditions of the holiday as celebrated in the early 19th century. Advance registrations are required.
Dec 7-9, Dec 14-16 - Christmas by Candlelight - The magic of the 1830s holiday traditions.
Dec 28-29 - Discovery Camps - For youths. Looking at what kids did during the long winter in the old days. Includes taking part in an 1830s school lesson, cooking over an open hearth, playing games and attending a New Years' Ball. Advance registrations are required.

Rocky Mount Museum, Piney Flats, Tennessee
(888) 538-1791.
http://www.rockymountmuseum.com
Nov 30, Dec 1, 7, 8 - Candlelight Christmas - When Governor Blount returned to Rocky Mount in 1791, bringing his family from North Carolina, it was a very special Christmas for the Cobb family hosting them. Join this magical, candlelit evening as they celebrate with music, dancing, decorations and sacred tales.

Slater Mill Historic Site, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
(401) 725-8638.
http://www.slatermill.org/?pg=calendar
Nov 2-3 - Slatersville Symposium - Slater Mill joins with the National Parks Service, Rhode Island College and the town of North Smithfield to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the founding of America’s first planned industrial village. Panels, lectures and site tours. Call National Park Service at (401) 762-0250 to reserve your spot!

Stratford Hall Plantation, Stratford, Virginia
(804) 493-9696.
http://www.stratfordhall.org/cal.html?NEWS
Nov 22 - Thanksgiving on the Plantation - Traditional Southern feast in the beautiful circa 1738 home of prominent Virginia planter Thomas Lee and his extraordinary family. Plan to take a tour the Great House, and see the museum exhibits in the Visitor Center. Reservations are required.
Dec 7-8 - Christmas at the Plantation - Enjoy holiday refreshments, carols by a bonfire and a tour of the Great House, as well as period music and dancing. A candlelight dinner in the Plantation Dining Room and lodging in the Guest Houses are available by reservation. (804) 493-8038, ext. 8504 or 8039.

Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens, New Bern, North Carolina
(800) 767-1560.
http://www.esisnet.com/tryonpalace.org/calendar/eventcalendar.php?next=12
Dec 8 and 15 - Christmas Candlelight - Step back to 1770 in colonial New Bern. Governor and Mrs. Tryon are hosting a “very grand and noble Entertainment and Ball” to celebrate the completion of the Palace and the birthday of King George III. The Palace is illuminated and filled with elegant dancers, musicians and fascinating characters. Colonial entertainers perform on the Palace grounds. The grand finale is a spectacular fireworks show.

Van Cortlandt Manor, Croton-on-Hudson, New York
(914) 631-8200 ext 618.
http://hudsonvalley.org/vancortlandt
Nov 17, Dec 2 - Open-Hearth Cooking Wookshop - The Manor's 18th-century chef leads this workshop focused on “receipts” drawn from the Van Cortlandt’s hand-written collections. With her help, you use ingredients appropriate to the season to create a complete menu. Reservations are required.
Nov 23-25 - Thanksgiving Weekend: Gateway to the Holiday Season - The Manor is decorated in authentic period style, with costumed guides focused on historic winter traditions. Hands-on workshops for kids.
Dec 21-22, 28-29 - Evening Candlelight Tours - Festivities begin with a visit to the home of one of the wealthiest families of the post-Revolutionary era. Decorations made of holiday greens and fruit adorn windowsills and mantles; live music is performed in the parlor; and the tables are set with Van Cortlandt family china laden with 18th-century desserts. Stroll through the orchard, lit by candle-lanterns, to the tenant house and meet the Lord of Misrule. Continue on to the ferry house, where you can dance to the lively strains of the fiddler and drink a toast to the season. Reservations are required.

Previous Chapter

BOTTOM

Opening the West

Bent’s Old Fort, La Junta vicinity, Colorado
(719) 383-5010.
http://www.nps.gov/beol/planyourvisit/events.htm
Dec 7-8 - Holiday Celebration - Witness for yourself the joys, pleasures and pastimes of the 1840s at what was an isolated trading post. The spirit of the season comes alive with wagon rides, games, toy making and other holiday festivities. Candlelight tours in the evenings.

Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village, Waynesville, Ohio
(513) 897-1120.
http://www.caesarscreekvillage.org/ScheduleOfEvents2007.html
Dec 1 - Christmas Candlelight Tour - Christmas in 18th-century log houses was quite different from today’s celebrations. Tour the Village by candlelight, and enjoy the hearth-heated cider and hot chocolate.

Forts Folle Avoine Historical Park, Danbury vicinity, Wisconsin
(715) 866-8890.
http://www.theforts.org/Events.htm
Nov 30, Dec 1-2 - Christmas at the Fort - The Visitor Center at this fur trader site and Ojibwe Indian camp is brought to its full grandeur at the 8th annual celebration. Includes garland, lights, sleigh rides and Santa. There’s frosty fun outdoors and Christmas shopping indoors. Treat yourself to a hot bowl of wild rice soup, and enjoy the Northwoods Festival of Trees.

Fort Nisqually Historic Site, Tacoma, Washington
(253) 591-5339.
www.fortnisqually.org
Nov 10 - Arts of the Fur Trade - At this reconstructed outpost of the Hudson’s Bay Company, experience how everyday works of art played an important part in the daily life of the mid-1800s. Visit with the fort’s re-enactors and artisans as they bring back skills such as spinning, silversmithing, blacksmithing, woodworking, open-fire cooking and Native American basket weaving.
Dec 1 - 19th-Century Christmas - Savor the lilting sounds of penny whistles, the aroma of ginger biscuits, Christmas dances and the slower pace of the season in 1855. Inside the fort, re-enactors portray the daily life of the workers from many cultures who lived at this historic site. They share stories, cookies, dancing and the carrying in of the Yule log as they engage in friendly conversation. Just remember: they are “living” in 1855 and may not recognize the name of your hometown or other modern conveniences that are familiar to you!

Fort Uncompahgre, Delta, Colorado
(970) 874-8349.
http://www.delta-fort.org/christmas_at_the_fort.htm
Dec 14 - Christmas at the Fort - At this annual event, staff and volunteers transform the Fort into a Christmas “fantasyland” of the 1800’s. Decorations are everywhere. Logs are burning in all the fireplaces. It is a true stepping-back-in-time experience.

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Vancouver, Washington
(360) 816-6230.
http://www.nps.gov/fova
Nov 2, 17 - Lantern Tours - Carry a lantern, and stroll with a Park Ranger through the Counting House, Fur Store, Chief Factor’s House, Kitchen and/or Bake House. You will learn what activities would have occurred after the sun set at Fort Vancouver. Reservations are required.
Dec 8 - Christmas at Fort Vancouver - Experience first hand the festive traditional sights, smells and sounds of the holiday season at Fort Vancouver. Visitors will be able to experience what the employees of the Hudson’s Bay Company may have been doing in preparation for the holidays.

Frontier Culture Museum, Staunton, Virginia
(540) 332-7850.
http://www.frontier.virginia.gov/events.php
Nov 23-25 - Crock, Stock and Barrel - Happening at all of the relocated European and American historic farms.
Dec 8 - Family Caroling Party - Special guided tours. Advance reservations required.
Dec 14-16, 20-23 - Holiday Lantern Tours - Guided tours nightly. Advance reservations are required.
Dec 26 - Winter Caroling Party - Guided tours. Advance reservations are required.

Historic Mansker's Station Frontier Life Center, Goodlettsville, Tennessee
(615) 859-3678.
http://www.cityofgoodlettsville.org/historic/calendar
Dec 1 - Yulefest - An evening of lively music and entertainment to welcome the holiday season! See the site by candlelight. Warm yourself by the fire in Mansker's Fort while listening to the playing of water glasses and other period music. Join in the singing of traditional carols at the Bowen House. Dance an 18th-century jig in the Welcome Center. Ride in the oxen-pulled wagon to each area.

Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Astoria, Oregon
(503) 861-2471.
http://www.nps.gov/lewi/planyourvisit/events.htm
Nov-Dec - Lewis & Clark Expedition - In November of 1805, the U.S. Corps of Discovery, led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, reached the mouth of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. Today the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center stands high on the cliffs of Cape Disappointment State Park. A series of mural-sized “timeline” panels guide visitors through the westward journey using sketches, paintings, photographs and the words of Corps members themselves. The center also features short film presentations and a glassed-in observation deck with fabulous views of the river, headlands and sea. The reconstructed winter encampment, Fort Clatsop, is nearby.

Old Fort Harrod State Park, Harrodsburg, Kentucky
(859) 734-3314.
http://parks.ky.gov/findparks/recparks/fh/events
Nov 16-17 - Holiday Special - Enjoy a candlelit tour of the 18th-century replica Fort. Stroll through cabins that offer juried arts, crafts and miscellaneous items for holiday shopping. Enjoy holiday music, homemade cookies and hot apple cider. Luminaries will line the entire park. The talking tree and Santa Claus will be there too.

Pricketts Fort State Park, Fairmont, West Virginia
(304) 363-3030.
http://www.prickettsfort.org/
Nov 23-25, Dec 1-2 - 18th-century Christmas Market - Enjoy hot food and live music during a winter tour of the Fort and Job Prickett House, both decorated for the season. Chat with interpreters, and see demonstrations of 18th- and 19th-century holiday traditions. The Museum Shop will feature vendors and traditional gift items.

Previous Chapter

 

© 2007 Suzanne and Craig Sheumaker - All rights reserved.

www.AmericasLivingHistory.com

Download MS Word or .PDF

Please feel free to use all or part of this article in your newspaper or newsletter, post it on your blog or email it to friends, family, whomever. We ask only that you credit the authors and include a link to our website. Thank you!

Red Corral Publishing
FreeCounter