Graeme Park

I usually do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, but we went on such a wonderful outing today, that I was filled with so much excitement and wanted to share what we had seen and learned.

We are so blessed to live in an area with so much history!  We visited Graeme Park today, for their annual homeschool festival.  Graeme Park was built in 1722 as the summer home of the then Governor of Pennsylvania, Sir William Keith.  It's name was from Dr. Graeme who purchased the property from the Keiths.  His daughter had a brief engagement to William Franklin (Ben's son).  :-) 

Anyway, I digress.  The property is a living, working estate and farm all the way things were done in the 18th century.  They set stations up today for the kids so they could learn all about life during that time period.  They tin punched Christmas ornaments.

wrote with real feathers and ink

played colonial games

did chores

We toured the summer kitchen.  I didn't know that the underground "refrigerators" were deliberately placed near streams of water to keep the items cooler than just being underground would be.  Neat! 

We toured the main house.  Kiddo #4 was dressed up in period clothing along with kiddo #2.  Kiddo #3 liked posing near the colonial "children."

And probably the most "fun" thing for them was the militia drill.  They were shown how muskets and rifles were loaded and they (with their unloaded or fake guns) got to assemble, march and come to attention.  The guide shot his gun and boy was it loud!  :-)

He also taught them all how to shoot a bow and arrow.

I was so glad that my hubby was off from work today and could join us!  What a gem this historical site is, right in our "backyard," and yet we had never been there.  I am so glad that the weather held out and we were able to share all of that history and fun with each other.