2016 Winter Program!
January 4th – March 13th, 2016
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Special Tours, Activities, and Programs
Throughout the winter, the Museum will feature a wide range of special programs. Our interpretive staff will provide hands-on activities, presentations and tours that illustrate daily life for European and West African populations who migrated to the early American frontier.
Pre-Registration is Required For Winter Tours
Click Here To Register for any program
Annual Passes Honored (click here to get your pass)
Two programs will be held each day, the first at 10:00 a.m. and the second at 1:00 p.m. Each program will be 2 hours in length and different topics will be covered throughout the week. Please review the schedule below for topics, days and times.
Schedule of Activities
Beginning January 4th, 2016
Note – All activities begin at the Museum’s Welcome Center. Activities are subject to change, so please call ahead if you’re interested in a specific program or activity.
Monday: Historic Clothing
All Day Demonstrations of clothes making and uses of textiles in American frontier life.
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon Presentation and guided tour examines the style and role of clothing in Old World and American frontier life.
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Presentation and guided tour (same as 10:00 a.m. tour).
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Tuesday: Domestic Tools
All Day Demonstrations of broom making and other domestic tools (morning); West African crafts (afternoon).
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon Guided tour explores traditional lighting methods and domestic tools.
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Presentation and tour examines the slave trade & settling the back country.
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Wednesday: Children’s Activities
All Day Demonstrations of toy making; School activities such as handwriting , slate boards, and the making of journals.
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon Kid’s tour features animal visits and games (parents too).
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Kid’s tour (same as 10:00 a.m. tour).
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Thursday: Eastern Woodlands Indians
All Day Demonstrations illustrate crafts, cordage, and tools of the Eastern Woodlands Indian.
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon Settling the backcountry. An in-depth tour of Ganatastwi (Indian site) and the 1740’s Settlement.
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 Same as 10:00 a.m. tour.

Musical Trio
Friday: Traditional Music / Tool Making
All Day Demonstrations of tool making (am) and music (pm).
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon Presentation and tour showcases the roots of American music on the frontier.
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Guided tour examines architecture and materials culture.
Saturday: Woodworking / Foodways
All Day Demonstrations of woodworking including gate-making, use of the draw bench, and wood turning.
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon Foodways tour explores recipes, food preparation and preservation methods used by frontier settlers and their ancestry.
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Kid’s tour featuring animal visits and games (parents too).
Sunday: General Tours
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Self-guided tours (Pricing: Pay What You Will)
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Guided tours depart the Welcome Center every 30 minutes (last tour begins at 3:30 p.m.)
Additional Information:
- The West African Exhibit will be closed December 1st – March 7th (for weatherization)
- Museum Offices are closed on all Commonwealth of Virginia state holidays.
- For more information or to contact museum staff, please call (540) 332-7850.
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