Hello history lovers. How many of you have explored a living history museum? We would love to know which ones and how you enjoyed them, so please leave your comments.
If you don’t know, living history museums are open air locations, where a historic place, village, town, or ship has been restored and is inhabited by demonstrators in full period costume, doing daily, period chores and activities. You are allowed to interact and ask questions. You get to step into history and see in it in live action.
My first experience was in the 1980s, exploring Plimoth Plantation, and stepping into a wet, Puritan village, of 1627. It was such a memorable day, and from the website, it is even grander and more inclusive now.
Jump way ahead, on a family visit to Maryland, my Uncle John and I had a delightful, sunny day in Colonial Williamsburg, walking through this part of our nation’s history.
Wilder Ranch, in my own backyard in Santa Cruz County, California, is a delight. My favorite experiences were with my children on school field trips: Making butter, touring the house, exploring the farm and animals. The kids asked questions and had hands-on experiences. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=549
The list of living history museums is long and inviting, and I will share several museums, as well as links to find even more than I can share here.
Happy history, happy travels as we explore these amazing places, starting with one more close to my home, California.
Santa Clara Valley:
https://harrislass.org/ – The Harris-Lass House Museum is located at 1889 Market Street in Santa Clara, California. It is the last farm site in the city of Santa Clara and is named for the two families who owned and lived on the property for 125 years. The museum consists of the house, a classic California barn, summer kitchen, tank house, landscaped gardens and Heritage Orchard.
The house was built in 1865 in the Italianate style — balanced and symmetrical. In the 1890’s it was extensively enlarged and remodeled, changing the symmetry of the original design. It is fully furnished, most of the furniture and contents having belonged to the Lass family.
More In the US:
https://www.aarp.org/travel/vacation-ideas/history-culture/living-history-museums/ : all the below from this site:
Patuxet, Plymouth, Massachusetts https://plimoth.org/ from the website: “In the oldest town in New England, Plimoth Patuxet is a vibrant cultural hub and resource. Discovering the past helps us to better understand our world. Here you may explore the stories of the Wampanoag and English people who met along these historic shores of change. Their voices have much to teach, and the legacy of their lessons continues today.”
Mystic Seaport, Mystic, https://mysticseaport.org/ Connecticut: “Mystic Seaport is a recreation of a New England coastal village based in the 19th century including a working shipyard and 500 ships. Even though it’s a recreation some of the homes are historic. “A few of the houses were moved from other parts of [New England] to our village,” says Amanda Furlong, the marketing and communications manager. In the village, interpreters dressed as people from the 1800s bring history to life. Many are skilled in trades such as cooperage, printing, cooking, and other crafts. Guests can watch while interpreters cook meals, Furlong says.”
Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/ from website “Colonial Williamsburg today. This is the world’s largest living history museum, where you can see, hear and touch this influential city as it once was.”
Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, Wisconsin https://oldworldwisconsin.wisconsinhistory.org/ from the website: “Experience the world of Wisconsin’s early immigrants at Old World Wisconsin. Step into the daily lives of the people who called this world home as you help with chores and cooking, try your hand at crafts and trades, and play – yes, even the grown-ups! Lend a hand in the blacksmith shop, say hi to the farm animals, look at veggies in the gardens, dye and spin wool, knead bread, collect chicken eggs, try on wooden shoes, ride high-wheel tricycles, and sample tasty beer in the Brewhouse. This is where history comes alive! “
Conner Prairie, Fishers, https://www.connerprairie.org/explore
El Rancho de Las Golondrinas (“The Ranch of the Swallows”) Santa Fe, New Mexico. https://golondrinas.org/
For more musuems:
https://greenglobaltravel.com/top-10-living-history-museums-in-america/ the below from here:
George Washington’s Mt Vernon Estate, Mt. Vernon, Virginia https://www.mountvernon.org/
Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/greenfield-village/
The Maritime Museum of San Diego, ships…living history? https://sdmaritime.org/
OK Corral, Tombstone, Arizona…reenactment of the gunfight https://www.ok-corral.com/ https://mysticseaport.org/
Stone Mountain Historic Square, Stone Mountain, Georgia https://stonemountainpark.com/activity/attractions/historic-square/
Let’s Go Abroad to intriguing living history museums. Again, please chime in if YOU have been to any of these in the comments below, and we would love further recommendations, as we all LOVE history.
https://dailydive.org/travel/time-capsule-8-living-history-museums-that-transport-you-to-the-past/ some international:
Beamish, The Living Museum of the North in County Durham https://www.beamish.org.uk/
Skansen, located on the scenic island of Djurgården in Stockholm, is the world’s first open-air museum, founded in 1891. https://www.visitstockholm.com/o/skansen-open-air-museum/
Blists Hill Victorian Town, part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Shropshire, England https://www.ironbridge.org.uk/visit/blists-hill-victorian-town/
Sovereign Hill (Australia’s gold rush era) https://www.sovereignhill.com.au/
The Old Town of Aarhus (Step back into a Danish past) https://aarhusinside.dk/en/den-gamle-by-aarhus/
Arrhus, woman in window, photo from website
https://www.europeincoming.com/10-must-include-living-history-museums-for-your-cultural-tour-packages/ I love this site. So many more opportunities to step into history.
https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/top-6-living-history-museums Another great blog
Who is packing their bags or jumping in the car for living history? I would love to visit each and every one. I hope you find at least one that tickles your history loving fancy. If you have been to any of these, please chime in in the comments below. If I missed one, add that in the comments as well.
El Rancho de Las Golondrinas makes me look forward even more to my next trip to NM!
thx!
I look forward to hearing about it – I have never been to the Land of Enchantment.
Great article, Anne! I have been to Mystic Seaport in Mystic(love that town name!), CT.
Also to Colonial Williamsburg in VA and the Wilder Ranch in CA. I know there are at least a couple others I’ve been to here on the East Coast but cannot remember them right now. I love living museums (and historical reenactments)! They really do bring history to life in a a fantastic way that static displays cannot, plus the docents and reenactors are knowledgeable and always willing to answer questions while staying in their chosen historical character.
TY for reading and replying, Jean! Such a treat. I have been to so few living history museums, but will try to fit more in…Virginia City may not quite be a living hsitory museum, but looking forward to visiting ith the kids