Living History Museums

I imagine most visitors to Colonial Quills blog have heard of Colonial Williamsburg. It is not just a living history museum, but a living history village.  We are very thankful for those with foresight to maintain this treasure from its colonial days to become IMHO the most incredible 'history immersion' experience for anyone interested in American Colonial History.  

While it's probably the most well-known, "living history" museums can be found in nearly every state and province. (sites with restored or maintained historic buildings and costumed interpreters presenting researched history of an area, event, craft or time period.)

Some others that come to mind:  Plimouth Plantation, Old Sturbridge Village, and my favorite, Genesee Country Village and Museum.



GCVM is specifically a 19th Century Village but that should not deter any Colonial Devotee!
It is located southwest of Rochester, NY and was created by collecting houses, buildings, and shops from across western NY and gathering them to create a rural-setting village. It is large enough that there are, for lack of any better word, neighborhoods which share similar time periods. The founder, John Wehle, regretted the loss of historic architecture and, in the mid-sixties, proposed the village. In 1976, the village opened to visitors. I believe there are 68 buildings on site. Since that time, the curator and staff have worked to equip the buildings with artifacts and working artisans.



Together, the village covers more than 600 acres including nature trails. The working staff  and volunteers recreate the hands-on life of pioneers up to the Victorian turn-of-the-century, so it includes those activities carried over from the colonial period.



Throughout the year, it is open daily in season (roughly May through October) and, during special events out of season.
You can enjoy: Winter Family Fun Days, Maple Syrup Festival, Antique Show, Hunter Derby, War of 1812/Jane Austen weekend, Independence Day, Civil War Reenactment, Laura Ingalls Wilder Days, SilverBall Tournament (original baseball) Victorian Day, Fall Agricultural Days, Spirits of the Past Halloween Tours, Breakfast with St. Nick, Yuletide in the Country Tours...

I hope you consider a visit if you travel through upstate NY!