During the Summer Saturdays program at Gunston Hall, historic re-enactors discuss 18th century life at the former home of George Mason in Mason Neck. Pictured are: Mrs. Grace Newman, a.k.a. Carole Thomas; Elizabeth Westwood Wallace Mason, a.k.a. Emily Murphy; Thomson Mason, a.k.a. John Murphy; and Col. George Mason, a.k.a. Doug Cohen. Photo by Steve Hibbard.
Gunston Hall in Mason Neck, Lorton, offers a Summer Saturdays program for children ages 5-12 that explore aspects of life in 18th century at Gunston Hall and Virginia. From living history programs to special archaeology tours, the program that runs from June through August gives guests an inside look at the many faces of Gunston Hall. On Saturday, Aug. 12, the theme was children's games, and visitors could play the same games that George Mason's family used to play. The next two Saturday programs will be food and 18th century cooking techniques, and then dirt, or archaeology and laundry activities.
"All of our activities are connected to things that would have been going on at Gunston Hall or things that we know were happening in the 18th century or likely to have happened. So our 18th century games would have been part of a pastime that George Mason and his family participated in potentially with their guests," said Lacey Villiva, education manager at Gunston Hall.
She said it varies from week to week, so some weeks they might have children’s games, archaeology walking tours, or food samples from 18th century recipes.
She added: "The 18th century recipes are things that while we don't know whether or not George Mason ate them, were definitely things that were being made in Virginia in the 18th century. So it's really a chance to get history to come to life in a way that it might not otherwise."
Future programs at Gunston Hall include the following:
Naturalization Ceremony on Sept. 16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Archaeology Day on Sept. 30, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Hearth Cooking Class on Oct. 28 and Oct. 29.
Cocktails by Candlelight on Oct. 20, 6-9 p.m.
Decorative Arts Symposium on Nov. 2, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Christmastide at Gunston Hall on Dec. 9,10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Gunston Hall is located at 10709 Gunston Road, Mason Neck, VA 22079. Call 703-550-9220 or visit the website at www.gunstonhall.org.