March may be Women’s History Month, but the observations and honoring are set to continue April 4, over on the scene at George Washington’s Historic Mount Vernon Estate. That is when the daylong Remember the Ladies Family Day event will take place.
As part of the ongoing semiquincentennial celebrations unfolding at historic sites across the nation, this family-friendly engagement allows folks to explore the oftentimes overshadowed antics of our “Founding Mothers.” Hosting such an engagement as this at the home of America’s very first First Lady is a most befitting choice, to say the least.
The day will encompass a wide range of hands-on activities and endeavors, designed to both entice and enlighten visitors of all ages and interests. Participate in abundant hands-on activities, listen to colonial-era music, and enjoy an array of ongoing 18th-century demonstrations, including living history encampments that highlight both soldier life and the contributions of women during that era. All these will be taking place throughout the day in Mount Vernon’s 12-acre field.
The Ford Orientation Center is where you will find historic lace-making demos and talks by the Chesapeake Regional Lace Guild. Stop by the spinning house to learn and observe the art of overall Colonial-era garment-making from linen and wool.
And be sure to stop by the resident blacksmith shop where living history artisans will create on-the-spot relics, tools, and more. Other activities include trying your hand at washing clothes, cooking with historic utensils, and visiting the farm animals that now have a permanent home at Mount Vernon.
Children and attending guardians take note of a special story time offering on the bowling green, slated for 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The featured story will be Cloaked in Courage: Uncovering Deborah Sampson, Patriot Soldier. It depicts the unsung account of one woman who enlisted and fought in the Continental Army alongside the big, brave men.
As would be expected at any living history setup, you’ll have the opportunity to meet historic character interpreters as part of the event. Martha Washington herself will even make a special appearance at noon and again at 2 p.m. She will share her personal stories of how she both supported the troops directly and visited George Washington while he was leading. Her granddaughter, Eleanor (Nelly) Parke Custis, will also be featured at 11 a.m. and again at 1 p.m.
The fun follies unfolding at Mount Vernon will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 4. Admission costs are $30 for adults ages 12 and older, $16 for children ages six to 11, and free for anyone five and under. Mount Vernon members are free.
To learn more about this event and all others at Mount Vernon, visit the website www.mountvernon.org.