We took our fourth trip to the Pioneer Farm Museum with a homeschool group on Thursday. We've loved this place every time, and this one was no exception. I knew Josh and Madelynn would have a ball, and they did. If you get a chance to visit this gem out in Eatonville, do it.
We got there early to eat lunch in their picnic area. After eating, the kids played among the rocks. Unfortunately, there was a tiny stream among those rocks, and Maddie followed the big kids through it. I found her ankle deep in mud. As I was trying to reach her, she fell flat on the bottom in the mud. And I had no spare clothing for her.
After visiting two no touch buildings, we got a short wagon ride around the school house. Josh loved the ride and sat nicely like he was suppose to. Maddie sat in my lap when it was our turn and got a kick out of it too.
Then we got a quick tour of three hands on buildings: the barn, the blacksmith building, and the woodworking building. After that, we were set loose to explore and trying things on our own. The barn is a big draw. Sam got a chance to try out the blacksmithing tools, which made him pretty happy.
I think Maddie liked the chickens best. She visited them a few times both inside their coop and outside. She also enjoyed meeting a sheep, goat, pig, and bunny.
Josh really loved the chickens. And, yes, we were allowed to pick them up. He held the rather tame rooster as well.
Here they are with the pig.
There was also a hay jump in the back of the barn. Josh enjoyed that as well. Madelynn tried out the hay jump, too, but she climbed down instead of jumping...kind of defeated the purpose.
Mika specifically wanted me to take this picture. Look up at my header and see the same photo several years ago.
After playing in these three areas, we went into another large building containing typical things you'd find in a pioneer home:
tools for chopping carrots and celery
tools for grinding corn, wheat berries, and coffee
tools for carding wool
dough for kneading, rolling pins, and cookie cutters
a churn for making butter
a curling iron heated by the kerosene lantern and shaving gear
pioneer clothes and toys
Maddie chopped some carrots (those were chopped by other kids but she tried).
And tried on an apron and bonnet.
Sam tried shaving with a very, very dull blade.
We also peeked into the school house and the school mistress's tiny home. Most weren't lucky enough to have a private place to live but this one did. You can't go in but you can look through the door. The roughly 100 square foot home (if that) contained a table for two, a stove, a small buffet, a chair, and a mattress in the twin-size loft. I can't imagine living is such small quarters.
We really like this place. I plan to come again a couple more times as Josh and Madelynn get older and can get more out of it. They do overnights which I think would be fun too.
We got there early to eat lunch in their picnic area. After eating, the kids played among the rocks. Unfortunately, there was a tiny stream among those rocks, and Maddie followed the big kids through it. I found her ankle deep in mud. As I was trying to reach her, she fell flat on the bottom in the mud. And I had no spare clothing for her.
After visiting two no touch buildings, we got a short wagon ride around the school house. Josh loved the ride and sat nicely like he was suppose to. Maddie sat in my lap when it was our turn and got a kick out of it too.
Then we got a quick tour of three hands on buildings: the barn, the blacksmith building, and the woodworking building. After that, we were set loose to explore and trying things on our own. The barn is a big draw. Sam got a chance to try out the blacksmithing tools, which made him pretty happy.
I think Maddie liked the chickens best. She visited them a few times both inside their coop and outside. She also enjoyed meeting a sheep, goat, pig, and bunny.
Josh really loved the chickens. And, yes, we were allowed to pick them up. He held the rather tame rooster as well.
Here they are with the pig.
There was also a hay jump in the back of the barn. Josh enjoyed that as well. Madelynn tried out the hay jump, too, but she climbed down instead of jumping...kind of defeated the purpose.
Mika specifically wanted me to take this picture. Look up at my header and see the same photo several years ago.
After playing in these three areas, we went into another large building containing typical things you'd find in a pioneer home:
tools for chopping carrots and celery
tools for grinding corn, wheat berries, and coffee
tools for carding wool
dough for kneading, rolling pins, and cookie cutters
a churn for making butter
a curling iron heated by the kerosene lantern and shaving gear
pioneer clothes and toys
Maddie chopped some carrots (those were chopped by other kids but she tried).
And tried on an apron and bonnet.
Sam tried shaving with a very, very dull blade.
We also peeked into the school house and the school mistress's tiny home. Most weren't lucky enough to have a private place to live but this one did. You can't go in but you can look through the door. The roughly 100 square foot home (if that) contained a table for two, a stove, a small buffet, a chair, and a mattress in the twin-size loft. I can't imagine living is such small quarters.
We really like this place. I plan to come again a couple more times as Josh and Madelynn get older and can get more out of it. They do overnights which I think would be fun too.
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2 Comments:
I visited this place once with my kids and one of our Japanese students. I loved it too. I thought the historians/guides were very good. They knew their stuff and they presented it in a way that held everyone's attention.
I think my favorite area was the Native American display. I liked all the examples of games the Native American kids would play and how the games helped them to practice skills they would use as adults.
I was just there for the first time a few weeks ago and we loved it!!
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