Focus Weekend: Tools of the Trade

Early Americans lived in a world of wood. The forests of Europe had long been cleared, but America had old-growth forests that could provide wood for every purpose. Although by the nineteenth century consumers were able to purchase tools, the process of making simple instruments would have been common knowledge, especially in remote and agricultural areas. Join us as presenters will share artifacts from everyday items like pottery and utensils to tools and crafts from the nineteenth century, and they’ll explain how they were made and used. 11 AM: Ordinary Objects Among the Antebellum Population Presenters will discuss the everyday objects (pottery, utensils, etc.) of the past and how they differ among various classes of people. See items displayed from the park’s collection such as pottery and glass that have been unearthed on park property.. 12 PM: World of Wood This presentation will showcase dozens of tools, and a presenter will explain the importance of woodworking in the nineteenth century. 2 PM: Basketmaking Demonstration This program allows visitors to see baskets in various stages of completion and walk them through the steps taken to turn wood into a basket. Focus Weekend Programs are included with paid daily park admission from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. One of “Virginia’s Best Places to Visit” according to the Travel Channel, and designated as a National Historic Landmark, Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier is a 424-acre Civil War campus located in Dinwiddie County, Virginia offering a combination of high-tech museums and hands-on experiences. The Park has four world-class museums and four antebellum homes. The Park is also the site of The Breakthrough Battlefield of April 2, 1865.