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What are some of your favorite living history experiences?

This week in my column I write about taking a wagon train trip in Nebraska to follow the path of the pioneers across the Oregon Trail.

At Conner Prairie in Indiana, you can experience life as a runaway slave. (book ahead; available during select seasons) It's a powerful experience. I have an article on this too.

Another favorite of mine: Colonial Williamsburg. With Revolutionary City, a relatively new program, you mingle with the local folks as they discuss rebellion or staying true to the crown. It's an enjoyable and informative bit of interactive street theater.

Best,
Candyce

Last weekend at our plantation house built in 1822, we had a history day - CW reenactors (blue and gray), an old time photographer using glass plates that are etched, a blacksmith demonstrating his art, caners, woodworkers, archeological dig, tobacco stringer, costumed tour guides, and a gentleman from a slave museum. Many of the volunteers were in period costumes and people love to talk to them about the life and times.

Living history is fascinating and really makes an impression on the visitors. It puts everything in a visual context and makes the subject interesting. People remember history better.

Wow. That's exciting. I agree that living history is visual and really makes the events and the period come to life.
Is this the first time you've done a living history day?

What's it like living in an historic plantation house? Is this a home that belonged to a family member? I have written a good deal about old houses in the context of country inns so I have to ask: does the house come with a ghost?

Thanks so much.
Best,
Candyce

I love living history! Williamsburg is one of my favorites and I recently got to go back and visit again after 20 years.

The East Coast seems to do living history very well. I've been to several living history farms, for instance. One used to be across the Potomac from Mt Vernon.

One summer I took a trip up the James River in VA and went to all the plantation homes there that you can tour. They were beautiful!

To me that's the way to learn about history and a great way to introduce kids to it.

Williamsburg is great! I haven't been to Colonial Williamsburg since I was younger when I went with my family! We have the best pictures from that trip! Williamsburg is such a great family vacation spot - with Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens and Water Country USA there are so many fun and educational spots to visit! If anyone is planning a trip for this summer, there are great deals for visiting all three parks -BellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!

I just came back from London. To visit the Tower of London, I took one of the free Yeomen Warden tours, aka the "Beefeater" tour.
A man, dressed in a uniform (not a costume as he points out) walks the groupto various spots, telling us the background of the buildings and who was murdered or imprisoned where and why.
The enjoyable tour is part living history (the type of guide goes back centuries) and part hunorous comedy skit.

Even though the crowds are large (about 60 people in my group), the tour offers a basic understanding of the Tower as a fortress, a palace and a prison.

What special tours would you recommend in the US or in Europe?
Best
Candyce

I just came back from London and I had a great time doing the free Yeoman Warder ("Beef eaters" ) tour of the Tower of London. The uniformed guides aren't quite living history re-enactors, but they do provide many details about palace life, intrigues and murders at the Tower.

Best,
Candyce