Our family LOVED history field trips during our homeschool years. And what better time to visit some fantastic living history sites related to America’s founding than our 250th anniversary?
One of our favorite places was the “Historical Triangle” of Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown in Virginia. It is easy to spend a day at each one of them, soaking in the interactive living history programs. I loved sitting in Patrick Henry’s seat in the old Virginia statehouse in Williamsburg: “If this be treason, make the most of it.” Would I have been so bold? Our boys loved “going back in time” and being free to roam around and pretend, often talking with re-enactors as they went.
If you’ve already visited the Historical Triangle enough (is that even possible!), Philadelphia is another excellent option for a learning trip – especially for high school age students. Independence Hall is a simple 30-minute tour, and the Liberty Bell is housed just up the street. The Museum of the American Revolution and National Constitution Center are both within easy walking distance. While Independence Hall is a “must” – just because it’s Independence Hall – my favorite was the Museum of the Revolution. Valley Forge National Historic Park is only a few miles outside of Philadelphia; young and old will likely find it to be an interesting stop. Valley Forge often has enactors present, but not every week of the year.
Don’t forget that national parks have “Junior Ranger” programs, where students work on age- appropriate activities and questions to earn a Junior Ranger badge.
If you’re heading south for another purpose, you might find Cowpens and Kings Mountain battlefields interesting side trips where you can stretch your legs and spend a couple of hours exploring. Who knew there were mountains in South Carolina? Also, there’s Historic Brattonsville, featuring an 800-acre living history colonial era plantation open for tours, just off I-77 near the NC-SC state line at Rock Hill, SC.
If you want to stay closer to home, Fort Necessity is just a few miles into Pennsylvania from Bruceton Mills. This is a reconstructed fort from the French-Indian War, but it still has a strong George Washington theme and provides background on Washington’s military experience that helped prepare him for his role in the War for Independence. In Point Pleasant, WV you’ll find the memorial of an important battle on the western frontier that has Revolutionary ties. Battle Days at Tu-Endie-Wei State Park commemorates the anniversary of the Battle of Point Pleasant (1774). This battle secured the western frontier for the colonies and helped reduce the threat from a British/Shawnee alliance during the ensuing Revolutionary War.
Wherever you go, a sense of gratefulness is sure to wash over you as you consider the deeds of those who came before us – and their willingness to make very real sacrifices. Share your thoughts together as a family. Give thanks to God for the freedom that we so often take for granted. And consider how you can be stewards of this freedom: how can such freedom be sustained, and perhaps even more importantly, how you and your children can make the best use of this freedom.
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