Postcard from Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge MA

Old Sturbridge Village is a living history museum that gives you a taste of early New England life.  The era is 1790 – 1840 and exhibits include houses with try-on clothes and touchable dishes, a horse-and buggy ride, costumed historians, Ye Olde Candy Shoppe, and plenty of farm animals.  There is also a tin shop, a bank, a tavern, and an old mill.

Expect to take at least a half-day with older children.  Toddlers and youngsters tend to fly through pretty fast, touching everything on their way.  We went near closing time for a quiet, discounted experience.  They have cooking classes using 19th Century methods and village performances.  And if you can’t make the cooking class, there are recipes online as well as an online archive of historic documents.  They’re open all year, with seasonal activities that reflect the annual cycles of last century. 

On the day of our visit in November, they butchered a sheep (there was a nice warning sign in case you wanted to prepare or protect your kids) and on other days they plough the fields (spring) or harvest vegetables (fall) from the Freeman Farm.  They have weaving and craft demonstrations throughout the year and they celebrate holidays with special performances and activities.

Learn more at http://www.osv.org/

Ashley Steel is the Traveling with Kids Editor for Wandering Educators. Read more at  her website and book: www.familyontheloose.com