George Washington's Ferry Farm and Historic Kenmore

10/09/2026

Curious about what happens to artifacts after they come out of the ground? Follow along as archaeologists process a pair of porcelain sherds excavated this summer! Over the next few months, we’ll be tracking these finds as they make their way to permanent storage.

Our porcelain has been in a temporary holding room since the dig; now it’s time for these ceramic fragments to enter the lab. First, they are gently washed with water and a toothbrush. Because the pieces have painting on top of their glaze, special care is needed to ensure the decoration remains undamaged. Once clean, the artifacts will be left to airdry. Check back soon to learn what happens next. In the meantime, enjoy our regular posts each week.

10/08/2026

🥣Join us Sunday for a Taste Through Time: Gingerbread baking demonstration, talk, and tasting at Historic Kenmore!

The kitchen will be open for guests to watch a cooking demonstration and learn about the history of Kenmore’s gingerbread. While you enjoy the presentation, partake in a sampling of gingerbread. October 11, during museum hours, 12-5 pm.

ADMISSION
Event with House Tour
$15 for adults
$6 for students ages 6-17
Free for children under 6
House tours at 12:15, 1:30, 2:45, 3:45

Event with Museum Admission
$6 for adults
$3 for students ages 6-17
Free for children under 6

10/06/2026

📣Call for Entries: 40th Annual Gingerbread House Contest!
🇺🇸 In honor of our nation's 250th, this year’s theme is "America the Beautiful."

It’s never too soon to start planning your gingerbread house creation for Ferry Farm’s 40th Annual Gingerbread House Contest and Exhibit. Show off your gingerbread skills this year with a house that captures the beauty of America. Whether inspired by amber waves of grain, purple mountain majesties, vast shining seas, or other land features, the possibilities are endless, and your interpretation of the theme can be whatever you can imagine! No entry fee.

Each exhibitor receives four free passes to the Wee Christmas Exhibit at Historic Kenmore and the Gingerbread House Contest & Exhibit at George Washington’s Ferry Farm.

Entry Categories:
Ages 2-5
Ages 6-10
Ages 11-14
Ages 15-17
Ages 18 and over
Special Needs
Family
Professional

Drop-off dates: November 21-28 at the Ferry Farm Visitor Center. Exhibit runs November 29–December 30, 2026, in the Ferry Farm Visitor Center Gallery.

Judges will select 1st through 3rd place ribbons and prizes within each category on November 30. Exhibit visitors will select a People’s Choice during the month of December, winner to be announced on Ferry Farm’s social media December 28.

Details and entry form: https://kenmore.org/calendar-item/39th-annual-gingerbread-house-contest-exhibit/

10/05/2026

It's and without the wonderful teachers at our museums (and schools!), we wouldn't have such great educational programs, field trips, camps, or homeschool and preschool programs. A huge thank you to all of our educators!
👏🍎✏️

Another educational program we have each year is our popular A Wee Christmas Miniature Making Workshop. This year it's Saturday, November 14 at Kenmore, featuring two sessions -- a 10am session geared towards families, and a 1pm that's more adult-oriented.

🎟🔗https://www.simpletix.com/e/a-wee-christmas-miniature-making-workshop-tickets-294222

10/02/2026

For this week’s check out our latest blog post where archaeologists describe the past four years of excavating the kitchen cellar at Ferry Farm. A lot has been learned over the years to help tell us how the kitchen may have looked and functioned before it burned down in the middle of the 18th century. So many amazing artifacts and awesome finds! Be sure to give the blog a read to see how one small exploratory unit changed over the years, becoming one of the archaeology team’s most exciting excavations.

On another note, you may notice the blog looks a little different, but don’t fret! Though the look may have changed, all the wonderful content is still there for you to read and enjoy😊

After four years, the archaeological excavation of the 18th century Washington-era kitchen cellar is finally complete.

10/01/2026

Join us at Historic Kenmore for a fun-filled morning discovering the seasons of the year! Participants will explore the grounds and garden, participate in a scavenger hunt, and create a craft inspired by the four seasons. Following the program, children and their caregivers are invited to take an abbreviated tour through the Historic House and explore the Visitor Center gallery.

🌷🌞🍂❄
Thursday, October 29
10:15-11:15 am

The Mini Mornings program series introduces young learners (ages 3-6) to our museum spaces. Children and their caregivers participate in a story time and related craft and activity while exploring Historic Kenmore. Advanced registration for all attendees is required, as space is limited.

Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. Children under 3 are welcome to attend.

🔗https://www.simpletix.com/e/mini-mornings-at-the-museum-seasons-histor-tickets-291952

09/30/2026

🥄😋It's all about the gingerbread!

🏡 Historic Kenmore's storied past would not be possible without the power of gingerbread. Derived from a recipe used by Mary Washington herself, it helped save Kenmore from becoming apartment units, later became a tasty staple at Kenmore's Visitor Center, and today its baking mix is still a top seller in our gift shops.

🥣Learn about these topics and more at our tasting and demonstration in Kenmore's historic kitchen this Sunday from 12-5pm. Get tickets at the door or through Kenmore.org for an October 11th Kenmore tour.

09/29/2026

How many dogs do you know that have their own bobblehead? This photogenic and very goood guuurl is already a star -- a diamond in the ruff, really -- she's the bat dog for the Fredericksburg Nationals. ⚾

🐾Meet Diamond, owned by the Fredericksburg Nationals, trained by Off Leash K9 Training LLC, Fredericksburg, and handled by her coworker, Wu. She's an American Black Labrador Retriever, almost two years old. She absolutely loves to play fetch and will play as long as someone is there to throw her favorite toy. And of course, she gets cheered on by the crowd as she fetches bats at ballgames during some of the innings.

🎓Wu shared that Diamond is so smart and advanced, that she was trained to do more commands and tricks than other dogs her age!

Swing by Dog Days at Ferry Farm on Saturday, October 3rd, with your dogs for a chance to walk and explore the grounds for a reduced fee.

Details and guidelines: https://kenmore.org/calendar-item/dog-days-at-ferry-farm/

09/25/2026

One small bead, big inspiration!