Yesterday I took a break and spent most of the day at Kings Landing Historical Settlement which is about 20 minutes upriver from Fredericton. Kings Landing, nestled on the banks of the beautiful Saint John River, is an "outdoor living history museum" which represents life in the central Saint John River Valley between 1780-1910, covering the time period of the Loyalists to the late Victorians. The costumed staff interpret daily life in the settlement in buildings complete with authentic artifacts, furniture, tools and equipment. If you are at all interested in history it is a fascinating place to spend a day... or two!
Part of Kings Landing is built on land which belonged to my father's grandfather which is part of the reason my Dad loved it there; I too feel a special tie to the pla
ce, I always feel a closeness to my Dad when I am there. Also one of my uncles worked there as it was being built. Kings Landing came about as a result of the Mactaquac Dam being built on the river- this was going to create a huge headpond which would flood 100 kms. upriver to Woodstock. This flooding would destroy many homes, farms and long established settlements along the river, so historically and architecturally significant buildings were carefully moved out of the flood plain to Prince William to create a new settlement - Kings Landing. Not only is it picturesque - the rolling green fields sloping down to the river - but it seems everyw
here you look there is a photo just waiting to be taken. I could wander around there every day for a week and take several hundred pics each day, no problem... Between the buildings, the costumed staff, the animals and the beautiful landscape... well - thank goodness for digital cameras! The cost of film would be outrageous!
One of the most exciting aspects of Kings Landing, to me, is their education program which runs full tilt through the summer. They have two wonderful programs for children called Visiting Cousins (for 9-14 yr. olds) and Family Kin (for 12-15 yr. olds). Children c
an have a unique "summer camp experience" like no other. They spend 5 days at KL immersed in history and experiencing the lifestyle of the 1800's. They act as visiting relatives to the Kings Landing families on site, dress in period costumes and participate in daily chores and activities, learning necessary life skills. The girls do such things as butter churning, candlemaking, wool and flax processing, cooking on the open hearth and needlepoint, and the boys learn skills from the village blacksmith, cooper, sawyer, printer and farmer. They also attend the one room 1840 schoolhouse daily. The learning cont
inues in the evening after the site closes to the public, with songs, games and drama. They sleep "off site" at the nearby Education Centre. Once they have been a Visiting Cousin, and they are between 12 and 15, they can return as a "Family Kin"; during this week they specialize in one area of activity as if they are learning a trade or occupation to prepare for their life's work, as they would have done in the 19th century. It is a wonderful program- my daughter Laura fell in love with it her first year as a Cousin, and returned the next 3 years as Kin. The following summer she was a volunteer on site, and now is full time summer staff for the second year. She LOVES it - I think she would live there 24/7 if she could... Laura works in the Long House - yesterday when we walked in she was making a Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble which she then cooked in a Dutch Oven over coals on the hearth.
Yesterday my good friend Carole and I went up to see her three granddaughters who are there for the first time as Visiting Cousins. We followed them around for the day, taking lots of pics and watching them do their chores and activities. (Carole is a former KL volunteer and staff member as well, so we both thoroughly enjoyed returning to this place which is so special to us both.) They looked so cute in their bonnets and dresses. Just before we left they were having some fun, playing H
oop and Stick, Tug of War and Croquet.... Kings Landing is more than just history...it's "history well told"!
What a great day! The sun even shone most of the day, a rare thing this summer, it seems....
Piece,
Linda
Part of Kings Landing is built on land which belonged to my father's grandfather which is part of the reason my Dad loved it there; I too feel a special tie to the pla
ce, I always feel a closeness to my Dad when I am there. Also one of my uncles worked there as it was being built. Kings Landing came about as a result of the Mactaquac Dam being built on the river- this was going to create a huge headpond which would flood 100 kms. upriver to Woodstock. This flooding would destroy many homes, farms and long established settlements along the river, so historically and architecturally significant buildings were carefully moved out of the flood plain to Prince William to create a new settlement - Kings Landing. Not only is it picturesque - the rolling green fields sloping down to the river - but it seems everyw
here you look there is a photo just waiting to be taken. I could wander around there every day for a week and take several hundred pics each day, no problem... Between the buildings, the costumed staff, the animals and the beautiful landscape... well - thank goodness for digital cameras! The cost of film would be outrageous!One of the most exciting aspects of Kings Landing, to me, is their education program which runs full tilt through the summer. They have two wonderful programs for children called Visiting Cousins (for 9-14 yr. olds) and Family Kin (for 12-15 yr. olds). Children c
an have a unique "summer camp experience" like no other. They spend 5 days at KL immersed in history and experiencing the lifestyle of the 1800's. They act as visiting relatives to the Kings Landing families on site, dress in period costumes and participate in daily chores and activities, learning necessary life skills. The girls do such things as butter churning, candlemaking, wool and flax processing, cooking on the open hearth and needlepoint, and the boys learn skills from the village blacksmith, cooper, sawyer, printer and farmer. They also attend the one room 1840 schoolhouse daily. The learning cont
inues in the evening after the site closes to the public, with songs, games and drama. They sleep "off site" at the nearby Education Centre. Once they have been a Visiting Cousin, and they are between 12 and 15, they can return as a "Family Kin"; during this week they specialize in one area of activity as if they are learning a trade or occupation to prepare for their life's work, as they would have done in the 19th century. It is a wonderful program- my daughter Laura fell in love with it her first year as a Cousin, and returned the next 3 years as Kin. The following summer she was a volunteer on site, and now is full time summer staff for the second year. She LOVES it - I think she would live there 24/7 if she could... Laura works in the Long House - yesterday when we walked in she was making a Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble which she then cooked in a Dutch Oven over coals on the hearth.
Yesterday my good friend Carole and I went up to see her three granddaughters who are there for the first time as Visiting Cousins. We followed them around for the day, taking lots of pics and watching them do their chores and activities. (Carole is a former KL volunteer and staff member as well, so we both thoroughly enjoyed returning to this place which is so special to us both.) They looked so cute in their bonnets and dresses. Just before we left they were having some fun, playing H
oop and Stick, Tug of War and Croquet.... Kings Landing is more than just history...it's "history well told"!What a great day! The sun even shone most of the day, a rare thing this summer, it seems....
Piece,
Linda
Memories are like keepsakes - always to be treasured...
4 comments:
How wonderful, Linda! Wish I could have done that, as I think I might have fit in with that era. We have some of those places in the States, e.g., Plimoth Plantation, and I think they are so great. Love your photos.
What a nice experience for young people. You are right. There are beautiful pictures just waiting to be taken around every corner. I love going there.
I am going to visting cousins this summer for the first time and this was reallt helpful thanks!
I am so glad this was helpful. Where are you coming from? Are you local to Fredericton or are you travelling a distance ? If you have any other questions about KL, feel free to email me or leave another comment; my daughter still works at KL (Hagerman House this year) so we can answer your questions...
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