During Preservation Virginia‘s inaugural Homeschool Day events, we got to see and tour Patrick Henry’s home, called Scotchtown.
This collection of buildings was the one-time home of the American Revolution politician and orator Patrick Henry. Though mostly reproductions, the main house is original. Patrick Henry is probably best known for his famous speech which ended in the lines “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
As before, these events were a combination of tours, demonstrations, and history-minded activities. Shortly before we arrived on the day of the event, an actor delivered the above-mentioned speech on the steps of the main house. While we were sad to have missed it, there was still a lot more to explore.
Activities at Scotchtown
We got to watch a re-enactor outfit an audience volunteer like a revolutionary soldier. We also participated in a themed scavenger hunt. We had to decide if our assigned historical figure was a Patriot or a Loyalist. Our assignment, Mercy Otis Warren, a poet and playwright of the revolution era, turned out to be a Patriot. We had to deduce this from samples of her writing. To find these samples, we had to follow clues on where to look in the Scotchtown property.
The Tour of Scotchtown
While on the tour, though, we did learn some interesting things about Patrick Henry. For one, he had a LOT of children. Eleven total, all survived to adulthood and were equally prolific. The tour guide said that when guests claim to be a descendant of Patrick Henry he doesn’t question it. Going so far as to say “George Washington may have been the Father of the Nation, but Patrick Henry fathered the nation.”
Inside the home, it was a similar story to how other homes in the era were made with a main parlor and a family room, as well as bed chambers for the boys, the girls, and the master suite.
Other Things to See and Do
In addition to the scheduled presentations and tours, Scotchtown also had at-will activities, like a booth about natural fibers grown on the farm of Scotchtown, and the dye garden where the various plants would be grown to en-pigment the fibers and cloths. There was also a selection of historical toys and children’s games that were free to try out.
I particularly liked the outbuildings on the site. I’ve always had a fondness for exterior kitchens and workshops. Seeing a reproduction of the likely kitchen house that served Scotchtown was a treat. Even better, it was functional and they had a cooking demonstration earlier that day. There is something grounding in the smell of woodsmoke and roasting meats.
This was probably the most interactive event of the Homeschool Days events, possibly due to this being Preservation Virginia’s main education outreach campus. Either way, it’s worth the trip if you’re in the area!