Yesterday, the boys and I took advantage of the beautiful, warm, sunny day and went exploring back in time. We had planned a trip to Pioneer Farms in the fall, but it was rained out. After hearing the forecast for the day, this mama decided the boys and I could both use some fresh air and sunshine. So off we went, and we were not disappointed!
The areas of the farm are set in the 1840's through the 1890's. Here are the boys sitting on the steps of a house built in 1855, I believe. This house was built in downtown Austin and later moved out here to save it from demolition. The porch is safe to walk on, but the doors are locked as there are holes in the floor inside. The house right next to this one (Aynesworth-Wright house, no pictures, I was too in awe of walking inside of it, I think) was built in 1851 near present day I-35/Airport. And we could walk around in it!
View of the front part of Pioneer Farms from inside the property. The little red spot to the right is the General Store, where you pay admission and can buy snacks. Which of course, was one of our favorite parts of the day. ;) The house to the left is the one from the picture above. Visitors walk down this road to get to this sign...
...then decide which way to go. You can go either right or left, as the tour is a loop/circle. My boys walked the whole way, no complaints. Again, it was a PERFECT weather day and I know that helps.
My favorite house, built just east of present day Round Rock by a wealthy man, James Bell. A sweet elderly volunteer was giving me bits of history about it as LJ ran up and down the loooooong central hallway, seen here...
...so I had to politely thank him and get out of there, before my 2 year old did any damage!
Or managed to get away from me and run into one of the "off limits" rooms. I was so impressed by the size of this house. It was gorgeous.
Out back, the boys were delighted to find longhorns...notice JW showing them how to "Gig 'em". LJ ran right at them yelling, "Horns! Horns!" I was a little concerned about the small, wooden fence, but they didn't even look at us. We also made friends with a donkey right next to these "cows". ;)
I forget that LJ doesn't see livestock as often as I did growing up. So when we came up to the oldest barn in this part of Texas (and maybe the whole state apparently), LJ was almost jumping up and down as he SCREAMED at the cow!
Hmmm, now how do I get in there????
There are a few more houses, tepees, etc, but I'll wrap up with one of the coolest - The Kruger Farm, built by German immigrants. It was tiny, but so quaint and cozy, and we were told, it was used in the filming of Lonesome Dove. It was built not far from where it sits now.
We got a fun lesson in cotton carding, and the boys got to hold and feel cotton and cotton seeds. The other boys in this picture were literally the only other visitors there with us at this point. Avoiding the crowds is a HUGE benefit to our awesome school schedule!!!
LJ just wanted to throw his cotton. At least he was participating!
My kindergartner's favorites from the day:
1. Getting gatorade and a lollipop at the General Store after our tour
2. Seeing the animals, including the chickens in a real chicken coop
3. Walking through the devil's gate at the German Farm (a zig-zag gate thought to keep the devil out since he could only walk straight forward and backwards, but not make sharp turns)
4. Touching the real buffalo hide at the Tonkawa Camp. We all thought it was so soft!
My favorite part was what JW asked as we were leaving. He asked me how all the people "living" there (the volunteers that dress in period costumes) know what happened in the 1800's? How did that lady know how to card cotton? How did the nice old man know what happened in the rooms of that big house? It was a great way for us to discuss how this information is passed on from generation to generation, and becomes a part of our history.
