Visit Historic Stagville Friday, Oct. 19, for a full day of educational activities! Are you studying American history, African American history, colonial history, the Civil War, or the history of slavery? Stagville’s Fall Harvest Homeschool Day will offer students hands-on activities about life on a plantation from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a fee of $4 per child.
Harvest Homeschool Day features historical activities that students can participate in, not just watch. Try making noodles from scratch, a corn husk doll, and handmade bricks as you learn about the lives and work of enslaved families.
Families can learn about the West African traditions of enslaved people by trying a drum and dance activity at Horton Grove. Students will try candle dipping, rope making, scythe mowing, and using a crosscut saw. Historic school lessons will also offer a glimpse of the day-to-day lives of the Bennehan and Cameron families, who owned the plantation. Families can help paint furniture with historic paints and learn about the mixing of historic paint colors.
For budding scientists, the Triangle Land Conservancy will host stream studies on the neighboring Horton Grove Nature Preserve. Students will conduct scientific tests to measure the water quality of local waterways.
This event is intended for children of all ages, but it is ideal for grades two to eight. Parents should attend with their child. The $4 per child fee is payable by cash or check only. Payment is at the door, and tickets are not available in advance.
Historic Stagville was once the plantation of the Bennehan-Cameron family. It covered almost 30,000 acres, including over 900 enslaved people. Today it includes the Bennehan house, four original slave dwellings, and a large barn built by enslaved craftsmen.
For more information, please contact Historic Stagville at (919) 620-0120. Historic Stagville is located at 5828 Old Oxford Highway, Durham, NC 27712. It is within the Division of State Historic Sites of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.