A Child's World at Old Sturbridge Village

Children Dancing

Loretta reports:

We’ve posted here before about toys as well as children’s clothes  (examples here, here, here, here, here, and here).

If you’re planning to be in the New England area between now and 27 May, you can see a great deal more, at Old Sturbridge Village.  I've posted about this living history museum before.

This time I'm excited about a new exhibition, A Child’s World: Childhood in 19th Century New England 1800-1850,” which features children’s items from the museum’s collection:  clothing, toys, games, as well as children’s furnishings from potties to high chairs.

Historian Jill Lepore’s lecture on board games at the American Antiquarian Society last June gave me food for thought about the way popular board games reflect society’s values at a given time.  But while we got to see slides, you can see the games for yourself, and speculate about the differences between board games then and now.

Skeleton suit

It’s also a chance for a look at a rare item, an 1820s “skeleton suit” (in which I garbed a young character in Lord of Scoundrels).

There’s a good deal more—about 150 items.

You can read more about it here.  Or check out their Pinterest Page.

And below is a video preview of the show.

A Child's World Exhibit - Behind the Scenes

Note:  Before going, please check on opening times.  The museum isn't always open in the daytime during December because they have major holiday activities going on in the evenings.

Skeleton suit above is from Colonial Williamsburg.