Take a Closer Look is held on the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. and is FREE for members of Old Sturbridge Village. Led by Village curatorial staff and others, this 30 to 45-minute program is held at a different site each month, inviting Members to add another dimension to their Village visits. Please note the program in October is open to all visitors.
April 11: Off the Bed (meets inside the Firearms & Textiles building)
Quilting was not found just on 19th-century beds. Learn about the fashion and function of quilted clothing in the lives of early 19th-century New Englanders and explore the different ways that quilting was used in garments of the early 1800s, sometimes in unexpected places.
May 9: Thoroughly Domesticated Plants (meets at the Visitor�Center)
The early 1800s was a time of great interest in horticulture. Advances in heating technology enabled the wealthy to grow exotic plants year-round in greenhouses. Parlor plants brought the outdoors indoors. Take a tour of the Gardening in Pots exhibit for a closer look at the books, flowerpots, tools, and furnishings that made indoor gardening possible.
June 13: Behind the Scenes: Pottery (meets at the Pottery)
Go behind the scenes in the pottery shop with an OSV potter. See how the potters keep up with the high demand for redware and learn about the modern pottery production process at Old Sturbridge Village.
July 11: Highlights of the Firearms Exhibit (meets at the Firearms & Textiles building)
Join an OSV curator for an informal tour of the firearms exhibit,
focusing on some of the unique pieces in this extensive collection of early
firearms.
August 8: Too Good to Be Rags (meets at the Firearms & Textiles building)
Recycling is not a new phenomenon. Re-using and mending textile items, rather than throwing them out, was common in the early 1800s. Examine the ways that enterprising and frugal New England women �made do' by patching, darning, mending and altering old garments.
September 12: Examining Improvements in Farm Tools (meets at the Fitch Barn)
Take a closer look at improvements in agricultural tools. Learn about new mechanisms in farming for slicing, dicing, turning, and churning, and explore the progressive tools and techniques in early 19th-century farming.
October 10: History and Archeology of the Bixby House (meets at the Bixby House)
Get an insider's tour of the Bixby House, formerly of Barre, Massachusetts, now located at Old Sturbridge Village. View artifacts found in and around the house and learn about the detailed archaeological and architectural studies that informed the careful restoration of the Bixby house at OSV.
November 14: Highlights of the Early Lighting Exhibit (meets at the Early Lighting Exhibit)
Join an OSV curator for an informal tour of the Early Lighting Exhibit,
focusing on some of the unique pieces in this extensive collection of early
lighting.
Interested in other Members-only programs?
Check out Garden Thyme, held the third Saturday each month.
Also, the 2010 schedule of Take a Closer Look events is now available.
