Tools on the Farm

Description

Learn about how resourceful early settlers had to be...

At the Durant-Peterson House Museum:

Living on the Illinois prairie in the 1800s required knowledge and skill at using tools to manage one's farm. Discover some of the essential tools in the pioneer’s life and watch how they are used: axes, adze, hammers, drills, corn shellers and corn planters, plows, carpenter’s bench for shingle-making. You can even try on the wooden yokes and haul full buckets of water! And, see if you can get the laundry clean using an old-fashioned wringer washing machine. You’ll be sure to get some exercise during your visit!

At the Sholes School Museum: While the school day was spent studying, the children were allowed to take a break and play old-fashioned games at recess. Try your skill at Graces, corn cob darts, Cat and Mouse, Ring the Hob, wooden hoops, wooden stilts, and more. What makes these games so special is that the pioneer children made the toys themselves!

Suggested donation $3/adults and $1/child 18 and under.