Claude Moore Colonial Farm
Encyclopedia
The Claude Moore Colonial Farm at Turkey Run is the only privately run park in the U.S. National Park Service
(NPS). The Friends of Claude Moore Colonial Farm, a privately funded foundation, pays for all activities on the farm, while the land is owned by the NPS. The Farm is located in Langley, Virginia
, a suburb of McLean, Virginia
, next to the George Bush Center for Intelligence
and the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center.
demonstrates the life of the small upper crust — merchants and landowners.
.
The farm has also cooperated with Fairfax County in providing work-release parolees with court-required employment. And on a 1771 farm, this means labor.
The highlight of the year is the Market Fair, held the third weekends of May, July, and October. The Market Fair is enhanced by the participation of a cadre of long-time volunteers who man the stands, including the blacksmith, the cabinet maker, millinery, plants, toys, scriptorium, puppet theatre and, most importantly, the tavern. The importance of the tavern in Colonial life is captured on the sign displayed therein: "Beer is proof that God loves us, and wants us to be happy. —Benjamin Franklin."
Many of the participants are members of American Revolutionary War
re-enactor groups and appear at other Colonial historical events. The gathering and threshing of wheat and the preparation of the tobacco crop are annual events. A Colonial Wassail
, including the blessing of the orchard, is the final event of the season, in mid-December.
The farm's current calendar can be seen at their website.
The farm operation expanded its facilities, post 9-11. A new access road was cut through the upper pasture so that access to the farm office no longer passes through the security gate of the Federal Highway Administration
headquarters, behind the CIA grounds. "Chez Puce," the site of the farm's alternating book and "garage" sale, was erected on the grounds in 2003; a new gatehouse shop has been built at the front parking lot.
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
(NPS). The Friends of Claude Moore Colonial Farm, a privately funded foundation, pays for all activities on the farm, while the land is owned by the NPS. The Farm is located in Langley, Virginia
Langley, Virginia
Langley is an unincorporated community in the census-designated place of McLean in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States.The community was essentially absorbed into McLean many years ago, although there is still a Langley High School...
, a suburb of McLean, Virginia
McLean, Virginia
McLean is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia. The community had a total population of 48,115 as of the 2010 census....
, next to the George Bush Center for Intelligence
George Bush Center for Intelligence
The George Bush Center for Intelligence is the headquarters compound of the Central Intelligence Agency, located in the unincorporated community of Langley in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The headquarters, officially named in the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 for...
and the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center.
Life in 1771
The mission of Turkey Run is to recreate the life of 1771 tenant farmers. The vast majority of Virginians in 1771 were tenant farmers who grew tobacco to pay their rent and food to eat. By contrast, Colonial WilliamsburgColonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the private foundation representing the historic district of the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The district includes buildings dating from 1699 to 1780 which made colonial Virginia's capital. The capital straddled the boundary of the original shires of Virginia —...
demonstrates the life of the small upper crust — merchants and landowners.
Small staff and volunteers
Turkey Run is staffed by a small paid professional staff, supplemented by volunteers (mostly pre-teens and teenagers called apprentices) who demonstrate 1771 farm life, including field work, crafts, cooking, and other special activities. Staff (including volunteers) use "first person" to demonstrate living historyLiving history
Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools, activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time. Although it does not necessarily seek to reenact a specific event in history, living history is...
.
The farm has also cooperated with Fairfax County in providing work-release parolees with court-required employment. And on a 1771 farm, this means labor.
The highlight of the year is the Market Fair, held the third weekends of May, July, and October. The Market Fair is enhanced by the participation of a cadre of long-time volunteers who man the stands, including the blacksmith, the cabinet maker, millinery, plants, toys, scriptorium, puppet theatre and, most importantly, the tavern. The importance of the tavern in Colonial life is captured on the sign displayed therein: "Beer is proof that God loves us, and wants us to be happy. —Benjamin Franklin."
Many of the participants are members of American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
re-enactor groups and appear at other Colonial historical events. The gathering and threshing of wheat and the preparation of the tobacco crop are annual events. A Colonial Wassail
Wassail
The word Wassail refers to several related traditions; first and foremost wassailing is an ancient southern English tradition that is performed with the intention of ensuring a good crop of cider apples for the next year's harvest...
, including the blessing of the orchard, is the final event of the season, in mid-December.
Season from April to December
The farm is open to visitors (including school groups) Wednesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 4:30 PM from April 1 to mid-December. A small admission charge of $3 for adults or $2 for children applies, and memberships are available which permit free admission to the Farm and all 18th-Century events. These include Farm Skills, Dairy Day, clothing workshops, salting fish, herbal remedies, dancing workshops, wheat harvest, tobacco harvest, pickling, the 18th-Century Wedding, Spinning and Dyeing Day, and a winter traditions workshop.The farm's current calendar can be seen at their website.
History
Originally named the Turkey Run Farm when it opened in the early 1970s as a National Park Service operation, it was renamed for local land developer Claude Moore whose large bequest at the time of his death allowed the farm park to establish itself as the only autonomous site in the park system. It takes no NPS funding and operates off of the dividends of its endowment, as well as donations from the public.The farm operation expanded its facilities, post 9-11. A new access road was cut through the upper pasture so that access to the farm office no longer passes through the security gate of the Federal Highway Administration
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
headquarters, behind the CIA grounds. "Chez Puce," the site of the farm's alternating book and "garage" sale, was erected on the grounds in 2003; a new gatehouse shop has been built at the front parking lot.
External links
- Claude Moore Colonial Farm website
- Claude Moore Colonial Farm Gallery at DCPages.comWashington DC City PagesWashington DC City Pages, usually referred to as DCpages, is an online community network founded in 1994. DCpages introduced the concept of online community publications in the Washington DC metropolitan area, and celebrated its 10th anniversary on January 1, 2004.DCPages.com has been recognized by...