Justin and I had an epic opportunity to participate in a 24-hour living history field trip at Sutter's Fort in Sacramento. For 24 hours we dressed, ate, worked, and lived in 1846. The pioneers (students) arrived via horse-drawn wagons while the fort citizens awaited them for a day of training in important skills needed for pioneer life: candle-making, trapping, trading, blacksmithing, carpentry, cooking, baking, and rag doll making.
I ran the candle making station and for 7 hours rotated through groups of "pioneers", teaching them how to make hand-dipped candles. The weather was beautiful (actually, a bit too warm!) at sunny and 76 degrees. Justin, playing a real-life pioneer named Mose Schallenberger, told me after dinner last evening that it had been the best day of his whole life! He almost cried when he found out we had to vacate the Fort by 9 am this morning.
The group of families from our charter school that participated were amazing, and we all had such a great time. Everyone is already talking about when we do it again next year! We weren't supposed to have our cell phones or cameras out during the day (as the fort was actually open to the public and we were supposed to look and act authentic at all times), but all the parents snuck a few pictures throughout the day!
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| Justin, a.k.a. Mose Schallenberger arriving at the Fort |
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| The group of pioneers freshly arrived from the wagon train |
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| The pioneers inside the fort ready to begin their training on important pioneer skills |
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| Mose got to help close up the canon after the 12:00 noon firing |
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| Sarah Armstrong Montgomery and Mose Schallenberger |
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| A group of pioneers ready to embark on night watch around the fort |
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| The whole crew (Justin and I are in there somewhere!) |
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