the Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums
Although I work at a “big box” Museum & Science Center, I try to stay active in the world of living history. As a volunteer interpreter and reenactor, I’ve heard many friends worry aloud about the future of the hobby and the profession. They see that fewer young men and women are joining reenacting units… Continue reading The Future of Living History
Today's guest entry was submitted by Ross Gould who has volunteered at Heritage Park in Calgary, Alberta for the past eight years. Staff at the Park recently directed Ross to the ALHFAM website. Intrigued by the request for blog material, he reached out to share the following story. As a senior interpreter, now 86, at Heritage… Continue reading The Walking Plow
I’m certain that many of you agree that some of the best things about ALHFAM are those unique learning opportunities –: the chance to get your hands-on history, to learn about past trades, techniques and technologies--, more than you could ever experience from the printed page. In my role as a senior administrator, the “hands-on” part… Continue reading Kindred Spirits
Nelson Mandela once said, “There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.” I have found this sentiment to be quite true as I ease myself back into my daily activities at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum. I came back to work after… Continue reading A First Timer’s Experience
Some of you might be confused about the host site for the 2018 ALHFAM conference in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Once the state of Oklahoma acquired the property in 1945, it became known as the George M. Murrell Home in the tradition of naming historical homes after the white men who once lived there. The property was… Continue reading What’s in a Name? Hunter’s Home
We have a great line-up of entertainment for the 2018 ALHFAM conference, featuring local talent. Music during the opening reception will be provided by Preston Ware. In addition to his talents as a graphic artist with the Oklahoma Historical Society (he designed this year’s program.), Preston frequently fills in at events as an interpreter. He… Continue reading Great Entertainment is Awaiting You at ALHFAM 2018
The last stop on the final day of the 2018 ALHFAM conference will be the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum located on Blue Hawk Peak in Pawnee, Oklahoma. Gordon W. Lillie, known around the world as “Pawnee Bill,” exemplified The Wild West. Pawnee Bill produced one of the world’s three largest Wild West Shows. Born… Continue reading Pawnee Bill Ranch
For over 35 years, the Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums (ALHFAM) has published the presentations and workshops presented at each Annual Conference in monograph form. Until 2017, these Proceedings were published in hard copy and distributed by ALHFAM. Beginning with the 2016 Proceedings, the board made the decision to make the entire… Continue reading Now Available: Printed Edition of the 2016 ALHFAM Conference Proceedings
On the final day of the 2018 ALHFAM conference one of our final stops will be the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch near Oologah, Oklahoma. As the name suggests, the ranch is the birthplace of famed cowboy humorist Will Rogers. However, well before Will Rogers was entertaining the country on stage, in newspapers, over the radio,… Continue reading Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch
One of the 2018 ALHFAM conference highlights will be a visit to George and Minerva Murrell’s 19th-century plantation mansion, “Hunter’s Home.” Sturdily constructed in Greek Revival style, the mansion is located in Park Hill, Oklahoma, just outside of Tahlequah. George Murrell, a white man born to a prominent Virginia family, moved to Tennessee in the… Continue reading Hunter’s Home
ALHFAM 