the Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums
by Nancy Kimberley Phillips Heritage Park is a large living history museum in Calgary, Alberta (Treaty 7[1]) that has been in operation since 1964. The primary focus of the Park is to share the history of Western Canada between ~1880-1940. In recent years, a central part of our mandate has been to diversify the stories… Continue reading LAVENDER SPRIGS: Wear it with Pride!
“From the President’s Pen” Winter weather to date has this year has been unpredictable and challenging for much of the ALHFAMily. Much of the New England, Mid-Western, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States have been buried by snow, ice, and/or enveloped by a three- week “polar vortex” unseen for many years. But most… Continue reading ALHFAM President Mark Texel’s Post – Winter, 2026
by Jim Slining The ALHFAM FARM Professional Interest Group (PIG) is launching a multi-year initiative to fulfill the operative phrase of the ALHFAM mission statement: Sharing practical knowledge and skills. Besides a lineup of workshops and sessions for the annual conferences, we are launching Farmers Bootcamps at ALHFAM sites across the country that use the… Continue reading “WHY THIS WAY?”: The Requirement for Rote Skills in Living History
Real Work for a Real Purpose: ALHFAM FARM Professional Interest Group Launches New Workshops in 2026 The ALHFAM FARM Professional Interest Group (PIG) is launching a multi-year initiative to fulfill the operative phrase of the ALHFAM mission statement: Sharing practical knowledge and skills. Besides a lineup of workshops and sessions for the annual conferences, we… Continue reading ALHFAM FARM PIG Launches New Workshops in 2026
“From the President’s Pen” An unexpected weather change brought gloriously cooler temperatures to the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States in late August. Like flipping a switch, the air became crisper, the shadows cast by a sun lower in sky become longer, and the sky a richer blue. Miraculously, fall seems to have arrived early… Continue reading ALHFAM President’s Fall 2025 Message
When we first started talking about the U.S. Semiquincentennial a few years ago, many of us expected a top-down roadmap: a coordinated, well-funded national vision that would cascade down to local museums and historic sites. But the reality of 250th planning has been very different. This anniversary is being shaped not by grand commissions or… Continue reading 250th Spark: Grassroots Power in a Time of Uncertainty
In 1775, two lanterns in Boston’s Old North Church signaled the start of a revolution. Now, 250 years later, museums and byways across the country have a chance to bring that spirit to life through “Two Lights for Tomorrow.” (You can learn more about Two Lights for Tomorrow here; although this link is for Virginia,… Continue reading 250th Spark: Two Lights for Tomorrow Kicks off 250th Celebration Next Month
Hello ALHFAMily, In some ways, it is hard for me to believe we are already two-thirds through the first quarter of 2025. It has been a very busy two months for the ALHFAM Board of Directors. The Committee on Organizational Partnerships (COOP) has been in conversations with board members of EXARC about the possibility of… Continue reading President’s Message Feb 2025
By Sarah Hoenig Bread is a staple at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum’s period kitchen, representing one of the many food traditions in this globally connected community. But when it comes to recreating authentic bread from the 1850s, the type of leavening agent used—whether sourdough, hops, or salt-rising starter—can be surprisingly elusive. With the popularity of… Continue reading Yeast & Bread at Fort Nisqually in the 1850s: Unpacking the Mystery of Bread Leavening
As a member of the Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums (ALHFAM), I’m excited to share the latest development that promises to inspire creativity and collaboration within our community: the formation of the Arts and Culture Professional Interest Group (PIG). The conversation I facilitated during the 2024 virtual conference sparked a lot of… Continue reading Launching the Cultured Professional Interest Group (PIG) at ALHFAM: A New Adventure in Arts, Culture, and Collaboration
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