the Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums
“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
Heritage travelers aren’t just looking for a single-site visit — they want an experience. According to a 2023 Travel Trends report, 97% of travelers said they want to experience the local heritage and culture of a town. In particular, they want to try the local cuisine (70%), see the sites (67%), learn about history (58%),… Continue reading 250th Spark: The Great American Road Trip: A Powerful Tourism Strategy for America’s 250th
As the 250th anniversary of America’s founding approaches, museums and other heritage destinations have a unique opportunity to come together and create unforgettable experiences for visitors. This milestone offers not just a celebration of history, but a chance to deepen collaboration across sectors, amplify shared stories, and strengthen communities through meaningful partnerships. Here’s how museums,… Continue reading 250th Spark: Collaborating Across Heritage Sectors
During the conference’s haymaking class, Lauren Muney gave me a gorgeous antique scythe. She had prepared it for someone in the class, and I was the only one without a scythe. More...
Photos courtesy of Genesee Country Village & Museum You can mark experiencing a “white hot” off your bucket list if you join us at the opening reception for the 2017 ALHFAM conference. But wait! Don’t dig in until you’ve taken the official tutorial on building a “garbage plate” or a “beef on weck” sandwich. ALHFAM… Continue reading Have You Ever Had a “White Hot?”
I recently came across a TED talk that combines my inner science nerd with my history nerd. I have long been a follower of the exciting work taking place at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, but never had it crossed my mind that experiments there could be related to my history… Continue reading Is Your Site a Super Collider?
Poultry flock inspection, blade sheep shearing, English formal gardens in America, heritage potatoes, preservation of period clothing, spinning and weaving, behaviorism applications for tourists . . . What a wonderfully eclectic mix of topics; articles about which are found in just two issues of the Bulletin, ALHFAM's quarterly journal. Every issue I receive has something… Continue reading Poultry to Period Clothing: The Bulletin
Kudos to conference chair Rick Musselman and all of the staff and volunteers of Carriage Hill Metropark for hosting a great opening reception. A great fare of farm made food of breads, preserves, pickled foods, sausages and craft cheese (the only non-farm made food) were offered as refreshments to everyone. After touring the site and having a bite… Continue reading MOMCC’s Opening Reception always offers something interesting
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