On July 12, the museum played host to a delightful group of young ladies who joined museum staff for a day of nineteenth-century experiences. This year -- the museum’s third year offering a “Victorian Girls Camp” for young ladies -- the day’s activities centered around nineteenth-century social and leisure activities.
Participants tried out a variety of different activities, making several special keepsakes to take home with them. The morning was devoted primarily to watercolor painting, although uncooperative weather necessitated indoor painting instead of “en plein air” as we had hoped. Nonetheless, the girls worked on their skills, experimenting with different techniques, before painting several scenes.
Silhouettes, a popular and inexpensive way of capturing one’s likeness in the nineteenth century, were also on the morning’s agenda. In the 1800s, a practiced silhouette cutter could cut a freehand silhouette in about three minutes – it took us a little longer, but by the end of the day, each of the girls took home their own framed silhouette.
This year, the museum staff tried something new, offering a lunchtime tea as part of the camp. After a brief introduction to the history of the afternoon tea ritual and Victorian manners, the girls dined on salmon and cucumber tea sandwiches, cheese, crackers, and fresh fruit, finishing off their meal with a dessert of meringues and brownies.
The afternoon flew by with a session on paper quilling, a practice of rolling and manipulating narrow strips of paper that has been around since medieval times. Each of the girls used their new quilling skills to make a quilled pendant for a necklace.
After a delightful day in the nineteenth century, the girls headed home with their families, leaving the museum staff full of new ideas for next year’s Victorian Girls’ Camp.
Participants tried out a variety of different activities, making several special keepsakes to take home with them. The morning was devoted primarily to watercolor painting, although uncooperative weather necessitated indoor painting instead of “en plein air” as we had hoped. Nonetheless, the girls worked on their skills, experimenting with different techniques, before painting several scenes.
Silhouettes, a popular and inexpensive way of capturing one’s likeness in the nineteenth century, were also on the morning’s agenda. In the 1800s, a practiced silhouette cutter could cut a freehand silhouette in about three minutes – it took us a little longer, but by the end of the day, each of the girls took home their own framed silhouette.
This year, the museum staff tried something new, offering a lunchtime tea as part of the camp. After a brief introduction to the history of the afternoon tea ritual and Victorian manners, the girls dined on salmon and cucumber tea sandwiches, cheese, crackers, and fresh fruit, finishing off their meal with a dessert of meringues and brownies.
The afternoon flew by with a session on paper quilling, a practice of rolling and manipulating narrow strips of paper that has been around since medieval times. Each of the girls used their new quilling skills to make a quilled pendant for a necklace.
After a delightful day in the nineteenth century, the girls headed home with their families, leaving the museum staff full of new ideas for next year’s Victorian Girls’ Camp.
Learning watercolor techniques in the morning
Lunchtime tea in the hotel’s original dining room . . . everyone used their best etiquette and manners
Girls enjoy sitting on the hotel’s sun porch as they work on cutting out their silhouettes
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