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Homeschoolers Invited to Learn Colvin Run Mill’s History

Colvin Run Mill Historic Site is offering a new educational series for homeschooled students this spring. Students age 7 to 10 years old are invited to attend five, one-hour sessions centered on the community history of rural Northern Virginia. Hand-on activities include tours, using tools, and tasting delicious food made from products produced at the mill. The classes meet on Thursdays from 2 to 3 p.m. starting April 11, 2013. The cost is $42 per student.

Different topics will be discussed at each session.

• Students will learn about the c.1900 General Store and its role as the commercial, social, and communication hub of the community. Familiar and not-so-familiar everyday items from the past will be investigated.
• Students will learn why the c.1811 mill was built here and how it came to be the centerpiece of a thriving rural community. They will discover the mill’s fascinating automated technology and taste the delicious products made from grains ground onsite.
• The work and livelihoods of people in the 19th century will be discussed. Students will try out the carpenter’s hand tools, the storekeeper’s balance scale, and the housewife’s appliances.
• The modern day miller and blacksmith will demonstrate their equipment and specialized tools.
• Students will work with an archaeologist to discover how historians learn about the past.  

Registration is available online. Colvin Run Mill Historic Site is located at 10017 Colvin Run Road in Great Falls, Va.
For information, call 703-759-2771.