DISCOVER THE 18TH-CENTURY PLANTATION

People from the Past

Photo by Jack L. Hiller

Gunston Hall’s living history players, The Gunstonians, attempt to bring the past to life. For the past 16 years, the Gunstonians have portrayed everyone from George Mason, his family and friends, to servants and slaves.   Through their portrayals during special events and tours, the Gunstonians bring their in-depth understanding of the 18th century to visitors to help them understand the 18th century.

The Gunstonians are students of political history, military history, social history, agricultural history, foodways, language, music and dance, spinning and other domestic chores.

Meet the Gunstonians ...

Mason family and plantation workers:
George Mason	George Mason V of Lexington
Sarah Brent Mason	Nancy Mason
The Dance Mistress	Mr. Green, an overseer
Mrs. Fletcher, the housekeeper	David Constable, the tutor

Visitors to Gunston Hall:
George Washington	Richard Henry Lee
Ann Thomson Mason

Gunston Hall Historic Foodways

The Gunston Hall Historic Foodways program welcomes the public to experience cooking demonstrations and classes over our open hearth.  Come join us!  You’ll find many of our future programs listed in our Calendar of Events section of our web site.

What is open hearth cooking?  At Gunston Hall, veteran cooks trained in 18th century food preparation, preservation, serving and eating rituals of the era participate in cooking demonstrations and classes in the historic open hearth kitchen just outside the Gunston Hall mansion.  Since the start of the program in June 1984, the Gunston Hall Docents’ Association Historic Foodways program has grown in popularity, keeping authentic cooking techniques, equipment and 18th century receipts (recipes) alive and available to adults as well as area school children who visit Gunston Hall throughout the year.

Each season, we hope to offer samples of receipts from published cookbooks dating to the 18th century.  Here are two from Hannah Glasse from The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy (1747).

Enroll in a Hearth Cooking Class

Gunston Hall’s highly-regarded Historic Foodways Program offers intimate hearth cooking classes for the novice to expert.  Give the gift of a cooking class for a birthday or holiday or reserve a private class for friends.  For a modest fee, Gunston Hall Foodways staff will work with museums to establish or broaden a hearth cooking program.

Open-Hearth Cooking Class, Level II
Saturday, March 27 or Sunday, March 28
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Work alongside veteran hearth cooks to prepare an 18th-century dinner.    This advanced class is held in conjunction with Fairfax County’s Adult and Community Education program (prerequisites: the completion of the Level I class or permission from instructors).  

$125 fee includes tuition and materials. For information, call 703-658-1222.  Register for course HI03895 by phone at 703-658-1201 or online at www.fcps.edu/aceclasses.

Child/Parent Colonial Cooking Class   
Wednesday, March 31 • 1:45 – 4:00 p.m.

Children ages 8 - 12 and one or both parents discover 18th-century cooking techniques, using period recipes and working in the replica kitchen.  Make butter and cheese,  preserve foods, and gather culinary herbs.  Experience not necessary. 

Reservations required at $50 per child and one parent and $25 more for each additional child/parent.  Space is limited.  Contact the Education Department at 703-550-9220. 

Open-Hearth Cooking Class, Level I
Saturday, October 30 or Sunday, October 31 • 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.   

Acquire the basics of 18th-century hearth cooking.   Employ traditional cooking techniques and recipes to make period dishes.  Offered in partnership with Fairfax County Adult and Community Education program. 

$119 fee includes tuition and materials.  Register for class HI03881 by phone at 703-658-1201 or online at www.fcps.edu/aceclasses.  For information, call 703-658-1222.