Liberia Plantation opens for Home Schoolers

Home school students and their parent teachers can spend a day in the historic surroundings of Liberia Plantation—learning about Civil War and Victorian-era spies, fashion, quilts, politics and gardening — during a special Manassas Museum program on Wednesday.

Students ages 7 through 18 will learn about the everyday life in the era, including period toys and games, cooking and quilting and will discuss the issues that led to the outbreak of the Civil War.

The program begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m.

The offerings include:

Victorian Clothing Demonstration: Students can learn how men, women and children dressed during the Victorian period and how etiquette played an important role in everyday life.

Codes and Spies: Attendees can learn about the spies that used Liberia to send messages to the Confederacy and the codes that were used to break secret messages. Students will try to break various codes.

Quilts: Those attending can discover why quilts were extremely important in the everyday life of a Victorian and a Civil War soldier and how they might have played a role in the Underground Railroad.

What caused the Civil War?: The audience can learn about the political climate that led to the American Civil War. Students will explore and define policies and laws that were passed and vetoed.

Civil War Herbs and Cooking: Students will learn what types of meals were cooking by Civil War soldiers and Victorian families and the importance of herbs in healing and cooking.

Recreation during the Victorian Period: The gathering will learn about and play with games and toys that were popular during the Civil War.

This program offers a unique opportunity for the area’s many home schooled students, said Museum Public Programs Coordinator Nicole Wilfong.

“Liberia Plantation is constantly under renovations and is not open to the public. As a result, Home School Day is a wonderful and fulfilling opportunity for students ages 7 to 18 to explore the wonders of his historic house and learn about the Civil War significance that makes this plantation fascinating and unusual,” she said.

The cost for the program is $6 per student and $3 per adult. For more information call 703-368-1873.

— Bennie Scarton Jr.