Lexington County Museum

Here is a collection of photos from the Lexington County Museum during our Christmas visit in December.

The museum portrays life in the region during the colonial era to the Civil War.

It spans 8 acres with 36 historic buildings.

The only original structure on the site is the John Fox House below built in 1832. This was a plantation home.

The other historic structures were brought in from other areas so a museum could be created.

Cooking demonstrations were performed based on what would have been cooked and how in that time period. 

We also listened to an amazing story teller, James Brown, of Lowcountry Storytellers. I wish I videoed his piece which was a raw telling of escaping slavery, heading north and ultimately joining the union troops. This groups' stories are "Acceptable to the ear, Touching to the heart, Stirring to the soul".

Some wonderful quilts are on display.

The pigeon house below was used for breeding and housing domestic pigeons. These birds provided meat, eggs and fertilizer.

No vinyl shutters here!

Old fireplaces seem so cozy but must have been super dangerous and dirty.

Living in the modern age, I can't imagine what it felt like in the homes back then with no air conditioning and the temperatures 90 degrees and humid for three straight months each summer!

Some of the structures, like the storage shed and chicken coop, demonstrate what it was like to keep food.

There is a museum building with interesting artifacts to peruse.

It is always an interesting place for stepping back in time.

If you go, the museum is open

    Tuesday thru Saturday 10am - 4pm

    Sunday 1pm - 4pm

    Admission is $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for children

    Website

Have a marvelous day/evening (wherever you are on the clock)! ~Val

Christmas Open House at the Lexington County Museum

One day a year (with the exception of 2020 of course) the Lexington County Museum is open to the public free of charge.

My favorite part of this experience is the holiday decor of past Christmas traditions. The trees are decorated with popcorn and holly for color.

The zero waste method using what is around the area is something we can learn from today.

Simplicity looks most beautiful.

How the holiday table looked back in the day. No fancy centerpiece, just vibrant edibles and branches from nature.

Old socks instead of decorated stockings hung at the mantle.

Special touches in the fireplaces, courtesy of Mother Nature.

Festive gum drops on branches and cloves decorating oranges are also pretty touches.

Holly can be used to provide a jolly pop of color anywhere.

Vines from outside make for an easy garland.

Dried okra pods are used in this arrangement below.

Dried citrus slices and cinnamon sticks are also joyful touches.

Bright red apples are a perfect thing to display for Christmas. Perhaps radishes would be a good idea too!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Have a marvelous day/evening (wherever you are on the clock)! ~Val

The Farm

Another farm we visited as part of the AG & Art Tour was The Farm (fitting name!).

The Farm has been in the Monts family since 1787 (8 generations) as part of the original land grant. This is not something you hear too often in the United States. This was the first time it has been opened to the public and will be having a grand opening this fall on October 9, 2021 for a Harvest Festival.

This farm is being given new life. After chatting with the family we learned that after years of neglect, they have teamed up to make this a working farm once again! A beautiful thing to see in the local community. Some of the produce will include pumpkins, figs, berries, muscadines, eggs and more.

The heritage breed chickens are being utilized by moving them around each day. They eat the insects and fertilize the land with their poop. A fantastic symbiotic relationship between plants and animals.

This house is being renovated to become an event space for weddings, corporate gatherings, etc.

Plenty of history was provided in stories as well as artifacts.

Some of the artisans here included a live painter.

Easel Cathedral

Beautiful pottery.

Artwork.

Gifting with Watercolor

Down Home Creatives

I love when farms hold onto historic equipment since it adds additional charm.

The old structures are marvelous too!

The AG and Art Tour is organized by the Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences of Clemson University. This continues in other South Carolina counties thru the month of June.

On the subject of SC farm, I just learned via Netflix's We Are the Champions, that our state produces the hottest pepper in the world (2021)! The Carolina Reaper at 2,200,000 SHU (the hot scale used for peppers).

source

It is a cross between a ghost pepper and a red habanero. "Smokin" Ed Currie of PepperButt Pepper Company breeds this hotness in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

 Have a marvelous day/evening (wherever you are on the clock)! ~Val