SPECIAL EVENTS & PROGRAMMING
While Rockingham State Historic Site's historic house is closed during renovations, we will be having the barn open and staffed on Sunday afternoons starting in May (and may add some Saturday afternoons in June and July, until the house opens). There you can find information about Rockingham and it's history, games and toys to try (all ages!), other touchables to explore and nearby trail maps. We hope to provide tours of the kitchen garden as it gets going for the season and showings of our Telly Award-winning DVD, "The Road to Peace" about General Washington's stay at Rockingham in 1783, as we go into the summer.
We will be presenting some special programs in the barn in June, as you can read about below!
Saturday, June 10th
1:30 PM
On Saturday, June 10 at 1:30 pm, Alisa Dupuy of The Ladies of History will be presenting a first-person portrayal of Annis Stockton. This program will be held in the Dutch barn on the property.
Annis Boudinot Stockton was the wife of Richard Stockton, signer of the Declaration of Independence for New Jersey and owner of Morven in Princeton, the sister of Elias Boudinot, president of the Confederation Congress, while they were at Princeton in 1783 and an accomplished poetess. During the Revolutionary War and after, she wrote several poems about Washington and she and the Washingtons became friends, most likely exchanging visits while they were staying at Rockingham in 1783.
The event is free, but donations to Rockingham are always welcome! Event sponsored by The Rockingham Association. The Museum Store will be open and light refreshments will be available after the program. Free registrations are required at Eventbrite.
FROM COW TO CHEESE -- THE 18TH-CENTURY WHEY!
Sunday, June 25th
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
While Rockingham State Historic Site’s historic house is closed during renovations, the Dutch barn will be open and staffed most Sunday afternoons (and some Saturday afternoons, too) into the summer and will be where visitors can enjoy some special programming, as well.
The barn would have been an important part of the daily life of an 18th-century farm, such as Rockingham. Making apple cider, soap and candles and preserving food would have all been typical labors that sustained the people living at that time. Cheesemaking would have also been a part of this routine, using the milk provided by cattle, sheep and goats raised on these farms.
Susan McLellan Plaisted, Proprietress of Heart to Hearth Cookery who last was here to demonstrate apple butter making, will be presenting “From Cow to Cheese: The 18th-Century Whey” on June 25, 2023, from 1 to 4 pm. Susan will show the process of cheesemaking from rennet to cheese by making an actual fresh cheese, displaying her 18th-century cheesemaking equipment, and augmenting the program with selected slides of her preparing cheese with 5 to 8 gallons of fresh cow's milk. Visitors may stop by at any point in the afternoon to watch the ongoing process and ask questions, staying as long as they would like.
The Museum Store will be open and light refreshments will be available. The event is free, but donations to Rockingham are always welcome! Event sponsored by The Rockingham Association.
UPCOMING EVENTS
PAST EVENTS
Saturday, November 20th, 2021
The Rockingham Association presented The Practitioners of Musick in a virtual program entitled “Nothing More Agreeable - Music in the Washington Family”. A recording of this program can be found on YouTube.
TOURS WILL RETURN IN THE LATE SPRING/ EARLY SUMMER
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Recent events have also included:
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a workshop "From Fleece to Wool and Flax to Linen", explaining harvesting, preparing and spinning sheep's wool and flax in the 18th century; attendees were given the chance to card wool and spin yarn on a drop spindle.
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a celebration of George Washington's birthday. Director Lisa Flick designed an afternoon of special Washington themed tours and trivia questions for which visitors--adult and children alike--could win prizes. Special birthday tri-corner hats, Washington cake and punch were provided to all those who attended.
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"Anatomy of a Death: Death and Dying in the 18th Century" - Volunteer actors re-enacted the activities which occurred after a death in the colonial period. Participants then followed a trail along the Delaware and Raritan Canal to the Kingston Presbyterian Church Cemetery for a tour of the gravestones there.
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entertainment by The Practitioners of Musick with English flute and harpsichord.
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reenactments of the Berrien family and Revolutionary War artillery units
Please check the website regularly for announcements of future events and programs.
OUTREACH PROGRAMS
History to Go!
The Children's Museum at Rockingham sponsors an outreach history project: History to Go!. This program is an opportunity for your groups to prepare to come to Rockingham, or to have Rockingham come to them! This program enables groups to see and use some of the most popular items from our Children's Museum in the convenience of their own classroom, living room or civic center.
How did this program begin?
Rockingham, with the support of the New Jersey State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, realized that many people of all walks are interested in learning about American History. The most effective way of teaching is a "hands-on" approach where one can touch items, play games, and try on clothing from Colonial times. Rockingham wanted a program that would be available to all, regardless of their ability to come to our historic site.
Who can use this program?
Anyone who wants to learn! Classroom groups that are planning to come to Rockingham while studying the Revolutionary War may use History to Go! In preparation for their visit. Other schools who are unable to come to Rockingham may want to use this project to supplement textbook explanations of the Colonial period. Scout troops, church groups, community centers, clubs, families, or home school organizations and all interested parties are encouraged to contact the site office for further information.
What is included in the project?
The basic program consists of lesson plans, recipes, children's period-style clothing pieces, accessories, hats, personal items, games, books and craft projects all housed in three baskets. Extra quill pens with ink can be requested (must be ordered in advance) for an additional charge of $4.00 each.
What is the fee for?
There is a $35 fee for this program, to be paid at the time the baskets are picked up.
To Reserve the Program:
Call the Office (609) 683-7132 when the site is open to arrange a time to see the baskets and contents. We will help you to tailor the program to the needs of your group!
Or write:
Rockingham State Historic Site
P.O. Box 496
Kingston, NJ 08528
This program was made possible by a generous donation of the New Jersey State Society of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Children of the American Revolution, Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission, and Forbes Newspapers.