Pioneer Living History Village

Sophia and her friend at Pioneer Living History Village north of Phoenix, AZ

There is something fabulous about being able to "step into the past".  I love to see, touch, use, and learn about items that are no longer used but were so integral to lives in another era. The structures, furniture, clothing, daily "routine"- it is like a time travel. I love living history "museums".

My girls and I have traveled to several historic sites around the nation, some of them have been the type where docents dress in period clothing and do the daily activities that would have been done as if they are living life in that time period. We have been to the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Bakersfield, Or.

Kirtland Saw Mill

We spent a a couple of days at the Kirtland OH Historic Sites- including the Kirtland Ashery (this is fascinating- an ashery is part of a whole industry relegated to the history books!), Kirtland Sawmill, Newel K. Whitney General Store, Isaac Morley Farm House, the John Johnson Home (we decided the recreated painted floor was fabulous), the Kirtland Temple (This is not a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and is not used in the same way as it was when it was first built nor how LDS Temples are used today. It is historically significant for many reasons and is open for tours. More about temples here), the school house, and all the other sites that have been rebuilt there.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Home in Mansfield, MO

We have visited the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum. There are two homes on the property that the author of the "Little House on the Prairie" books lived in. It is also the home she lived in when she wrote the books.

Heber C. Kimball Home in Nauvoo, IL

One of the best living history towns ever is Nauvoo, IL. If you go to this website, you will find links to the many historic homes and shops you can tour there. We spent a week and could have stayed longer. There are also many activities there every day throughout the summer. Each day there are free "mini-plays" in various historic buildings around the town. There is a live, outdoor, theatrical performance ("pageant") every night for a week (it is free) that tells the story of the town of Nauvoo. Prior to the pageant there is a country fair every night. The town has a blacksmith, wainwright, boot shop, bakery, school house, post office, several beautiful period homes (one of our favorites- they are all wonderful, so it is hard to say "favorite!), Stoddard home and tin shop, printing office, and the home and gun shop of Jonathan Browning, of Browning Guns fame. And, the reconstructed temple overlooks the town. We also went about half an hour away to Carthage Jail, where Joseph Smith, Jr. was martyred.

Mormon Trail Center in Omaha, NE

We have been to the Mormon Trail Center in Winter Quarters, NE (Omaha, NE) and Winter Quarters, IA- the town has a river that divides it between the two states!

Another super fantastic living history village is in Indiana, where I grew up. It is called Conner Prairie, and it is comprehensive!

Overview map of Conner Prairie. It depicts an 1863 Prairie Town, a Lenape Indian (Native American) Camp, an 1863 Civil War Journey, and the Conner Homestead. 

The docents were "living" life in 1863; men were building a cabin-  sawing with the two-man saw that would have been used at the time, a woman was sitting in "her home" hand sewing a new dress because "her daughter" (a fellow docent) needed some help making a "school dress" (her clothes to wear when she is a docent). The man in the general store told us all about the new items, dry goods, and new fashions that were coming in from London. It was pretty stellar. 

I could say lots more, but I intended to write about the Phoenix Pioneer Living History Village; and so I shall. After I tell you that Sophia have also been to the Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott, AZ. I have to be honest- I was not expecting much. It was much bigger and more comprehensive than I had expected by a long shot. Look at this list of historic buildings! The first Governor's Mansion is there; it's quite neat. 

Governor's Mansion, view 1

Governor's Mansion, view 2

Alright. I get it. You have been waiting to find out about Pioneer Village in Phoenix. But, remember- all of these places are really fabulous. I could even tell you about more. But- I won't.

Isabel in front of the Dress Shop in the Pioneer Living History Village north of Phoenix, AZ

The Pioneer Village has so much potential. There are several really fabulous buildings that have been relocated to the site. There are four different cabins or homes; all originals relocated to the site. They are all different representations of early Arizona life. Most needed some maintenance and repair. I think it needs more support- volunteer docents and (of course) funding. 

Map of Pioneer Living History Village. There are really quite a few things to see there. The catch is if there are enough docents working that you can get inside the structures....

It's worth a visit. We went on a saturday, and several of the structures were not open for viewing because there wasn't enough staff there to man them. We were told that during the week is the best time to visit because they have more docents to facilitate school groups, which means you can see more of the structures and learn about them from the docents.

We were still able to go into most of the buildings- or at least look in the open door. And, there was a goat- which sophia and her friend loved. Sophia is already planning goat pens in "her backyard" that she will have when she "grows up."

They loved the goat.

 The yellow house was really pretty fabulous. But, it needs considerable restoration work. Some of the wallpaper is just falling off the walls... They need volunteers and money; that's what Pioneer Village needs!

The "big" house. It was very lovely, although in need of repairs.

A frontier cabin

The church house. I think you can have your wedding here. That'd be quaint.

Inside the school house. Cute.

Scary criminal Isabel!

Yikes. I really don't want to mess with Sophia.

Aw. She's just too sweet to be scary!

It was fun, nonetheless. Especially since everyone got their photo taken as a "wanted criminal"!