Heritage Farm Museum and Village

Heritage Farm Museum and Village

Heritage Village
Location within West Virginia
Established	4 May 1996 (1996-05-04)
Location	Huntington, WV
Coordinates	38°22′35″N 82°28′02″W / 38.37642°N 82.467222°W / 38.37642; -82.467222
Type	Appalachian History and Culture
Founder	A. Michael and Henriella Perry
Website	www.heritagefarmmuseum.com

Heritage Farm Museum and Village is an open-air living history museum in Huntington, West Virginia that focuses on Appalachian history and culture. Originally conceived as a location to house and display the private collection of A. Michael "Mike" and Henriella Perry, Heritage Farm has expanded into an entire Appalachian Frontier Village that was recently named West Virginia's first Smithsonian-affiliated museum.^[1]

History

In 1973, co-founders Mike and Henriella Perry decided to relocate from Huntington city proper to a farmhouse on the outskirts of town. Their interest was piqued by the old wooden logs they discovered beneath the walls of their house. Their efforts to understand the tools and techniques involved in building a cabin, coupled with their hobby of antiquing, led to the genesis of what would become Heritage Farm. Originally a private collection housed in a nearby barn, they soon began to accumulate authentic old structures and materials that they felt would convey an appreciation for everyday life in Appalachia from the 19th century to the present.^[2]

Heritage Farm in its current sense began with the first "May Festival" on May 4, 1996.^[3] This event was the only day the village was open on an annual basis until 2006. It is currently a year-round public museum, open every day except Sundays and holidays.

Museums

Heritage Farm has seven main museum buildings:

Name	Description	Image
Progress Museum	Charts the technological and social change in Appalachia from its earliest settlers to the mid-20th century.
Transportation Museum	Houses a collection of vehicles and models including a conestoga wagon, bicycles, steam engines, early American cars, and various early forms of transportation.
Country Store Museum	A recreation of a 19th-century country store, with a pharmacy, post office, butcher shop, and other period-appropriate displays.
The Bowes Doll and Carriage Exhibit	Built and created by Don and Connie Bowes, the doll and carriage exhibit is a walk-through doll house with a large collection of handmade furnishings.[4]
Heritage Museum	Contains the earliest displays that were available for viewing at Heritage Farm, including a barbershop, woodworking office, and various washing machines and butter churns.
Industry Museum	Chronicles the centrality of industry to the Appalachian region; includes a walk-through coal mine and a glassblowing furnace among other displays.
Children's Hands-On Activity Center	Museum designed to educate children about different chores and tasks required to run a farm, as well as providing a glimpse into what farm life was like.[5]

Lodging

In addition to museums, Heritage Farm rents buildings for visitors to lodge in. All the log cabins but one are constructed from 19th-century logs sourced from around West Virginia. Other lodgings of note include a 19th-century dairy barn reconstructed into a conference and retreat center, and an 1940s N&W Caboose with fold-out beds.

Name	Description	Image
Applebutter Inn	Located inside Heritage Village.
Blackberry Inn	Originally a cabin from Lavalette, WV with two additions made of logs from Mason County, WV.
Hollyberry Inn	This home was constructed as a farmhouse and has existed in its current location since before Heritage Farm came into being.
Strawberry Inn	The first cabin reassembled at the farm. The logs came from various cabins throughout Cabell and Wayne counties in West Virginia.
Woodbury Inn	The most secluded and most recent addition of all cabins.
Barn Conference and Retreat Center	A 19th century dairy barn with 9000 square feet of space that serves as a venue for camps and conferences.
Caboose	A real N&W Virginian railroad caboose. Sleeps four.[5]

Historic Buildings and Implements

In addition to museums and lodging, Heritage Farm has a number of period buildings, as well as machines and implements, used for various tasks in Appalachian everyday life.

Name	Description	Image
Blacksmith Shop	A complete blacksmith shop, including working forge.
Bread Oven	A wood-fired masonry oven that is in regular use.
Church	19th century log church relocated from Lincoln County, West Virginia.
Conway Frontier Cabin	Log cabin belonging to the Conway family, relocated a short distance to Heritage Farm.
Potter's Kiln and Shed	Working Potter's Kiln and accompanying shed, where area potters work and give classes on the subject.
Sawmill	A Sawmill still in occasional operation.
Schoolhouse	Early 20th-century One-room schoolhouse that housed Lick Creek School, relocated to its current location and former spot of the Ratcliffe one-room schoolhouse.
Tobacco Barn	Old log barn that is meant to recreate a 19th-century tobacco barn
Windmill	Recreation of an early American windmill

Attractions

Artisans

A printer practices his trade at the Artisan Center

Heritage Farm employs local artisans who practice old forms of craftsmanship using authentic, antique equipment related to their professions. Artisans include (but are not limited to) broommakers, weavers, printers, tinsmiths, woodworkers, and blacksmiths. In addition to hosting artisans throughout the week, Heritage Farm also hosts regular classes given by artisans in the basics of their profession.

Festivals

Every first Saturday of the month from May to December Heritage Farm hosts a "Way Back Weekend" festival, generally with a historical or cultural theme related to Appalachia. Events have included old-time music festivals, cast-iron cookoffs, Hatfield and McCoy weekends, and Christmas markets.

Petting Zoo

A petting zoo of farm animals is open to the public on festival days and throughout the summer. Animals include miniature horses, goats, pigs, sheep, rabbits, as well as non-traditional farm animals such as llamas.

In Popular Culture

• Featured on an episode of American Pickers that aired 12 December 2011 entitled "Pickin' Perry-dise".^[6]
• Provided the filming location for the History Channel documentary "America's Feud: Hatfields and McCoys".^[7]
• Featured in Barnwood Builders Season 02 Episode 12 "Grandma's Cabin". ^{[8] [9]}

References

External links

• Official Web Site
• Heritage Farm Facebook Page