Today we went on a field trip with our co-op to Fort Vancouver. Not only was it perfect weather but it is always fun to spend the day with friends. It also made it much easier to get the boys to go on their required WA state history class field trip… :o)
We went just two years ago (I think?) but I did learn a couple of interesting facts:
1. Bundles of pelts brought to the fort weighed 90 pounds. Bundles of pelts headed to England weighed 270 pounds!
2. Beaver pelts were sent to London and children were paid about a penny to pick the coarse outer hairs off the pelts. They were then sent to the hatter, soaked in mercury, and then boiled for 6 hours before drying. Breathing in all that mercury-laced steam is why we have “mad hatters” (like in Alice in Wonderland).
3. They featured a 14-year-old girl in their “children of the fort” display that married a 41-year-old man that she met at a fort dance. If you’re married at 14 are you still considered a child? Evidently…
Here are some more pics that both Will and I took while we were there:
going on a scavenger hunt
I wish you could see Mt Hood better in this picture
I want a garden like this one!
don’t worry, you can’t fall down the well…
this just doesn’t seem to fit in
I love the way the carpentry shop smells!
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