Before factories and fast fashion, clothing was handmade, mended, and reused. Join us for activities focused on the labor, materials, and skills required to clothe a household in the colonial era.
Try your hand at weaving, creating small yarn coasters using simple cardboard looms—an accessible introduction to a skill that was once essential to everyday life. Participants can also make colonial paper dolls, choosing warm layers and accessories appropriate for winter weather in the 18th century. We will even have real examples of fabrics used and worn by people centuries ago!
Step into the past this winter break with three afternoons of hands-on activities inspired by everyday life in colonial New York. Each day explores a different theme - how people stayed warm, how they dressed, and how ideas and information were shared -through creative crafts, interactive demonstrations, and historical exploration. Programs are designed for families and children and run as drop-in activities during the scheduled hours. All programs are free and open to the public, no registration required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Join us for just one or all three afternoons to encourage curiosity, creativity, and historical thinking. Philipse Manor Hall offers any aspiring history detectives a warm, engaging way to spend winter break while learning how people lived, worked, and expressed ideas in colonial America.
This program is part of the New York State "Unplug and Play" initiative.
