Department of Parks
Fort Boonesborough State Park Hosting “Women on the Frontier” April 28-29

RICHMOND, Ky. – Find out about the life of a woman on the frontier during a special program at Fort Boonesborough State Park, April 28-29.

During this interpretive and interactive “Women on the Frontier” event, there will be demonstrations and hands-on learning of 18^th century life skills and daily activities in the lives of women. On the frontier, women were frequently called upon to do many things that might be more commonly associated with men.

Guests will be able to learn about primitive cooking techniques, including cooking meats and bread on stones, baking potatoes under the fire, making ash cakes and hoe cakes, and roasting a pig. See how women prepared for the journey to the frontier, packed a horse to carry family belongings, and carried their own personal baggage. Many women of the time were skilled in woods lore and used the knowledge to help their families reach their frontier destination. Some women even participated in the defense of stations and forts during raids and attacks by Native Americans.

A special interpretive presentation on women’s clothing of the period will be presented by Margaret Waterman. Be it the Colonial era (1750-1790) or the Regency period (1800-1820), Waterman's discussions of fashion and the clothing of the time makes sense out of what women wore.

The event is free with paid fort admission and starts at 9 a.m. each day.

In addition to the reconstructed fort, the park also has a campground, hiking trails, the Kentucky River Museum, mini-golf, picnic shelters and a gift shop. Fort Boonesborough is located near Richmond. From I-75, take exit 95 to KY 627. On I-64, exit at Winchester to KY 627. For more information, call 859-527-3131.

--30—