Homeplace 1850s Working Farm — Local services in Tennessee

This place was really nifty. For less than $10 per adult my small group of four were able to actually visit a small 1800's Kentucky homestead. The buildings were all actual buildings from different places. There was a blacksmith shop, a corn crib, a barn, smokehouse, and many other buildings you could either walk through or peer into. There were even people dressed in area clothing doing actual chores that were done back then. There are usually a variety of animals to be seen, including oxen but due to temperatures being 99+ that day, they were at another place. We talked to a woman who was quilting or knitting, I believe, and she was a delight. She told us quite a bit about the actual homestead and of changes throughout the decades. The information was fascinating. There were still ducks and chickens running free. We met one in particular, they named her SCISSORS, Because she was born with a deformed beak. She was super friendly and allowed us to take a photo of her. If you are in this area you really should pop in and walk around... If gives you a whole new perspective on how much technology has spoiled us and how simplistic and peaceful this era was. A Must for families... But maybe on a cooler...

What a great place. The animals, especially the oxen, but all of them, were comfortable with people and were welcoming to the petting and scratching of children. Well, the chickens and ducks didn't like being touched, but they would certainly come up close and look for the odd bug by your feet. The people were all extremely knowledgeable and helpful. The oxen were perhaps the best behaved steers I have ever seen. The mules enjoyed a good scratch between the eyes (parents, you may want to briefly discuss the male mule reproductive system -- though sterile, these set of mules probably are very well endowed, to the point where an explanation is needed). The pigs were less smelly than all the other pigs I've ever been around, and grunted contentedly as they snoozed in their pen. Don't worry, these animals all have access to modern medicine and get to lead easy lives, and it's worth a visit to see these animals and this way of living. It'll have you hankering for...

we visited our last day at LBL and i wish we went the first day and every day after. It was nice seeing the old buildings which were recovered from different settlements on LBL, and the people working were more informative than even guides in Washington DC. The first person we talked to was a lady making yarn out of wool and she walked us through the whole process. Definitely a great experience. Ask all the questions you want, you will learn so much. I learned that oxen were cattle used for work. Also learned that the big house would have been built for the son taking over to prepare for the new generation. My favorite thing that i learned was that a mule is a mix between a horse and a donkey. I had no idea! There was a free museum when you walk into the visitor center and we learned so much about daily life on a middle class farm there, and even more when you enter the farm proper. The story of America lives...