Living history village features guided tours

By Aniesa HolmesDecember 4, 2013

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(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BENNING, Ga., (Dec. 4, 2013) -- Nestled in the quiet town of Lumpkin, Ga., Historic Westville takes visitors on a journey in time to 19th century Georgia.

Since 1970, the museum has welcomed thousands of visitors. Its mission is to preserve the structures and knowledge of pre-industrial work and life skills practiced by the people of Southwest Georgia in 1850.

Westville was named in honor of Col. John West, who collected historic buildings in 1932 and brought them to his home place in Jonesboro, Ga. There he created the Fair of 1850, a display of buildings and period craft demonstrations. Following his death in 1961, his collection was purchased and moved to 59 acres of land just south of Lumpkin.

What began with a core of six buildings has grown into more than 30 on 83 acres of land.

Tour guides, wearing traditional 1850s attire, take guests through each part of village to explore the daily lives of working class residents. Children are invited to participate in activities to learn what life what like for youth.

Each season offers different re-enactments, from crop planting and wedding celebrations in the spring, to a Fourth of July festival in the summer and the fall gathering of the harvest.

On Saturday, celebrate a Victorian style Christmas at Historic Westville. Enjoy several hands-on crafts that you can take home, as well as a variety of activities and demonstrations. Special hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Don't forget to stop by the Kiser Restaurant for lunch and the museum gift shop to buy jams, jellies and crafts for loved ones.

Historic Westville is located at 9294 Singer Pond Road in Lumpkin, Ga. For more information, call 888-733-1850 or visit www.westville.org.