Fall is the perfect season to visit Historic Washington Georgia, and we've got a full calendar of events and programs for you to enjoy when you get here. See what we've got for you and be sure to come check us out! 

Family Day & Exhibit Opening at Washington Historical Museum
Saturday, September 29th, 1-3 pm
To celebrate the opening of our new permanent exhibit "Children of the Georgia Piedmont 1820-1920" we're planning a day of family fun and games at the Washington Historical Museum! Have fun making your own corn husk doll, play gallery games, and get an old-time family photo. $10 per family, tickets available at the door

Ghost Hunt 101 at Fitzpatrick Hotel and Callaway Plantation
Saturday, October 6th, 6-11 pm
Join us for Ghost Hunt 101 sponsored by Fitzpatrick Hotel, CJ's Pizza, and Southeastern Institute for Paranormal Research! Ghost Hunt 101 will start at the famously haunted Fitzpatrick Hotel on the Square in Washington and cover all the basics of paranormal research including hauntings, psychic studies, investigation equipment, and evidence. The group will then break and meet up for a live ghost hunt at Callaway to include the Brick House, Grey House, Log Cabin, Schoolhouse, Blacksmith Shop, and Family Cemetery! Tickets are $23.00 each and include admission, sales tax and online convenience fee. We will be treated to a light dinner courtesy CJ's Pizza. Reservations are first come, first served, no holds. This one will sell out, so sign up now!

Kids Ghost Hunt 101 at Fitzpatrick Hotel and Callaway Plantation
Saturday, October 6th, 11 am - 4 pm
Join us for Ghost Hunt 101 sponsored by Fitzpatrick Hotel and Southeastern Institute for Paranormal Research! Specially offered for ages 12 - 17, Ghost Hunt 101 will start at the famously haunted Fitzpatrick Hotel on the Square in Washington and cover all the basics of paranormal research including hauntings, psychic studies, investigation equipment, and evidence. The group will then break and meet up for a live ghost hunt at Callaway to include the Brick House, Grey House, Log Cabin, Schoolhouse, Blacksmith Shop, and Family Cemetery! Adult chaperone required. Tickets are $28.00 each and include admission for one ghost hunter and one adult , sales tax and online convenience fee. A bag lunch will be provided. Reservations are first come, first served, no holds. This one will sell out, so sign up now!

Mule Day at Callaway Plantation
Saturday, October 13th, 10 am - 4 pm
Join us for the 38th annual Mule Day Festival at Callaway! Mule Day is a celebration of rural farm life in Georgia from the late 1700’s to 1900. The mule was the "tractor" for these early farms. There will be Mule Plowing Contests and a Mule Show with cash prizes. As you walk the grounds throughout the day, demonstrators will show how farms produced their own turpentine, wood shingles, pine straw baskets, soap, and so much more. A blacksmith will even be showing how horse shoes and nails were made.
Children can enjoy many hands-on activities such as mule plowing, rope making and weaving on a loom. They can interact with animals through pony rides and a petting zoo. A talented group of musicians will be playing the hammered dulcimer in the Manor House and other instruments. Vendors from around the Southeast will be selling their delicious foods and beautiful arts & crafts. $10 per car, tickets available day-of. More at https://muledaysouthernheritagefestival.org/

Scare on the Square
Saturday, October 13th, 5:15 - 10:15 pm
Witches. werewolves and ghosts, oh my! Our second annual Halloween celebration is Saturday, October 13th! Join us for Trick or Treating, Costume Contest, and watch a special outdoor showing of Hocus Pocus on the Square! More at https://www.downtownwashingtonga.com/

Knifemaking Workshop at Callaway Plantation
Saturday, October 20th, 10 am - 5 pm
Join us at Callaway for our knifemaking workshop! During our full-day class we will forge a blade, build a knife handle, and make a leather sheath in the blacksmith shop. Class will be led by John Moran, master bladesmith. Class is limited to 6 - hurry, spots are selling fast. $133 includes class admission, materials fee, and online convenience fee. Bring a lunch, this class meets for 7 hours. 

Resthaven Revisited
Saturday October 20th, 6-9 pm
Venture into Resthaven Cemetery in Historic Washington Georgia, as some of Washington's most notable residents return from beyond the grave on October 20 from 6-9 pm. Join us and hear the stories of the known, and lesser known residents that made Wilkes County one of the most historic counties in Georgia. Shuttles leave from the historic downtown square. Tickets $10 and available on site. One night only. For more information, please call 706-678-5001

 True blue. Feeling blue. The deep blue sea. Singing the blues…

The indigo blue color has captivated us for many, many generations. From India to Asia, to Central and South America, through Greek and Roman culture, the plant has travelled though Great Britain and America and marched from ancient times to today. After all, what would blue jeans be if not for its distinctive color? Following are 5 fun facts about indigo to celebrate our upcoming Indigo Dye Day workshop at Callaway!

1. Indigo's Origins
Wondering where the plant is from? It's all in the name - Indigo means "the Indian" or "from India". As early as 5,000 years ago people were using indigo to make the deep blue dye.

2. Indigo Girls
Eliza Luca Pickney introduced the plant in South Carolina in 1744. She planted it on her father’s plantation outside of Charleston. The yield was a whopping 6 pounds, which she exported to England. It was quite a hit! Britain offered a reward to the colonies to grow more. The next year 5,000 pounds arrived. It became the second most important crop, next to rice, for South Carolina. In 1755, Georgia exported 4,500 pounds of indigo.

Not surprisingly, England took away the reward when the upstart colonies started that war. You know, that pesky independence one.

3. Smurf Hands
Most historic indigo was either indigofera tinctoria or suffruticosa. And no young lady of long ago wanted to be betrothed to the indigo maker, because the fermentation process stinks, and his hand were probably blue. "Smurf Hands", you might call it in modern times. But today, we’ve streamlined the process and can offer a class that makes the most beautiful blue in creative designs. And wear gloves!

4. Where Jeans Come From
18th century Genoans were known for their sturdy blue cloth made for clothing fisherman and dock workers. The cloth became known as "Bleu de Genes", or Blue of Genoa. In December 1870 a Latvian immigrant working in San Francisco as a tailor was asked by a customer to create a pair of durable workpants for her husband, who was a woodcutter. Jacob Davis sewed the pants from duck cloth and reinforced the weak points with copper rivets. Davis approached his cloth supplier for financial backing to patent his reinforced jeans concept. His supplier, Levi Strauss, agreed, and a patent in the name of Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss and Co. was issued.

5. How It's Done
The ingredients are stirred together, and then it must rest. Oxygen is the enemy of this dye process. So items to be dyed (100% cotton, wool or silk) must be slipped beneath the surface quietly, with no plop! Sliding it down the side of the bucket is best.

Then take the cloth out – slowly, sliding it up the side, and throw it down on a plastic sheet or pin on a clothesline. It will be pond-scum green. Not kidding! As the air hits it, it slowly turns from green to blue over about 20 minutes. Turn to get the breeze hitting all sides.

Rinse, but probably don’t need to repeat, unless you want a very, very dark blue.

Most of the blue washes off skin, but be sure to wear old clothes, because the process does spatter.

But it’s worth it!!

- Susannah Johnson

Join us for Indigo Dye Day at Callaway from 1-3 on Saturday, September 15th, led by our fiber craft expert Susannah!
Class is $40 ($42 online) and includes a t-shirt to dye, or BYO natural fabric or yarn.
Sign up today - hurry, space is limited!
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