Two Historical Conferences Held at Historic Washington State Park

Both the Arkansas Living History Association and the Southeastern Association of Living History, Farms, and Agricultural Museums held conferences at Historic Washington State Park from Friday through Sunday (3-1 to 3-3).   Their workshops covered creating a character, basic performance skills, research, event planning and other topics. On Friday there was a harness and driving workshop, one on dressmaking, others on hat making, theorem painting, and historic dances. There was an opening potluck and reception with a focus on traditional foods. This was followed by a portrayal of Mary Edwards Walker by Debra Conner. Conner has worked as a Chautauqua (first person portrayal in which the actor becomes the person being portrayed) performer since 1997.

A conference menu at lunch was offered at the Tavern for participants.

On Saturday the schedule included a speech by the keynote speaker Debra Conner in which she portrayed a lady who survived the sinking of the Titanic. Following were choices of a bus tour of the World War 2 Proving Grounds, sketching life workshop, a demonstration how to make silver spoons, and historical myth-busters workshop. In the afternoon was a tour of Prairie D’Ane Civil War Battlefield, a talk about William Leslie, and a tour of Washington with Dr. Carl Drexler showing different locations of town that have been studied through archaeology.

Other workshops were about candle-making and the historic signs of the town.

Saturday evening featured dinner, dancing, and a live auction.

Sunday’s workshop included beginning leather sewing, recreating a 200-year old newspaper, and a workshop on dressing for the heat.

About sixty people total attended the joint conferences.