For Immediate Release:
March 31, 2026
Contact:
Olivia Mitchell
Marketing Manager
Culture & Heritage Museums
www.chmuseums.org
803.909.7244
Hands-On History at Historic Brattonsville
McCONNELLS, S.C. – Children’s Day on the Farmexplores the many ways children were educated and learned beyond the traditional schoolroom, from the barnyard and trade shop to the hearth and home. This immersive, family-friendly event invites visitors to experience hands-on demonstrations and activities highlighting the arts, mysteries, and occupations that teach children about their world from the American Revolution through the 1800s.
The theme of arts, mysteries, and occupations comes from an 1828 definition of apprentice in Noah Webster’s “American Dictionary of the English Language” as “One who is bound by covenant to serve a mechanic, or other person, for a certain time, with a view to learn his art, mystery, or occupation, in which his master is bound to instruct him.”
The Arts activities include cooking and candle dipping, the Mysteries involve meeting Naturalist Dr. Steve Fields and playing with toys and games from old, and Occupations cover quill pen writing, blacksmithing, dressmaking, and heritage breed animals and their care. Guided site tours will take place at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Participants can also collect stamps from each activity station to fill a historic-style passport—included with admission—creating a personalized keepsake of their journey through the past.
WHAT: Children’s Day on the Farm: Art, Mystery, and Occupation
WHERE: Historic Brattonsville 1444 Brattonsville Rd. McConnells, S.C. 29726.
Please note: Brattonsville Road will be closed for the event from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Detour signs will be posted.
WHEN: Saturday, April 25, 2026 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
TICKETS: Available at chmuseums.org/event/childrens-day/. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.
VISITOR SERVICES: 803.684.2327
IMAGES:
- Young girl practices handwriting with a quill pen and ink
- Another child tries her hands at peg making
All images courtesy of Culture & Heritage Museums. Contact omitchell@chmuseums.org for high resolution images.
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About Historic Brattonsville:
Historic Brattonsville is a living history site that presents the agricultural and social history of the Carolina Piedmont from the American Revolution through the Reconstruction Era. The site features over 30 historic structures, including family houses, that provide the setting for the story of the Brattons, those enslaved on the plantation, and the Enslaved Ancestral Burial Ground, the final resting place of 481 people of African descent. The site spreads over 800-acres and comprises farmed land with heritage breed animals, a Revolutionary War battlefield, and a nature preserve with miles of walking trails. Seasonal events, reenactments, and living history programs interpret life in the 18th and 19th centuries. Historic Brattonsville is included in The Green Book of South Carolina – a travel guide to African American cultural sites.
Museum Membership:
Become a Culture & Heritage Museums member and enjoy one year of exclusive benefits including free general admission to all CHM museum sites: Historic Brattonsville, Museum of York County and Main Street Children’s Museum. Membership helps support the work of preserving and communicating the cultural and natural history of the Carolina Piedmont. Consider becoming a CHM member and/or give the gift of CHM membership. Details at chmuseums.org/membership.
Museums for All:
As part of the Museums for All initiative, all Culture & Heritage Museum sites provide reduced admission for low-income families; visit museums4all.org for more information. Culture & Heritage Museum sites are also KultureCity® Certified and Sensory InclusiveTM.