After arriving on the island, we proceeded to the visitors center where we acquired tickets for both a carriage ride and the mansion. Steve drove a team of Percheron draft horses out through the large walnut grove past the mansion and down the dirt road to the remaining out buildings. He described in detail each structure that we came to along with a meandering conversation about his beloved horses. With a good idea of the layout and history. image-07We approached the Mansion, where we met the lovely 16 year old Jessica Nelson, dressed in period attire. Although somewhat camera shy she described the mansion in a clear and understandable voice. Detailing the marble fireplace and the winding staircase and rose colored dining room which would have entertained both local and foreign dignitaries. When completed, Jessica directed us up the stairway where we met 80 year old Pete Burge, a self described docent, who looked and sounded image-10every bit the part of the 18th century gentleman he portrayed. He described with keen interest, the few recovered artifacts actually owned by the Blennerhassetts, along with the items that were displayed in the remaining bedrooms. Archaeologists and Historians have taken great pains to portray each room in a style that is believed to be accurate for that period, if not exact as described in image-01reports and writings of the Blennerhassetts and others that were present during the 14 years of the mansion's existence. After completing the second floor we left Pete and returned to Jessica and the first floor. She lead us first to the left wing and the kitchen where she described the utensils assembled. She talked about Margaret's keen interest in cooking and howimage-02 she would often enter the kitchen to teach the help a new recipe or to add the final touches to the meal being prepared. We also found out that Margaret made the servers whistle as they carried the food from the kitchen to the house, so that they would be unable to eat anything on the way. We then followed her to the right wing to where Harman keep his office. Several items in this room were acquired from the area and are representative of the period and class of such an aristocraticimage-09 family. After the tour we wandered back toward the visitor's center and a row of craft booths where period-dressed crafts-folks worked on an assortment of crafts. Everything from dream catchers to ironworks was represented. We stopped for a while and talked with Gary Anderson while he deftly wove a basket out of wood strips. From here we settled on a bench near the landing and just watched the people go by. It is understandable that Margaret thought of this island as a paradise; birds, deer, and other forest creatures wander just outside of human reach. On the sternwheeler ride back, we settled down at a table with Jessica and Pete and talked about what it is like to be a docent in a historic park. One 16 and the other 80, both volunteers. Their perspective and enthusiasm was fascinating.

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