Meadow Farm Museum

Meadow Farm Museum
3400 Mountain Rd. Glen Allen, VA 23060
(804) 501-2130

Hours of Operation
Historic Farmhouse, Orientation Center, & Out Buildings

December-February:
Saturday & Sunday, noon-4 p.m.
(Closed first two weeks in January.)

March-November:
Tuesday-Sunday, noon-4 p.m.

Meadow Farm Museum, an 1860 living history farmsite and museum, presents programs and exhibits on the culture of the rural South. Costumed interpreters provide insight into the lives of Dr. John Mosby Sheppard, the owner of Meadow Farm, and his family. On selected weekends, they demonstrate seasonal activities in the farmhouse, barn, doctor's office, blacksmith forge, kitchen, fields, and pastures. Also visit Meadow Farm's Gift Shop for a variety of items.

Classes and programs held at Meadow Farm Museum are listed throughout the guide. Many are listed in the Family and Friends section under History.

Volunteer Opportunities

Sewing Guild
For ages 16+. If you enjoy a variety of textile projects, this may be the volunteer opportunity for you. Members participate in programs as well as reproduce textile projects for program use. Meetings are the first Saturday of the month, February-December. New members are always welcome. Information: 501-2130.

First Sat of each month, Feb-Dec. Call for times.
Meadow Farm Museum. Free.

Agricultural Guild
For ages 10+. If you enjoy gardening and the companionship of good folks, this may be your volunteer opportunity. The Meadow Farm Agricultural Guild meets Wednesday evenings April through September to work the field crops and heirloom garden. Information: 501-2130.

Wed, Apr-Sept, 6-8 p.m.
Meadow Farm Museum. Free.

For more information, contact Anna Truong or Linda Eikmeier at 501-2130.

Living History Programs

Blacksmithing: Too Many Irons in the Fire
For all ages. The blacksmith was a very important member of the 19th-century rural community. Watch and listen to the blacksmith as the iron gets red-hot and the smith pounds and bends it into useful objects. Information: 501-2130.

Sat, May 19, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Meadow Farm Museum. Free.

The Doctor Is In
For all ages. What was it like to be a doctor in 1860, or a patient? Were there hospitals or house calls? Find out more about how ailments were cured in the mid-1800s and who Dr. Sheppard may have seen this week in history. Information: 501-2130.

Sat, May 26, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Meadow Farm Museum. Free.

Beyond Bedcoverings
For all ages. Go on a hunt for decorative textiles in Meadow Farm’s 19th-century historic farmhouse. Learn their functions and determine their modern counterparts. Information: 501-2130.

Sat, June 2, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Meadow Farm Museum. Free.

What’s Growing in the Garden?
For all ages. Meadow Farm’s heirloom garden is in the midst of its growing season. Step inside the walls and learn more about the culinary and medicinal uses of vegetables and herbs. Information: 501-2130.

Sat, June 9, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Meadow Farm Museum. Free.

Pest Management: 19th-Century Style
For all ages. In June of 1860, Mrs. Sheppard purchased netting from Chiles & Chennery in Richmond. Find out how this netting was used to manage pests and keep furniture looking new. Information: 501-2130.

Sat, June 16, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Meadow Farm Museum. Free.

John Sheppard-The Country Doctor
For all ages. On average in 1860, Dr. Sheppard treated three patients a day. Learn more about where and how he treated patients using 19th-century medicine. Information: 501-2130.

Sat, June 23, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Meadow Farm Museum. Free.

A Woman’s Work is Never Done
For all ages. Visit with the women on the farm as they talk about daily chores of the mid-19th century. You might be asked to lend a hand in some of the activities. Information: 501-2130.

Wed, July 11-Aug 29, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Meadow Farm Museum. Free.

Meet the Critters
For all ages. Meadow Farm has various farm animals. Get to know them individually as outdoor tours focus on a different animal each week. Enjoy a hands-on activity related to that animal when you visit. Information: 501-2130.

Thur, July 12-Aug 30, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Meadow Farm Museum. Free.

No Batteries Required: 19th-Century Games
For ages 5+. Historically, boys and girls were expected to play different games. Learn what was appropriate for each of them and join in as we all play traditional 19th-century games. Information: 501-2130.

Fri, July 13-Aug 31, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Meadow Farm Museum. Free.

Tools and Equipment
For all ages. 1860-The Industrial Revolution is in full swing. Times are changing and people are using old and new technology. How was the wood cut for floors and shingles split for roofing? Learn what new equipment was making life easier for the farmer during this time. Information: 501-2130.

Sat, July 14, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Meadow Farm Museum. Free.

Archaeological Tour
For all ages. Take a guided tour of Meadow Farm grounds. Find out what buildings no longer exist and where they were located. Learn more about their functions and what they tell us about the Sheppard family. Information: 501-2130.

Sat, July 21, 1, 2, & 3 p.m.
Meadow Farm Museum. Free.

HVAC-Historic Ventilation and Cooling
For all ages. Long sleeves, long pants, and long dresses! How did our ancestors cope with the heat? Learn about the fabrics, fashions, and methods of keeping cooler on the farm as you tour the farmhouse. Information: 501-2130.

Sat, Aug 11, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Meadow Farm Museum. Free.

The Fruits of Their Labor
For all ages. The watermelons and early apples are ripe. Explore the fascinating history of apples and John Sheppard’s apple orchard, as well as heritage varieties of melons. Learn about tobacco, the crop that brought in enough money for the Sheppards to add on to their home. Information: 501-2130.

Sun, Aug 19, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Meadow Farm Museum. Free.

The Slave Story
For all ages. Meadow Farm Museum’s Sheppard family owned slaves. Learn their stories as you tour the grounds and farmhouse. Discover who Tom and Pharaoh were and how they made their mark in history. Information: 501-2130.

Sat, Aug 25, 1, 2, & 3 p.m.
Meadow Farm Museum. Free.

Discovery Tour
For all ages. Take a tour and discover all the treasures located throughout the Sheppard family home. Whose famous portrait hangs in the house? Where is the animal that roars? There are many discoveries to be made! Information: 501-2130.

Sat, Sept 1, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Meadow Farm Museum. Free.