Free programs for all ages
Drop in anytime between 6:00–8:00 p.m. to enjoy live music, refreshments, make your own calling cards craft, and lawn games. No reservation required for these activities. (We encourage you to bring a folding chair if you are interested in sitting and enjoying the band.)
Advance reservations encouraged for this evening’s specially curated guided house tours, Moving House, Victorian Style presentation by Sara Bir, and Making a Summertime Steamed Pudding cooking class to help us plan for attendance. Check the time for these events in the schedule below.
Special 10-minute history trivia session at 7:15pm with Castle Executive Director Scott Britton.
Join us for an evening of Victorian hospitality as we celebrate the Davis family's arrival at The Castle in 1888! Step back in time and experience the sights, sounds, and traditions of a grand Victorian housewarming as one of Marietta's most prominent families settled into this magnificent home.
Throughout the evening, enjoy light refreshments, lawn games, live music, and hands-on activities for all ages in a welcoming community atmosphere. The Front Street Quartet will provide live music to set the tone for a delightful summer housewarming. Guests can also create their own Victorian-style calling card—a social necessity of the late nineteenth century—and learn how these personalized cards were used to make introductions, pay social calls, and build relationships.
Whether you're fascinated by history, architecture, food, or simply looking for a memorable summer evening with family and friends, Housewarming at The Castle offers something for everyone. Come help us welcome the Davis family home—and celebrate the enduring tradition of gathering together at The Castle.
Available Throughout the Evening • 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Hands-On Craft: Make Your Own Victorian Calling Card
Victorian Lawn Games
Refreshments: Complimentary Lemonade & Cookies
Live Music by the Front Street Quartet*
*If planning to sit and enjoy the band for a prolonged period, please consider bringing your own folding chair
Location: Courtyard
Free. No Reservations Needed.
About the Band:
The Front Street Quartet
As a traditional jazz combo performing out of Marietta, Front Street Quartet’s repertoire ranges from the early jazz years dipping into dixieland up through the mid-century. They’re also known to throw in our jazz take on some contemporary pieces.
Featured Scheduled Programs
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What did it really take to move into a Victorian home? Discover the planning, labor, and expense involved in preparing a house for its new owners. From cleaning and decorating to selecting wallpaper, furnishing rooms, and hiring household staff, many of the decisions faced by nineteenth-century homeowners were surprisingly familiar—while others were uniquely Victorian. Learn what improvements and priorities the Davis family likely considered as they made The Castle their home in 1888.
Presented by Sara Bir - Author & Food Historian
Sara Bir is a chef, writer, and food historian living in Marietta. Her books include "Fruit Harvesting: Discover Nature's Abundance" and the Petite Housekeeping series.
Location: Parlor
Free, donations encouraged. Reservations encouraged.
Recommended for ages 8 and up. -
Experience The Castle as an invited Victorian guest. This themed tour highlights the elegant furnishings, architectural details, and impressive spaces that the Davis family would have proudly shown visitors during their first months in residence.
Location: Starts at the Front Door.
Free, donations encouraged. Reservations encouraged. Limited spaces available.
Recommended for ages 12 and up. -
Perfect for families with younger children, this themed tour explores The Castle through the eyes of the Davis family during their first days in the home. Discover the beautiful furnishings, decorative details, and impressive features Mrs. Davis might have proudly shared with family, friends, and neighbors during a Victorian housewarming.
Location: Starts at the Front Door.
Free, donations encouraged. Reservations encouraged. Limited spaces available.
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Whether you're a lifelong history enthusiast or simply enjoy learning fun historical facts, join us for a fast paced round of friendly trivia competition. Questions will cover general US history along with a few local history surprises. Competitors will play individually. One winner will receive a choice of one free short or long sleeve Castle Tshirt (up to $25 value) or annual Individual Membership ($30 value) and, of course, bragging rights among their friends
Presented by Scott Britton - Executive Director, The Castle
Scott Britton is the Executive Director of The Castle Museum. He is a frequent speaker on a variety of topics related to the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and multicultural history in southeastern Ohio. Mr. Britton is a member of the America 250-Ohio's Northwest Ordinance Committee to promote one of our nation's most overlooked founding documents, the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. He specializes in connecting state and national events to mid-Ohio residents when giving battlefield bus tours, cemetery tours, and various public presentations through story telling to make direct connections to people and places.
Location: Courtyard
Free. No reservation required.
Recommended for ages 8 and up. -
Steamed puddings are a classic Victorian dessert, but not all were the rich holiday puddings we often imagine. Join us for a demonstration featuring a refreshing lemon-blueberry steamed pudding and discover how this unique seasonal dessert fit into nineteenth-century American foodways.
Presented by Kyle Yoho, MA - Education Director, The Castle
Kyle has served as the Education Director for The Castle since 2015 and is an Adjunct Professor of Museum Studies for Marietta College. He received his BA in History from Marietta College and MA in Public History from Wright State University. Kyle has planned museum public programs for all ages for over 15 years. One of his favorite areas of historical research is food history! He’s taught classes, written recipes, catered meals, and worked with local chefs, foodies, and museums like The Henry Ford to bring interesting food history to life.
$10/participant. Reservations encouraged. Limited spaces available.
Recommended for ages 10 and up.Location: Modern Kitchen
Please note: An address is required during registration to complete your reservation. No payment is required for free programs. Fees apply only to programs with a listed cost.
Admission is free. Donations are welcome to help us continue to offer events like this one.
If you have any questions please contact us at 740-373-4180 or education@mariettacastle.org.
SUPPORT OUR MISSION TO FOSTER DISCUSSION ABOUT MARIETTA’S STORY!
Your generous support allows The Castle to continue offering dynamic educational programs, preserving and sharing the property and its distinctive collections, and fostering discussion of the story of the Marietta, Ohio community and its role in shaping the past, present, and future of our region, state, nation, and world. Thank you for considering a donation.