The French & War Society at Lake George is sponsoring a series of workshops for those interested in learning more about the material culture (artifacts) of Fort William Henry, bateaux and other 18th-century warships, and other topics related to museums and maritime archaeology. These will be in-person-only classes held at the Fort William Henry Museum or the Fort William Henry Conference Center, 48 Canada Street, Lake George.
The cost per session is $30 for the public and $15 for Society members. Participants will be awarded a certificate of attendance. The program is a fundraiser for the French & Indian War Society, a not-for-profit organization. Maritime Archaeologist Joseph W. Zarzynski along with other to-be-announced guest presenters will lead the workshops.
French & Indian War Society 2024 workshop schedule:
The Material Culture (aka Artifacts) of Fort William Henry Museum, Fascinating Facts About Museums
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Fort William Henry Museum
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Description: Physical objects fashioned by people are known as material culture. Studying material culture provides a window into the lifeways of people from the past. The workshop will review aspects of handling material culture, museum cataloging of artifacts, and an examination of several noteworthy artifacts from FWH Museum’s collection to gain insight into the history of the French & Indian War and the soldiers at historic FWH. The workshop is limited to 15 participants.
Colonial Bateaux and Other 18th Century Warships at Lake George and Nearby Inland Waters of New York
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Fort William Henry Museum
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Description: Bateaux, French for “boats,” were the utilitarian crafts of inland waters for much of North America in the colonial era. The class examines colonial bateaux and other vessels that plied Lake George as well as nearby New York waterways in the 18th century. The workshop will also inspect a three-quarter scale model of a 1758 bateau “shipwreck” and peruse 18th-century vessel pieces from the museum’s collection. The class will include research contributed by Lake Historian Dr. Russell P. Bellico. The workshop is limited to 20 participants.
A Primer on Anchors and Recording These Artifacts
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Fort William Henry Museum
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Description: Early anchors were made of stones, each with a carved hole to receive a line. Later, anchors had an iron shank, two arms, a metal ring to receive a line, and a wooden stock. By the mid-19th century, anchors were all of iron. The class includes a primer on anchors and how to archaeologically record them. FWH Museum has 17 anchors, grapnels, and grappling irons. The workshop is limited to 20 participants.
Basics of Wooden Ship Hull Construction
Saturday, September 14, 2024
Fort William Henry Museum
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Description: The dugout canoe is the oldest type of watercraft, dating to over 8,000 years ago. Eventually, vessels were fashioned of cut and sawed planks. The workshop will review the history of early watercraft, but the focus will be on wooden ship hull construction of colonial sailing vessels. Participants will also examine bateau and sloop pieces from the FWH Museum’s collection to gain insight into the construction of colonial crafts on Lake George. The workshop is limited to 20 participants.
Understanding the National Register of Historic Places and a Primer on Writing a National Register Nomination
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Fort William Henry Museum
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
The National Register (NR) of Historic Places lists over 96,000 properties in the USA. The program was created by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The class will examine the NR and review the process of preparing NR nominations for structures, floating vessels, shipwrecks, wharves, and other “properties.” The workshop is limited to 20 participants.
Pre-registration is required. Registration for workshops ends one week before the workshop date. To register, complete the registration form and mail, with payment, to:
ATTN–Workshops
French & Indian War Society at Lake George
P.O. Box 686
Lake George, NY 12845
Any updates to the schedule will be posted on the French & Indian War Society’s webpage. French & Indian War Society memberships, which start at $20, offer discounts to events, workshops and lectures, free museum admission and a discount in the museum Sutler Shop.