Become a Hearth Cook

Learn to cook in the 18th-century style by using a fireplace. Volunteers master skills in the reproduction hearth kitchen. Then they share their knowledge with visitors at special events and during school programs. Discover what fruits, vegetables, meats, and grains were available in the 18th century, explore the ways that enslaved people influenced the foods of Virginia, and learn about the complex negotiations among enslaved people and enslavers on plantations such as Gunston Hall.