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History Education

At WVU Jackson’s Mill, our history educators and artisans provide a unique learning environment for everyone from experienced historians to curious youth by guiding participants through engaging demonstrations and hands-on activities. After a day in our historic area, you’ll not only gain knowledge about what life was like for western Virginians in the mid-1800s, but you can also take home a candle you’ve hand-dipped or a colorful, hand-made rope bracelet.

Customized learning for K-12 students

Visits can be customized for grades K-12. Programs may include both a demonstration and hands-on participation.


Jackson’s Mill tells us a unique story about the earliest days of western Virginia, how we became the state of West Virginia, and how this location became the ideal spot for a State 4-H Camp and the wonderful rich story we’ve had over the past hundred years.

Joe Obidzinski

WVU Jackson's Mill Program Coordinator - History and Heritage

An ideal spot to learn Mountaineer history

Engage your students with educational activities that bring history to life.

History Brought to Life with Joe Obidzinksi

Program Coordinator Joe Obidzinski shares how history is brought to life through WVU Jackson's Mill Historic Education programming.

History Lessons

Curriculum standards support class learning requirements. Classes are offered to students K-12 and activities range from approximately 30 to 120 minutes depending on the chosen topic.




History Education
Class Name K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Youth will watch a demonstration & get hands-on experience running a water-powered gristmill with Blaker's Mill. The history of gristmilling in West Virginia and its significance in WVU Jackson's Mill history will be highlighted.
Standards: SS.K.22; SS.1.23; SS.2.20, SS.2.21; SS.4.18; SS.6.9; SS.8.22
Youth will see a blacksmith shop in action while a historian demonstrate skills & tools used in the process highlighting its importance to WV & WVU Jackson's Mill.
Standards: SS.K.22; SS.1.23; SS.2.20, SS.2.21; SS.4.18; SS.6.9; SS.8.22
Using an electric pot and melted wax, youth will use a length of string to make hand-dipped candles.
Standards: SS.2.20, SS.2.21; SS.4.18; SS.6.9; SS.8.22
Youth will use a hand crank, tabletop rope machine to make their own small piece of twisted cotton rope roughly the size of a bracelet.
Standards: SS.K.22; SS.1.23; SS.2.20, SS.2.21; SS.4.18; SS.6.9; SS.8.22
Preserved food samples are used to demonstrate the importance of various foods & food preservation types early settlers used. Participants will also make their own butter.
Standards: SS.2.20, SS.2.21; SS.4.18; SS.6.9; SS.8.22
Using replica toys and a variety of household items, youth will try old-fashioned games, learn how people entertained themselves and compare them to modern games.
Standards: SS.K.22; SS.1.23; SS.2.20, SS.2.21; SS.4.18; SS.6.9; SS.8.22


Walking Tours
Class Name K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Youth will learn about the buildings at Jackson's Mill & how they relate to the early history of West Virginia, including learning about the Jackson family and others who lived and worked in the buildings.
Time: 60+ minutes
Standards: SS.4.18; SS.6.20; SS.7.13, SS.7.14; SS.8.21; SS.8.22
Walking the grounds of our campus, youth will learn about the history of Jackson’s Mill, the nation’s first state 4-H camp & how our camp developed from its beginning in 1921.
Time: 60+ minutes
Standards: SS.4.18; SS.6.20; SS.7.13, SS.7.14

Meet Joe, the expert who will lead history programming on field trips