Frontier Experiences

Frontier Life Experience daily settler life firsthand. Try old-fashioned laundry, learn about traditional medicine-making, and dress like a frontiersman. Discover the essential skills that kept frontier communities thriving. Bay Area Weavers and Spinners Watch artisans demonstrate hand-spinning, weaving, knitting, and crocheting. Learn how these crucial techniques transformed yarn and thread into clothing and household items on the frontier. Running Bear Forge Witness traditional blacksmithing in action. See how vital tools and designs were forged, and understand the blacksmith's essential role in frontier communities.

Frontier Food Learn age-old frontier food preparation techniques. Make bread from scratch, churn butter, and explore vegetable drying methods. Gain hands-on understanding of early settlers' meal preservation and preparation. Chili Queens’ Chili Experience: A Culinary Journey in Time Journey to 19th-century San Antonio's food scene. Discover the history of the iconic Chili Queens, watch live cooking demonstrations, and taste authentic period recipes. Experience a unique blend of culture, flavor, and nostalgia.

Frontier Games Engage in hands-on frontier activities. Craft corn husk dolls, spin buzzsaw toys, create paper dolls, and explore the toy touch table. Try "Graces," a traditional hoop and stick game suitable for all ages. Will Howard Gaming Hall Step into a bygone era of entertainment. Try your hand at historical games like "Faro" (cards), "Chuck-a-Luck" (dice), and "Mill/Morris" (strategy). Discover a variety of tabletop games and games of chance that once captivated frontier communities. This diverse collection of pastimes offers fun for all ages, bringing the social life of early Texas to vivid life.