For Your Safety
For your comfort and safety:
- First aid/lost children facilities are located at the Ward-Hovey House, on the village square. Please ask any staff member for assistance.
- We participate in the “Code Adam” program to help prevent child abduction.
- For their own protection as well as that of our valuable collection, please don't allow children to sit, lean or climb on sculptures, railings or fences. These were not designed to bear weight.
- For the comfort and safety of our guests smoking is allowed only in the parking lots (main lots and the parking lot at the nature center) and outside the admissions area, across the access road, by the flagpoles.
- For the mutual safety of your pet and our farm animals, pets are not permitted (with the exception of service animals).
- Farm animals are unpredictable. For your safety and theirs, we ask that you do not pursue or harass them. If one of the livestock reaches over the fence to nuzzle you, nuzzle back at your own risk.
- For the safety of our animals, please do not feed them any of your own food. However, you may assist interpreters in feeding the chickens their standard rations at appropriate times.
- Thank you for respecting the fact that food and beverages are prohibited in historic buildings.
- While we try to have as many “hands on” activities as possible, we ask you to please avoid touching the wallpaper and furnishings which may be irreplaceable antiques.
- Thank you for preserving our gardens for future guests by not picking the plantings.
- Due to the hazards posed by narrow historic doorways in emergency situations, please leave strollers outside buildings.
- Due to safety concerns and regulations, grills, bottles, cans and alcoholic beverages may not be brought onto the grounds by guests.
- To satisfy health regulations, shoes and shirts are required. Thank you for not wearing wheeled footwear.
- Photography and videotaping permitted for personal use only. No tripods, please.
- Authorized photographers or videographers working at our behest (now, that sounds like a 19th century word) may capture your image and ask you to sign a waiver. Please, do sign! That could be your ticket to fame. (Though, not to fortune. No financial compensation is available. But you will enjoy our deepest appreciation.)
- For an authentic 19th century experience, please silence your modern technology.
- Word-of-mouth is responsible for the majority of our admissions. If you have a great time, tell your friends and family. (If you don’t have a great time, tell us. We want to know how to make your experience as rewarding as possible. )
