We offer a variety of Agricultural, Environmental and Underground Railroad Heritage guided group tours by reservation:
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- Agricultural Tour or Combined Agricultural/Underground Railroad Tour:
- Includes:
- a tractor drawn wagon ride around the orchards featuring a short talk about growing fruit, living on a farm, and the importance of agriculture;
- A demonstration of our old-fashioned, hand operated cider press, with a sample cup of cider for everyone;
- A visit with our small collection of farm animals;
- A "hands-on" demonstration of the correct way either to plant or to pick and handle fresh fruit or vegetables (everyone gets a sample);
- In the fall, everyone gets a little pumpkin out of the patch to take home.
- If desired, the tour can include a view of the entrance to
the concealed room in our barn which was used as a "station" of the
Underground Railroad from 1850 until 1861. We ask that children have
studied Underground Railroad history in school before including this
segment in this tour.
One and a half-hour tour. $3.50 per person ($35.00 minimum)
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- Extended Underground Railroad Heritage Tour:
- We believe that to
understand the Underground Railroad, you must first understand the
slavery which evolved in the United States. And, to understand that
slavery, you must first understand farming. Our educational objectives
are both to tell and to show. While here, you will hear about the
Underground Railroad, but more - as much as possible - we want you to
experience it. We hope that you will leave with a sense of triumph at
the courage, determination, and cooperative humanitarianism that made
escape from slavery through the Underground Railroad network possible.
The tour includes:
- A presentation of Underground Railroad history;
- A view of the entrance to the secret room under our barn which was used to shelter people escaping from slavery;
- A walking tour through the woods and along Hopkins Creek to experience the landscape traveled by people escaping from slavery, and;
- A short tractor-drawn wagon ride through the Orchards.
- One and a half-hour tour. $3.50 per person ($35.00 minimum)
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- Short Underground Railroad Heritage Tour:
- The tour includes an overview of the history of our farm,
with emphasis on the McClew family's involvement in the Underground
Railroad network, plus, a view of the entrance to the secret room under
our barn which was used to shelter people escaping from slavery between
1850 and 1860.
- Half-hour presentation. $1.95 per person ($19.50 minimum)
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- Wildlife Habitat/Environmental Conservation Tour:
- A guided tour along walking trails through over 20 acres of land dedicated to environmental conservation and wildlife habitats, stressing the balance of life, and the interdependence of ecological interactions. Our Wildlife Habitat and Educational Hiking Trails have been greatly enhanced through the wonderful help of the Niagara County Environmental Fund.
- $3.50 per person ($35.00 minimum)
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- Tea Room Group Presentations:
- Available by reservation. Please call us at (716) 778-7926 or eMail us for more information.
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- We plan our tours to be structured, quiet and educational. We welcome your suggestions for planning a tour to fit your group's interests. Let us know what your group's particular interests are, and we'll work with you to plan a trip that will be memorable and worthwhile for all of you.
We have lots of open space, and picnic tables if you would like to sit down and eat your lunch. Our country store will be open and well stocked with our own homemade jams, jellies and herbal vinegars. There are real, running water rest rooms available. Most of our activities and facilities are wheelchair accessible.
Our farm offers not only the fun of experiencing a real, working, farm, but also, since the house, barn and orchards themselves remain virtually as they were 150 years ago, a very special and unique view of American history. We look forward to sharing it with you.
For more information, feel free to eMail us, or call (716) 778-7926.
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