The Taking Tea field trip engages fourth grade students in an active and visual comparison of two different times: 1850 and 1890. Participating students imagine they are traveling to the past where they visit two historic houses and meet costumed interpreters portraying the former residents. In spring of 2021, when field trips were canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions, Historic Geneva and the Seneca Falls Historical Society developed this virtual component of the program. These two videos include elements of the experiences at each site. For more views of Rose Hill Mansion, you can also see the 360° tour at the bottom of this page.

We have some resources here that were designed in conjunction with attendance at the in-person program, but which can be used in the virtual Taking Tea. Further information about Rose Hill and the families that have lived and worked there, can be found in Historic Geneva blog postings. Follow these links to posts tagged for Rose Hill, the Swan family and Robert Swan. Feel free to contact Anne Dealy, Historic Geneva’s Director of Education and Public Information, at educator@historicgeneva.org or Nellie Ludemann, Seneca Falls Historical Society Educator, at 315-568-8412 or sfhs@rochester.rr.com, if you are looking for other resources for teaching Taking Tea when you cannot visit in person.

Mrs. Swan’s Life in 1850

Mrs. Becker’s Life in 1890