If you love history, cultural heritage, and breathtaking views, the Brethren and Mennonite Heritage Center is a must-see in Harrisonburg, VA. It totally caught me off guard with how interesting it turned out to be, and the panoramic views of the Shenandoah Valley were extraordinary. Trust me, it’s one of those places you gotta check out when in Harrisonburg!
Read Next: Things to Do in Harrisonburg, VA: A Guide to Unforgettable Experiences
Know Before You Go
- Address: 1921 Heritage Center Way, Harrisonburg, VA
- Admission: Suggested donation of $10 for visitors
- Guided Tours: Tours are offered Wednesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM. (Monday-Tuesday by appointment.)
- Tour Duration: 1-2 hours, personalized based on interest and time available.
- Website
Where to Stay in Harrisonburg, VA
- Joshua Wilton House – (B&B) This is where I stayed in downtown Harrisonburg. It was within walking distance of the Hugo Kohl Museum, the Virginia Quilt Museum, and lots of restaurants and specialty shops.
- Hotel Madison – If you prefer a traditional hotel experience, this is also located downtown and convenient to James Madison University.
Tour the Brethren and Mennonite Heritage Center
The Brethren and Mennonite Heritage Center actively shares the stories of the Mennonite and Brethren communities in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, highlighting their shared history and cultural heritage.
The guided tour begins in the welcome center. You can explore exhibits and catch a short video to learn more about Mennonite and Brethren history. After that, it’s time to stroll around the campus and check out some cool artifacts and historic buildings. It’s a fascinating journey into the past!
Shoemaker Shop & Spring House
The first stop on our tour—the Shoemaker Shop and Spring House—is the oldest building on the campus.
The home sat above a natural spring that ran through its basement. The cool water served both as a water source and an early form of refrigeration. People would store food in containers submerged in the water and use the naturally cool environment for storing root vegetables and meat for curing. Today, an electric spring replicates this historic function.
The shoemaker shop’s setup provides insight into the unique practices of the time, such as the creation of shoes on wooden lasts, which were identical for both feet and would eventually mold to the wearer’s feet over time. Shoemaking was a skilled craft that flourished in the area due to the population density, with shoemakers often traveling from home to home.
As time passed, the introduction of factory-made shoes following the Civil War changed the game for traditional shoemakers. Instead of crafting new shoes from scratch, these artisans transitioned into cobblers, specializing in repairing the less durable factory-made footwear.
Log House
The log house exudes warmth, featuring a cozy fireplace and a versatile living room area. Artifacts offer glimpses into early homesteading life, highlighting handmade furniture’s craftsmanship and practicality.
Of particular interest was a movable wall, used to separate men and women during church services, highlighting the house’s historical importance as a gathering space for the community.
Our guide also showed us the ingenious design of early church pews. They had backs that could lie flat, allowing the meeting house to quickly transform into a dining space.
Upstairs, there were four rooms with rotating and long-term exhibits. One room was all about basket weaving and woven textiles, often used for field trip demonstrations for kids.
The “A Mixed Legacy” exhibit delves into the community’s progressive stance on issues like slavery and civil rights while still acknowledging the complexities and contradictions inherent in its history.
Plans for the future include an interactive digital map visually representing the Brethren-Mennonite migration patterns across Virginia as the settlement evolved.
Fun Fact: Rosetta Stone language software was created in Harrisonburg by Mennonites!
Brick House
This beautiful brick farmhouse was originally located down the hill. It took seven bulldozers and some very careful maneuvering to relocate this house to the top of the hill where it now sits.
The original kitchen features a massive pie safe adorned with exquisite metalwork. There’s also a dry sink (no running water in the house!) where school kids on field trips can experience 18th-century kitchen activities, like churning butter.
One of the most charming features of the house is the dinner bell, a nostalgic reminder of bygone days when families would gather for meals. And yep, you can ring it!
During the tour, our guide pointed out a photograph of the Burkholder family, former house residents. Sadly, Martin Burkholder and three of his children passed away due to illness shortly before the Civil War, leaving his wife, Rebecca, widowed with four young children. Despite facing their own challenges, the Burkholder family provided sanctuary to men evading conscription during the war, exemplifying the community’s compassionate and resilient spirit.
We observed an interesting feature in the parlor: a wall once divided the space into a bedroom and a living room. Interestingly, when they made this change, they also installed a closet. Surprisingly, the closet played a crucial role in preserving the original French wallpaper from the parlor!
While we didn’t get a chance to explore them, upstairs boasts four rooms. Two are furnished as 19th-century bedrooms complete with rope beds and period furniture, one is designated as a children’s room, and the final one serves as a sewing room adorned with quilts. It’s where kids on field trips can witness quilt demonstrations.
Adjacent to the house, the blacksmith shop and wash house offer interactive demonstrations and hands-on experiences during special events and field trips. Currently under construction, a new wagon shed will soon provide a home for two historic wagons. There will be information panels on different types of horse-drawn vehicles and why older Mennonite communities still use buggies today.
Brooder House
Exploring the brooder house reveals an intriguing part of poultry farming history, spearheaded by the Brethren-Mennonites.
Back in the day, chickens were mainly for eggs and Sunday dinners. But the advent of artificial incubation changed everything, thanks to innovators like Sam Gloucester and Charles Wampler.
Their game-changing innovations laid the foundation for large-scale poultry farming, boosting the region’s economy and making poultry a major agricultural export.
Also in the brooder house is a display with two mounted wild turkeys—one brown and one white. Our guide shared an interesting tidbit: commercial turkeys are bred specifically for white feathers. Why, you wonder? Well, it’s all about looks. After plucking feathers, brown turkeys have these tiny pin feathers left that resemble little hairs, which doesn’t quite appeal to the appetite. Hence, the preference for white turkeys.
School House
Constructed by Mennonites in Matthias, West Virginia, this quaint one-room schoolhouse operated with a sole teacher, educating students from first to eighth grade until 1940. Interestingly, it served a dual purpose as a church. Inside, you’ll find a teacher’s desk alongside a pulpit and student desks alongside pews.
When talking about schools and education, it’s worth mentioning the complex relationship Brethren Mennonites have had with higher education throughout history. Traditionally, they were pretty against it, especially regarding seminary for their ministers. They feared that sending young folks to college would change them, bringing back worldly ideas that could shake up the church.
As time passed, attitudes toward education evolved. By the late 1800s, Brethren Mennonites began establishing their own schools and colleges, laying the foundation for institutions like Eastern Mennonite University and Bridgewater College. Today, these schools have transformed into private liberal arts colleges. Bridgewater College has shifted away from its Brethren roots, and at Eastern Mennonite, over half the students aren’t even Mennonite anymore. Mainstream groups now embrace higher education, but old-order groups still end formal schooling after eighth grade.
Revival History
The last stop on our tour was a tractor-trailer tucked in the back of the property.
Historically, both Brethren and Mennonites viewed revival meetings skeptically, considering them overly emotional and lacking in spiritual depth. However, the emergence of George and Lawrence Bronk in the 1940s marked a turning point. These Mennonite brothers defied tradition and embraced revivalism, hosting massive tent meetings nationwide starting in 1951.
Their efforts drew crowds of up to 10,000 people! They targeted areas with substantial Mennonite and Amish populations, leaving a lasting impact on these communities.
Final Thoughts
I found the Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center completely fascinating. Whether you’re interested in history or spirituality or simply want to explore a unique cultural heritage, the Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center offers visitors a rich and immersive experience.
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