“Our journey through the American kitchen begins in Williamsburg, the capital of the Virginia Colony for much of the 18th century. Our Williamsburg kitchen is fancier than kitchens in other parts of the country at the time according to Nancy, thanks to the city’s wealth at the time. The chairs show that it would be a gathering place later in the day.

The hearth is still paramount, but now features a Yankee invention: the swinging iron crane peeking out from the near wall, which the cook would use to safely position pots such as a Dutch oven. Chimney sweeps were vital in keeping the hearth in excellent condition, despite the dangerous health issues associated with the work. The process is cleaner and easier today, and still necessary to maintain the functionality of your wood stove or fireplace. A chimney sweep costs about $250 to hire.

The shelves are stacked with all sorts of useful (rather than decorative) pottery. Some were imported from Europe, some made locally. See the stacked barrels through the doorway? This was a common way to store flour and other food at the time.”