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On Saturday, August 10, 2024 the Dorothy Quincy Homestead's guest presenter is a representative from the Plimoth Patuxet Museum located in Plymouth. She will be teaching how to make corn husk dolls, from 11am to 2pm. The history of the corn husk doll dates back to Native American craftsmanship. It is unknown when the practice of making corn husk dolls began among colonial peoples, however, we know that these dolls were made by European settlers and enslaved African Americans.
Making corn husk dolls is interesting and fun to work with because they can be crunched or stretched into a variety of shapes. They can be rolled and tied or curled. They can be left natural or painted or dyed. Native Americans used the husks to weave clothing and as food wraps for cooking. They act as nature's packaging, keeping the corn moist and sweet. Perhaps you have eaten a tamale, a Mexican food steamed in corn husks.
Corn husk dolls do not have faces, and there are a number of traditional explanations for this. One legend is that the Spirit of Corn, one of the Three Sisters, made a doll out of her husks to entertain children. The doll had a beautiful face, and began to spend less time with children and more time contemplating her own loveliness. As a result of her vanity, the doll's face was taken off.
Guided tours of the Homestead are conducted every 30 minutes, on the hour and half hour, from 11am to 2PM. The final tour commences at 1:30PM.Cost is $10.00 per person, donations are welcome. The Dorothy Quincy Homestead is located at 34 Butler Road.
The Quincy Homestead is owned by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation in a partnership with the National Society of Colonial Dames of Massachusetts.
The program is co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Quincy Art Council.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
34 Butler Road, Quincy, MA, United States, Massachusetts 02169
