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Schifferstadt Architectural Museum
Educational Opportunities

Background
Regular Hours and Special Events
Lesson Plans for 3rd and 4th Grade Level

Background
The Schifferstadt Architectural Museum, a unique example of a 1756 German Colonial home, is perhaps the oldest known, free-standing building in the city of Frederick, Maryland. It’s interesting architectural features, heritage garden offer a rare venue for educational events and experiences for school children, historians, architects, and others interested in learning more about the history of the area from the time of the French and Indian War to the present.

Schifferstadt boasts one of the few iron five-plate stoves still in its original location. Architects from around the world visit to view the structures of the wishbone chimney and attic roof beams.

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Regular Hours and Special Events
Public tours, lectures and demonstrations are available Thursdays through Sundays from April through mid-December (noon – 4:00 pm). Special lectures are announced as scheduled. Specialized tours can be arranged by appointment.

Special events are scheduled throughout the year, many highlighting the history of Frederick during the 18th Century.

The site has been the host to a variety of educational programs. To celebrate the 250th year of Schifferstadt, the site hosted seminars on a variety of topics: 18th century campfire cooking, the recruitment of troops for the French and Indian War, creating an 18th century kitchen garden, and more.

For further information about tours or educational events please call 301-663-3885.

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Lesson Plans for 3rd and 4th Grade Level
Schifferstadt provides a unique opportunity for local 3rd and 4th graders to enhance their local history and social studies curriculum. See the lesson plans based on our heritage garden, farming tools, construction tools, 18th Century heating and cooling systems,and 18th Century cooking.

18th Century German Heritage Garden of the Brunner Family at the Schifferstadt Lesson Plant

A German housewife, kept a typical herb and vegetable garden to feed and care for her family. The garden was divided into four beds by a path in the shape of a cross. The beds were raised off the ground to keep the warmth and moisture in. The division was useful for plants that grew at different rates during the planting season. Use the picture and some of the resources listed to help you, answer the following questions.

The Brunner family owned 303 acres in Frederick County. Today the Schifferstadt is off Rosemont Avenue next to Route 15. Using your map, color the area that the Brunner may have owned.

Using available sources, what kind of vegetables and herbs do you think Mrs. Brunner may have grown in her garden? Which source did you use?

If you wanted to plant your own heritage garden, what kind of vegetables and herbs would you grow, and why?

Using the sources available, where would you buy your seeds?

(Extra sources: Modern Frederick County map, list of vendors, colonial German recipe)

Teacher Notes for Heritage Garden Lesson Plan

WHAT? A 17th century German heritage garden

WHO? Mrs. Brunner, German housewife at the Schifferstadt

WHERE? Frederick County, Md

WHY? Using sources to answer questions help form skills for historical research

The Brunner’s were Swiss-German immigrants who settled in Frederick County in the 1730’s. They purchased 303 acres and finally built Schifferstadt in 1756. Mrs. Brunner would have feed and cared for her family using vegetables and herbs from her garden, today referred to as a heritage garden.

Click map for larger view.

What is a Heritage Garden? A Heritage Garden preserves holistic and agricultural history, which is also a way to maintain local botanical history. In other words, it is a garden that uses plants and herbs, in Schifferstadt instance, which coincide with the 18th century agriculture. Everything in the garden was researched to make sure that it was in fact used in the daily lives of 17th century immigrants in the Frederick County area. This particular garden is German due to its four raised corner beds. There is speculation that the division was due to seasonal growth patterns, as well as a religious symbol of the cross made by the path between the beds.

Antique Farming Tools at Schifferstadt Lesson Plan

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Antique Construction Tools at Schifferstadt Lesson Plan

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18th Century Heathing and Cooling System of the Brunner Family
at Schifferstadt Lesson Plan

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18th Century Cooking at Schifferstadt Lesson Plan

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