Tactile History: Adventures in a Pioneer Village

Little boy grabbing the receiver of a black rotary phone.

Little boy standing outside a old time jail cell, holding a cane in his left hand locking in an older boy.

Touching History: A Favorite Summer Adventure

One of my favorite things to do each summer is take the boys on little adventures.

Years ago, I started these outings with one goal in mind: to gently encourage Titus, who is blind, to step outside his comfort zone and experience new places. Along the way, they’ve become something our whole family looks forward to.

One destination we return to year after year is our local pioneer village.

It’s become one of our favorite summer traditions.

A Museum Where You Can Touch the Phones

The very first stop is almost always the telephone museum.

For Titus, this place is magic.

Instead of looking at old telephones behind glass, visitors are encouraged to touch them, dial them, crank them, and even call other phones throughout the room.

Each phone has its own buttons, dials, and unique ring.

The boys spend what feels like forever calling each other back and forth, laughing as they hang up on one another.

Every year, one of them eventually asks the classic question:

“Is your refrigerator running?”

Cue the laughter.

One of my favorite parts is watching them figure out the older telephones. More than once, I’ve had to remind them they actually have to pick up the receiver before they can dial!

There’s even an old-fashioned phone booth with a phone book—a fun reminder of how much technology has changed.

Climbing Inside History

Another favorite stop is the airplane museum.

Seeing the planes is neat but getting to climb inside one is even better.

The boys eagerly walk up the steps and explore all the way to the cockpit. It’s dusty, a little musty, and exactly what you’d expect from an old airplane.

Being able to experience the space firsthand makes history feel real.

Outside of an old plane focusing on two windows. On the other side of the windows looking out are two boys, smiling at the camera.

Two young boys sitting on a long wooden old time bench waiting for their plane to arrive. One boy has a white cane in his lap while the other boy is looking at a paper.

Court Is Now in Session

As we wander farther through the village, we eventually arrive at the old courthouse.

Without fail, the boys race to the judge’s bench.

Someone has to be put on trial.

Usually…

It’s me.

Within seconds, the gavel comes down, I’m declared guilty, and my sentence is almost always the same:

Off to jail.

The old jailhouse has become another family favorite. The heavy iron doors swing shut with an unmistakable clang, and suddenly history isn’t something we’re reading about—it’s something we’re experiencing.

Old courthouse with a large desk. One boy is sitting in the judges chair while another boy is in the witness chair next to the desk. The American flag is beside the desk.

Experiencing History Beyond Sight

The pioneer village stretches across twelve acres and includes dozens of historic buildings along with a museum.

Not everything can be touched, of course.

When we come across displays behind glass or roped-off exhibits, I describe what Titus can’t explore with his hands. Sometimes I’ll read the informational plaques word for word, and other times I’ll simply summarize them, depending on everyone’s level of interest.

What I appreciate most is that so much of the village can be experienced through touch, sound, and even smell.

It reminds me that history isn’t only something we see.

It’s something we can hear.

Something we can feel.

Something we can experience.

A Summer Tradition Worth Repeating

Over the years, we’ve visited several pioneer villages, and every one has offered something unique.

Whether it’s turning the crank on an old telephone, climbing aboard a historic airplane, or hearing the heavy door of a jail cell slam shut, each visit brings history to life in a new way.

If you’ve never explored a pioneer village, I’d encourage you to give it a try.

Whether your child is sighted or blind, you might be surprised by how much there is to discover when history becomes something you can experience with all of your senses.