A Historic Baseball-Making Experience
Hands-on- Heritage: A Historic Baseball-Making Experience
Did you know that the first recorded game of America’s favourite pastime, baseball, actually took place in Beachville, Ontario? In Beachville District Museum’s newest hands-on experience, you’ll step back in time to 1838 to craft your own lemon-peel baseball.
Discover the Historic Craft of Baseball-Making History buffs and baseball fanatics alike will love this hands-on experience from the folks at Beachville District Museum. Step back in time as you learn about Oxford County’s extensive baseball history and top it all off by making your own!
Skip ahead to Frequently Asked Questions
What to Expect
You’ll start this two-hour experience with a guided tour of Beachville District Museum’s baseball history exhibit, learning about the rules of the game from the 1800s. Discover historic baseball equipment from bats to gloves and everything in between, delight in the stories of that historic first recorded game and walk away learning something new.
After the tour, you’ll head to the workshop to craft your own lemon-peel baseball. Using a variety of materials like locally sourced leather and waxed thread, you’ll begin to craft your ball just as they would have in 1838. No two balls are alike as you get to choose your leather, cut out the pattern and stitch it together.
When you’re finished, you’ll adjust the tension to your liking. How cool is that? Of course, you’ll want to test it out. If the weather is right, head outside to try your hand at a game of heritage baseball with the group. Revel in the thwack sound your ball makes the first time it hits the bat and enjoy some good old-fashioned fun. Perfect for friends or multi-generational families, you’ll love learning more about baseball, crafting your own ball and of course testing it all out together. Let’s play ball!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum amount of people needed to run this experience?
This experience requires a minimum of 2 people to run. It is subject to cancellation if that minimum is not met.
Is there a minimum age recommended for this experience?
This experience is for folks ages 10 and up.
How long is the experience and what is included?
This experience is approximately two hours long and includes admission to the Beachville District Museum, a guided group tour of the museum’s baseball exhibit with a focus on North America’s first-ever recorded game, the workshop on making your own baseball and all included materials and a guided introduction to historically accurate baseball (weather permitting outdoors and hands-on).
What other baseball attractions can I enjoy in Oxford County?
Ask the museum where the first recorded baseball game happened. It is right in Beachville and you can go and see the field and the viewing hill that everyone sat on in 1838. If you are part of a baseball team look up VanBokel Field of Dreams. Youth can sign-up for a summer camp or sports teams can sign-up for a weekend tournament at this movie inspired baseball field on their family farm. The Beachville District Museum is also part of the Baseball Attractions Pass-Port and Southwestern Ontario Baseball Pass which both include Labatt Memorial Park and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Museum.
Does Beachville District Museum offer any other heritage-making experiences?
They sure do! Check out their brand new Victorian Crazy Quilting Experience.