Colonial Heritage Festival adds collection of unique documents to event
Heather Price (middle, right) teaches kids rope-making practices at the Colonial Heritage Festival on Saturday, July 1, 2017, at SCERA Park in Orem. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Priceless historical documents and mementos are on display at the Brent Ashworth Family — National Treasures Museum on Saturday, July 1, 2017, in Orem. The National Treasures exhibit, which features moon landing memorabilia, Civil War, Revolutionary War, Vietnam War and other current events memorabilia, is a free exhibit at the SCERA Theater that runs from July 1 through July 4. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
People enjoy the attractions and activities at the Colonial Heritage Festival on Saturday, July 1, 2017, at SCERA Park in Orem. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Priceless historical documents and mementos are on display at the Brent Ashworth Family — National Treasures Museum on Saturday, July 1, 2017, in Orem. The National Treasures exhibit, which features moon landing memorabilia, Civil War, Revolutionary War, Vietnam War and other current events memorabilia, is a free exhibit at the SCERA Theater that runs from July 1 through July 4. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
People enjoy the attractions and activities at the Colonial Heritage Festival on Saturday, July 1, 2017, at SCERA Park in Orem. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Priceless historical documents and mementos are on display at the Brent Ashworth Family — National Treasures Museum on Saturday, July 1, 2017, in Orem. The National Treasures exhibit, which features moon landing memorabilia, Civil War, Revolutionary War, Vietnam War and other current events memorabilia, is a free exhibit at the SCERA Theater that runs from July 1 through July 4. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Erin Riggs makes garments from a counterbalance loom by hand at the Colonial Heritage Festival on Saturday, July 1, 2017, at SCERA Park in Orem. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Priceless historical documents and mementos are on display at the Brent Ashworth Family — National Treasures Museum on Saturday, July 1, 2017, in Orem.
People enjoy the attractions and activities at the Colonial Heritage Festival on Saturday, July 1, 2017, at SCERA Park in Orem. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Priceless historical documents and mementos are on display at the Brent Ashworth Family — National Treasures Museum on Saturday, July 1, 2017, in Orem. The National Treasures exhibit, which features moon landing memorabilia, Civil War, Revolutionary War, Vietnam War and other current events memorabilia, is a free exhibit at the SCERA Theater that runs from July 1 through July 4. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Cannons will be fired, spies will be pursued and colonial life will be on display through July 4 as part of the Colonial Heritage Festival in Orem.
This year’s festival will also include a display of the United States’ important documents and artifacts, including a first printed copy of the Declaration of Independence, a Stone Declaration of Independence and other artifacts from the Founding Fathers.
“I think it’s kind of like a really wonderful buffet that otherwise you would have to travel hundred or thousands of miles to go to the places where they’d be displayed,” spokeswoman Linda Walton said, “And you have a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see them here.”
The Colonial Heritage Festival will open to the public through July 4 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at SCERA Park. Attendees may also view the Brent Ashworth Family — National Treasures Museum from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the SCERA Theater.
“I’ve been doing these exhibits for over 50 years and we’ve done a lot at other locations and this will be the first one at the SCERA (Theater),” collector Brent Ashworth said.
The display highlights some of the country’s founding documents as well as artifacts from those who were so influential in its founding.
Ashworth said they help people better understand the history of the country and everyone will come away with some new information and facts.
For example, the most recognizable printing of the Declaration of Independence is actually the Stone version, which was an engraved copy made by William J. Stone in the 1820s.
“That’s what we’ve seen all our lives,” he said.
The original copy, or what Ashworth refers to as the birth certificate of the United States, had been on display for many years and was not properly preserved, which made it almost unreadable.
“People get disappointed when they look at it and can’t make out much of it,” Ashworth said.
Ashworth will be the keynote speaker and share some of the insights gained from the private letters of the Founding Fathers at the Sunday Heritage Observance, which will be held at 8 p.m. Sunday at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theater.
In addition to the special exhibit, the Colonial Heritage Festival will give visitors the chance to experience firsthand what life was like for the generations that came before us and see what life was like for pilgrims and the generations that followed.
“I think there are some people upset with the way things are in the world and in the U.S. and we have to be reminded of what our Founding Fathers and Mothers went through to give us what we have,” Walton said.
Visitors can go back to colonial times by playing games, doing chores and attending school like the children of those times did.
There will also be gun displays and a chance to see cannon firings and military skirmishes between the Continental Army and Redcoats.
The festival also allows visitors to interact with history in a unique way and observe blacksmiths, broom makers, gunsmiths, potters, silhouette cutters and typical life for those the generations that came before us.
“The exhibits show not only what they were doing on a day-to-day basis but also the things they created like art, these documents and thoughts and suggestions on the ways to keep our country strong,” Walton said.