Exhibition Docent Handbook - Museum on Main Street

SECTION 2FARM ANDFENCEFences organize the rural landscape andreflect how farmers use the land. Fenceskeep livestock and crops apart, but theyrequire a substantial investment of moneyand labor. During the 1870s, the easyto-buildworm fence (also called thesplit-rail, zigzag, or Virginia fence) wasso prevalent that it became known as the“national fence.” Post-and-rail fencesrequired less material than worm fences,but more labor. The eventual adoptionof wire fences reflected an increasinglyindustrial farm life.THINK ABOUT ITAsk your visitors if The Leedom Farm looks like anyfarms they’ve seen. Encourage them to think abouthow it’s different or similar to farms they know.