Virtual Site Visit: Jacobus Vanderveer House

Volunteer history docents facilitate a connection with visitors that helps them to make meaning and foster intellectual and emotional connections to the past. Your role goes beyond simply sharing facts; you are a guide, a storyteller, and a bridge between your audience and the rich history, culture, and significance of the spaces you represent. You make interpretive choices whenever you share historical events and figures; including which sources to prioritize, which perspectives to highlight, and which narratives to emphasize. In this virtual site visit, take your time to discover the techniques that docents use to make connections and help to create a memorable experience.

A Tale of Two Parlors

When visitors tour the Jacobus Vanderveer House in Bedminster, docents are sure to highlight two important rooms that give insight into its Revolutionary roots: the Vanderveer Parlor and the Knox Parlor. The latter holds particular significance, as it is named for General Henry Knox, who, along with his family, resided in this historic house museum during the Middlebrook Cantonment of 1778-1779.

Built in 1772, the Vanderveer Parlor is the oldest part of the house. At the historical house museum, this room is representative of the Dutch tradition that the Vanderveer family was rooted in. The Knox Parlor highlights what the room would have looked like when the Knox family temporarily resided there.

To foster a deeper curiosity about the artifacts placed in each parlor, and bring the collection of artifacts to life, let’s discover the tools and strategies that experienced docents at the Vanderveer House use to engage visitors in learning how these rooms were used during the Revolutionary War.

Research

Use your yellow Five Generals Houses toolkit to learn about the history of the Jacobus Vanderveer House.

Interpret

In your training so far, you have learned that docents use many different types of interpretation strategies to help visitors make meaningful connections between tangible artifacts that are present in the rooms of the historical house museum and the intangible meanings behind the artifacts such as relationships, beliefs, values, and feelings. By fostering these connections, visitors can leave with a deeper understanding and appreciation.

Review the chart below (adapted from page 27 of your blue Essential Skills of a Volunteer Docent toolkit) In the left column, view examples of the tangible resources and artifacts that we can see and sometimes feel in the rooms of the historical house museum. In the right column, view some of the meanings and ideas that can emerge when visitors feel connected to an item in the museum’s collection. Review what you have already learned about the artifacts and architectural details in the Vanderveer Parlor and the Knox Parlor, as well as the people who would have been in these rooms during the late 18th Century. What kind of intangible meanings and ideas are emerging for you?

Observe

Now, watch experienced docent Yolanda Cillo from the Jacobus Vanderveer House lead a video tour of the two parlors. These videos were created during the global pandemic in 2020 as a way for the historical house museum to maintain a connection with the public while in-person visits were restricted.

Notice the architectural details, artifacts, and materials from the museum’s collection that she chooses to feature in the tour. What information does she offer about these tangible resources and artifacts? How does her interpretation of the room evoke intangible meaning and ideas to give you a deeper sense of connection?

Vanderveer Parlor

Knox Parlor

Reflect

What stories emerge about life in Somerset County during the 18th century and the American Revolution from your exploration of these two parlors in the Jacobus Vanderveer House? What are some of the ways that you noticed the docent helping to shape this narrative?

Do you have more questions for the experienced docents at the Vanderveer House? Click on the button below to submit your questions and they will follow up to respond to you.

Mark as Complete

You have now completed this virtual site visit. Please click on the button below to mark your participation!