Children participate in a sack race at the Overmountain Victory Celebration.
NPS Photo
Although things may have looked a lot different in many ways for families during the time of the Overmountain men, kids found ways to have fun in the late 18th century as well! Try one of the games or activities in the videos below for a glimpse into what life was like for kids during the American Revolution.
Explore how drumbeats were used to communicate with soldiers during the American Revolutionary War. Make a drum of your own and create “beats” to communicate with your friends and family.
Enjoy an addition game that takes place within the confines of a box. This game was developed for play while on a rocking and rolling ship on the water. Make a version of this game to play at home.
Pick Up Sticks is an easy game for all ages that requires only a flat surface, a set of wooden dowels with pointed ends and lots of patience. Learn how to play this traditional game here.
Jacks as we know them today are made of metal but bone, stones and other materials were used historically. Learn how to play Jack with Ranger Sharon in this video.
There are lots of ways to play marbles. Follow along with rangers Stephen and Sharon to learn how to play Marbles like colonial era children would have.
