Second & Fourth Saturdays of the Month, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Free to the public; house tour ticket not required

Please check the events calendar for possible changes to this schedule.

Cook House may only accommodate up to approximately 8 people at a time and while supplies last. Children under the age of 6 require strict supervision.

Living history interpreter Clarissa Clifton demonstrates open-hearth cooking using traditional 19th century southern recipes. Sensing how lengthy this process can be, visitors are welcome to drop-in at any point then go enjoy the grounds and exhibits, take a ticketed house tour, and then pop back into the kitchen to see the results. From baking without an oven to cooking vegetables and meat over a fire, recipes and presentation will change seasonally but there is always something delicious to smell and good conversation. Please note that this is for educational demonstration purposes only. Visitors are not encouraged to participate or taste food for safety precautions.

Clarissa Clifton is a long-term living history interpreter and open-hearth cooking expert. She shares and cooks seasonal recipes, often inspired by what’s growing in the Smith garden, walking visitors through the methods of cooking over an open fire with use of traditional cast iron cookware and tools.