The first living museum of contemporary American rural life, Behold! New Lebanon, will be offering tours July 4 through September 26 in the Columbia County town. Rural guides bring visitors through their farms, artisan studios, and micro-businesses to offer an inside look into this living, experiential museum. From harvesting hops to firefighting, auctioneering, and draft horse plowing, there are 24 different areas to explore at Behold! New Lebanon. Follow environmentalist Craig Westcott's "Living Machine," as he demonstrates how his contraption mechanically recycles waste from the surrounding buildings to be sent back to the Hudson River. Cynthia Creech, a herder of Randall Cows, gives visitors the chance to live the life of a ranch hand and get up close and personal with the heritage breed. Master jeweler Heather Naventi will show you how to tell real from fake jewels, how to detect flaws in diamonds, and how to make simple repairs to broken jewelry. Rural guides will show visitors everything New Lebanon has to offer as far as its citizens and industries, from making New Lebanon's famous Slab Pie and stuffing sausage to building terrariums and dog training. Beholdnewlebanon.org
