Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Pioneer Museum of Alabama hosts several annual events that have become hallmarks of the Troy  museum of pioneer history.

“At each Pioneer Days event, the museum features demonstrators who are well known for their expertise on pioneer skills,” said Barbara Tatom, museum director. “This weekend, the museum will feature several demonstrators who are with us often and several who are new to Pioneer Days.”

Tatom said Brandi West is normally a demonstrator at Ft. Toulouse. She does laundry demos and wears 1750’s French attire.

“I learned much of my sewing  from my own research using books and resources on the internet,” West said. “But, when I was very young my grandmother helped show me the basics. We would cross stitch and crochet together the most.”

However, when West got older, she started to learn how to make clothing.

“I think this is a very useful skill and it has been a joy to learn historical techniques and how clothing of the past was created. I am so lucky enough to have other living history mentors. who have  helped me grow and learn.”

West became interested in living history in 2019.

“Due to coronavirus, I didn’t get to attend any events for a long time,” she said. “But, I was able to use that time to learn, sew and purchase items I could use for my demos. I chose to portray a 1750’s working class French colonist at Fort Toulouse but I have many interests and hope to grow my own knowledge of different era.

Tatom said Brandi West is one of several demonstrators of pioneer skills that will be featured at Pioneer Days 2024.