The mill at Black Creek Pioneer Village is one of the only working water-powered mills in this part of the country. We live in the machine age but very few of the technologies we use are transparent. Children understand what things do, but they usually can’t understand how they do it. In fact, the same is usually true for us adults! It is really wonderful for children to see something like a working mill. It is mechanical and very powerful, and most importantly, you can see all the gears and wheels with your own eyes. You can understand how it works.

You can even buy flour ground at the mill in the Village gift shop. Take it home and bake something with your children!

This the same reason why a broom is more “valuable” than a vacuum cleaner for the child’s experience; or washing dishes by hand rather than in the dishwasher. It’s what a guitar has that an iPod does not. I don’t think the point is to become Luddites, and avoid all technology. I just think it’s great to be aware of ways in which children experience technologies which they can understand.

That’s what’s magical about the mill.