Winter Activity Inspirations from the Library of Congress

This post was written by Monica Valentine, a program specialist in the Informal Learning Office at the Library of Congress.

Once the holiday lights have come down and the trees, menorahs, and kinaras have all been packed away, we find ourselves left with several more weeks of winter. Entertainment can be a challenge in this season, especially in areas where the weather is cold or snowy. Still, there is plenty to do outdoors! Let’s explore some winter activities which have made their way into Library of Congress collections.

With a little planning birdwatching can still take place in the wintertime. Bundle up, grab a pair of binoculars, and set out on a winter bird walk. Chickadees and sparrows, among other birds, are commonly spotted in winter.

To help with your birdwatching, check out Frank M. Chapman’s book “Our Winter Birds, How to Know, and How to Attract Them.” In this 1918 publication, Chapman (then a curator of ornithology for the American Museum of Natural History) writes about birds you may see near your home, in the field, or out in the forest. Beautiful color plates illustrated by Edmund J. Sawyer show a range of birds found in the northeastern United States. Chapman distinguishes between resident or visiting species of birds. How many different bird species have you seen before? Were they locals or just passing through? You may think of birdwatching as a warm weather activity, but in his introduction, Chapman makes the case for winter being the best season to study birds, noting that “we will not then be discouraged by the overwhelming abundance of bird-life of migration time or of summer.” He also points out that “winter is the only season when birds may actually need our bounty.” On pages 18 and 19 Chapman shares his advice about providing a “Dutch window feeder” and a “rustic standing feeder-stand and shelter” that may attract feathered friends to your yard.

If you’re looking to do something a little more physical, why not try ice skating? As inspiration, enjoy images from our collections of young people skating in Washington, D.C.  Look for familiar structures in the background, then listen to a lighthearted 1939 field recording of “The Ice Skating Song” from the California Works Progress Administration collection. In it, the performer George Vinton Graham sings a charming winter song about ice skating by moonlight.

Nothing says winter like building a snowman even if there’s no snow! Enjoy this North Dakota snowman made of tires from the Carol M. Highsmith Archives. Then, see George Barker’s stereographic print from the Library’s Prints and Photographs collection. The print is titled “The Snowman-Happy Days” and features children with a stylish snowman from the 1800s in Niagara Falls, New York. Notice who is riding on their sled!

Whether you take a winter bird walk, build a snowman, or take a spin on the ice, we hope you make the most of the winter season.  Make sure you document your winter activities. Maybe one day they too will be part of the Library of Congress collections.