Lin Liang's father grew up on a farm in Asia.
The elder Liang, visiting from China, immediately recognized the old tools of rural life, like the spinning wheel, on display Saturday at the Hunt for Henrico History, his son said.
"They were very curious to see what happened in Henrico County in the last 400 years," Liang said.
As was his 2-year-old daughter Stephanie, who was having fun getting re-enactors' signatures to win a prize in the children's treasure hunt at the thronged history fair.
Shepherding kids and toting family heirlooms, more than 800 people came to the Hunt for Henrico History at Deep Run Recreation Center, county officials said.
The hunt invited people to bring their family photographs, documents and mementos to be photographed or scanned so the personal side of Henrico's history can be preserved for members of the public to use.
"We got a [royal] land grant from 1760 near Gayton Road," said Kim Sicola, assistant history supervisor with the county's Division of Recreation and Parks. "The lady who brought it in still lives on the property."
The Hunt for Henrico History is the first event of the county's celebration of its foundation four centuries ago, Sicola explained.
Henrico was established in 1611, after Sir Thomas Dale left Jamestown, moved up the James River and eventually founded the Virginia colony's second settlement, Henricus.
The program included living history presentations and displays highlighting the sweep over time of Henrico's diverse civil society.
"One of my ancestors was a slave born in New Orleans and later moved to Texas," "WDP" wrote in the "Do You Have a Story to Tell?" exhibit.
Young Will and Bowen Ault were fascinated with Civil War re-enactor Lamar Banister. The war "split our nation in half," Banister said, making his specially made soldier's uniform, half Union blue and half Confederate butternut, totally appropriate.
"It's a great addition to our home schooling," said Daniela Larew, a Henrico resident originally from the Czech Republic, who was there with her three young sons. "I love learning about the history of the United States."
Though their native country has a recorded history that stretches back millennia, Indian-born Ganapathy and Nithya Rajendran found themselves fascinated by the fair.
"We thought it was more a kids activity, but we came to know more about Henrico history," Ganapathy Rajendran said.
Bob Michie headed the event for Henrico's 2011 Commemoration Advisory Commission.
Eight generations ago, his ancestor "Scotch John" Michie came to Henrico from Scotland as an indentured servant in 1715, he said.
Michie was heartened to see so many new Americans — immigrants from around the globe — at the fair.
"It speaks volumes for their decision to understand the history of the area they moved into," he said. "I was delighted with that."
pbacque@timesdispatch.com
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