Colonial National Historic Park

We stayed the week in a condo in Williamsburg, Virginia. We visited Colonial National Historic Park, which includes: Jamestown, Yorktown, and Williamsburg.

Apr 29, 2017 (Sat)

            This morning we had an appointment for a sales pitch for a timeshare. It was a disaster! We went to the pool after lunch for swimming then went to the shopping area close by. We got a pizza at Papa Murphy's, which we baked in the apartment for supper. Doug and Linda arrived at around 9 pm and will be staying with us for a couple of days. We had a nice visit. 

Swim time

Apr 30, 2017 (Sun)

            This morning we went to the Williamsburg Ward. It was their fast Sunday since they will have an area conference next week. There was a very good spirit there. In the evening we saw pictures from Doug and Linda's trip around the Pacific and then from our trip to Australia and New Zealand. It was a pleasant day and evening.

May 1, 2017 (Mon)

            Today we went to Jamestown. We went first to Historic Jamestowne (part of the Colonial NHP). It was interesting to hear about all the archeological things that they have found in the last few years and even weeks ago. 

Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center 

A large monument marks the 300th anniversary of Jamestown.

Tercentenary Monument

 The historical park is divided into Olde Towne (where they first settled) and New Towne (which became the capital of Virginia Colony. Old Towne has a lot of archeological digs, whereas New Towne has a walking path through ruins.

Memorial Church 

 The story of Jamestown is also the story of Pocahontas

Pocahontas

James Fort

Archeological excavations

New Towne ruins

 After we looked around Old Towne and New Towne we went to the glass-blowing house. Glass blowing is always fascinating.

Glasshouse ruins

Making glassware

 We then went to the Jamestown Settlement, a living-history park with many interpreters in costume helping to give us an idea of what life was like in 1609. Jamestown Settlement includes three areas, the first of which is the Colonist Fort.

Jamestown Settlement

Tough soldiers

Tougher solderettes

Barrel maker

Old time preacher at the ramiumton

The second area shows the three reconstructed sailing ships (Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery) that brought the colonists to Jamestown.

Ships through the woods

Resetting the cannon

Jamestown ships

 The third area is a Powhatan Indian village.

Powhatan Village

Wild ones

The interpreters in each place gave us a lot of good information.

May 2, 2017 (Tue)

            This morning went to Yorktown, also part of Colonial NHP. We started at the Yorktown Victory Center, a new living-history museum which just opened about a month ago. It had a very nice museum that went through the Colonizing of America and the Revolutionary War. 

Yorktown Victory Center

They had nice videos and displays.

Example of displays in the museum

 We went out to their Colonial Army Encampment, which represented an army camp during the Revolutionary War. We learned about what it was like to be a soldier then.

Camping family

Army doctor

Camp wash woman

 They also had a colonial farm area, which was interesting. Their main crop was tobacco.

Tobacco drying in a barn

Colonial farm houses

We finished at the Yorktown Victory Center about 1 pm, following which Doug and Linda left for home so they can be back at the Bishop's Storehouse for tomorrow (Wednesday). We found some lunch in the center café.  

We then went to the national park portion of Yorktown. This celebrates the surrender of Cornwallis to Washington, leading to the end of the Revolutionary War. The battlefield is visited by two driving tours with stops along the way explaining the events of the battle and surrender.

American siege line 

British redoubts taken by the Americans

Crossing of Wormley Creek

Moore House

Parlor in the Moore House

Parade route of routed British

 We then walked around the town of Yorktown. There wasn't a lot to it.

Beach on the river

Proud patriots

May 3, 2017 (Wed)

            This morning we went to Colonial Williamsburg, the third part of Colonial NHP. It was a nice day. This time there was a lot more going on and many more houses open than when we visited Williamsburg years ago. We started by taking the shuttle bus to the Capital Stop near Shields Tavern. Taverns were like Inns to provide lodging, food, and drink.

Shields Tavern

We had a tour of the old Courthouse. Williamsburg served as the capital of Virginia until it was moved to Richmond.

Chamber in Capital Building

 We then walked to other homes, stores, and trade exhibits in the Capitol area. Not all of the places were open, but a lot were.

Bakery

Raleigh Tavern

Silversmith

Millener

Tartlet, Thompson, & Company store

We next went to the Market Square area for more houses, stores, and trades.

William Pitt Store

Carpenter's Yard

Making shingles

Tinsmith

 We put our name on a list for a spot for lunch at a Chownings Tavern. It was about an hour wait. We looked at the Market Square during that time.

Public Armoury

Gun storage

  It was 2 pm when we finally had lunch. Paul had small cups of three soups that were gluten-free. I had a Roasted Vegetable Trencher, which is another name for a sandwich.

Lunchtime at Chowning Tavern

 After lunch we went to the Palace area.

shoemaker

Harpsichord at the Geddy House

Actors at the Playboot Theater

Bedroom in the Everand House

 We went through the palace or Governor's Mansion. It was very nice.

Guide for the Governor's Palace

Palace gardens

Wheelwright shop

Parlor of the Wythe House

Bruton Parish Church

 We were told to be sure to see the drum and fife band at 4:30 pm. They marched from the Palace to the Market Square. They then did some drills and then brought things to a close for the park.

Fife and drum band

 From there we went to see the Public Hospital, which was a mental hospital of 1773. We learned about treatment of mental illness in those days.

Cell in the Public Hospital 

 We finally ended up at the Art Museum. They had several harpsichords and old pianos. They were very interesting. You could listen to them being played.

Early piano in the Art Museum

We then caught the shuttle back to the Visitor Center and returned to our apartment. We came home so tired and sore from walking.

May 4, 2017 (Thu)

            This morning we returned to Colonial Williamsburg. We took the shuttle to the Capital Stop 

and went to the Public Gaol (Jail House). 

Public Gaol

Inside the jail cell

We then went to the Bassett House, which belonged to J. D. Rockefeller Jr. He was the benefactor for the restoration of Williamsburg and would live in this house about two months out of the year.

Bassett Hall

Parlor in Bassett Hall

 We then went to see places that were closed on Wednesday, including the gunsmith shop.

Gunsmith

 While waiting for a tour of the Charlton's Coffeehouse we got to know a nice family from Florida. We then went into the Coffee house and tasted hot chocolate.

Family from Florida in Charlton's Coffeehouse

 The wig maker was interesting. They used horse hair, goat hair, yak hair and human hair to make the wigs.

Wig maker

 Other buildings included the Apothecary (drug store) and Weatherburn's Tavern.

Apothecary

Room in Weatherburn's Tavern

We could often see horse-drawn carriages passing on the streets (leaving their organic evidence). We even saw Colonel George Washington. (He wasn't a general until his hair turned white.)

Colonel Geoarge Washington

We went to the King's Arm Tavern for lunch at about 2 pm and were taken right in and served very quickly. Paul had a meat dish which was Shepherd's Pie (gluten-free) and I had Chicken Pottage Pye (Chicken Pot Pie). It was good.

Lunch at King's Arm Tavern

  We then continued on.

Cabinet maker

Brickyard

Drying bricks

Weaver at the loom

Joinery shop

Taylor

Back by the Visitor Center was the Great Hopes Plantation with a Dutch windmill and several 18th century plantation buildings. The big plantation buildings of the south were from the 19th century.

Windmill

Great Hopes Plantation

Plantation house

We spent two full days at Williamsburg (on our 3-day pass). We really enjoyed the trip back in history.

May 5, 2017 (Fri)

           Today we checked out of our condo and went to Warranton to visit with Wendell and Yvette. The final week of our vacation will be continued in the next blog