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Yesterday we took the girls about ten miles south of Williamsburg, to the shore of the James River. Our first stop was Jamestown Settlement, a living museum recreation of the original English settlement. We arrived in time to watch the 25 minute orientation film, which described the backgrounds of the three groups that interacted in the earliest years of the Virginia colony: The Powhattan Indians, the English settlers, and the African slaves from Angola (captured from a Spanish ship by English privateers, and brought to Jamestown). It was an interesting overview of the early relationships between these groups, which were by turns both friendly and hostile. Jamestown was created as a for-profit venture, but never successfully turned any profit, and 6 of every 7 settlers during the first 15 years died.
After the film, we set out on our tour of the living museum. Our first stop was a recreation of a Powhattan village. We wandered through their houses, and learned how they hunted, farmed and lived. There were a number of Powhattan tribes, loosely united under a single high chief (known to the English as Powhattan). Some of these tribes were fearful of the English, but others desired the metal tools and weapons that would give them an advantage in their battles with other tribes. From the beginning, the relations between the English and the Powhattan were rocky.
From the Indian village, we moved down to the river, where the recreations of the three ships that brought the English across the ocean are moored. The Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery carried the first settlers on their four and half month crossing from England. What was most surprising about these ships was how tiny they were. We were allowed to board the Susan Constant, looking at the officers' quarters was quite enlightening. The captain's cabin was barely bigger than his bunk. To imagine the original settlers, confined to the tween deck for the duration of the voyage, is to understand just what a trial such a journey must have been.
Our final stop on the tour was the recreation of the original James Fort. Here, we wandered through the buildings, and learned about the challenges that the earliest settlers faced. Historical Interpreters discussed various aspects of live in the colony, and demonstrated the use of various tools, including the matchlock muskets. They had examples of the games the settles played for amusement (9 pin bowling, ring tosses, checkers) and our daughters enjoyed trying their hand at the various games. They also tried on samples of colonial helmets and armour. There were a lot of opportunities for the girls to do some hand-on learning, and they enjoyed every second of it.
After leaving the Jamestown Settlement, we drove a couple of miles over to Historic Jamestowne, part of the Colonial National Historical Park. This site encompasses the original site of the James Fort and the Jamestown colony. They have an ongoing archaeological dig on the site, and a museum (located over the site of the original Virginia Statehouse) filled with artifacts recovered from the area. Located a short distance away is the ruins of the Jamestowne glassworks, one of the many attempts to find a profitable industry for the colony. Next to the ruins is an active glassblowing facility, with public viewing areas to watch the skilled glassblowers practicing their craft. Historic Jamestowne is a terrific source of additional information about the early history of Virginia, but just didn't hold the girls' attention as well.
The day ended with dinner at the home of one of my wife's former co-workers, who recently moved to the Williamsburg area. We will need to check out of our hotel soon, so I'll fill in any further details (including pictures) when I get home.
After the film, we set out on our tour of the living museum. Our first stop was a recreation of a Powhattan village. We wandered through their houses, and learned how they hunted, farmed and lived. There were a number of Powhattan tribes, loosely united under a single high chief (known to the English as Powhattan). Some of these tribes were fearful of the English, but others desired the metal tools and weapons that would give them an advantage in their battles with other tribes. From the beginning, the relations between the English and the Powhattan were rocky.
From the Indian village, we moved down to the river, where the recreations of the three ships that brought the English across the ocean are moored. The Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery carried the first settlers on their four and half month crossing from England. What was most surprising about these ships was how tiny they were. We were allowed to board the Susan Constant, looking at the officers' quarters was quite enlightening. The captain's cabin was barely bigger than his bunk. To imagine the original settlers, confined to the tween deck for the duration of the voyage, is to understand just what a trial such a journey must have been.
Our final stop on the tour was the recreation of the original James Fort. Here, we wandered through the buildings, and learned about the challenges that the earliest settlers faced. Historical Interpreters discussed various aspects of live in the colony, and demonstrated the use of various tools, including the matchlock muskets. They had examples of the games the settles played for amusement (9 pin bowling, ring tosses, checkers) and our daughters enjoyed trying their hand at the various games. They also tried on samples of colonial helmets and armour. There were a lot of opportunities for the girls to do some hand-on learning, and they enjoyed every second of it.
After leaving the Jamestown Settlement, we drove a couple of miles over to Historic Jamestowne, part of the Colonial National Historical Park. This site encompasses the original site of the James Fort and the Jamestown colony. They have an ongoing archaeological dig on the site, and a museum (located over the site of the original Virginia Statehouse) filled with artifacts recovered from the area. Located a short distance away is the ruins of the Jamestowne glassworks, one of the many attempts to find a profitable industry for the colony. Next to the ruins is an active glassblowing facility, with public viewing areas to watch the skilled glassblowers practicing their craft. Historic Jamestowne is a terrific source of additional information about the early history of Virginia, but just didn't hold the girls' attention as well.
The day ended with dinner at the home of one of my wife's former co-workers, who recently moved to the Williamsburg area. We will need to check out of our hotel soon, so I'll fill in any further details (including pictures) when I get home.
