Friday, September 28, 2012

Colonial Williamsburg

I suppose I didn't do my research real well-because I wasn't completely clear on what Colonial Williamsburg was, until we got there and I asked questions.  Apparently-it is a special part of the original town of Williamsburg that has been restored, and in some cases, completely rebuilt---to be just as the town was in the late 1700's.  They have "actors" all through the town, playing the part, as if it were really Williamsburg in that time period.  They had skits throughout the week of "scenes" that would have taken place around the time of the Declaration of Independence being signed.  You could sit back and watch the townspeople argue about what they thought was right, their fears of war, their opinions on issues of taxes, etc.  It was really neat!


Wednesday morning, we arrived right when the town began to "wake up".  Our first stop was the Coffee House.  It was all that was open, and I probably wouldn't have gone in if that were not the case.  But I'm so glad I did!  It was actually the only store that 100 percent played the part.  The man sitting there in the chair on the left-in the picture above-asked the boys how they came to Williamsburg.  They told him, "By car".  He said, "What language are you speaking?  I don't know that word-Car...how peculiar".  It was so cute!  He also asked them "What colony are you from?"  They played a game of checkers in the game room if you will, and then they followed him into the room where they actually served coffee.


The coffee was served in these small shot like cups, and was very strong.  The boys weren't very fond of it, but were offered extra cream and sugar.


I took this picture in the wig store!  So strange that people used to think these were stylish!  I can only imagine how foolish some of our fashions must be!  The giant round, fly like sunglasses, I've never quite understood!


This is called the "Magazine" and it is where they store weapons.



Here we are in the courthouse.


This is outside the Governor's Mansion right after we finished hearing "Patrick Henry" speak.  The only thing I remember from his speech is that he read the Bible one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening.  Now that is impressive!


Here we are just after a tour of George Wythe's home and gardens.



This is the front of the Governor's Palace.  This is one of the buildings that had to be completely rebuilt.  It was burned down at some point.


This is the "joiners" shop.  We stayed here for a while.



We went for a carriage ride on a carriage that was a recreation of the one the royal governor would have rode in.  It was a bumpy ride!


Here are some of the actors during one of the skits.







This is taken in Burton Parish Church, a church that was built in the early 1700's.  The night before we left, the church held an organ recital and we were able to go up and sit in the original balcony where Thomas Jefferson sat!  The boys loved listening to the organ!  The first night we arrived, we also went to "Music at the Capitol", and listened to the harpsichord  the flute, and the violin---all played in candle light.  It was very beautiful---but the boys got a bit antsy.  The rest of the people in the small room were over 65 and by the end of the concert many were asleep!  I'm glad we did it though-it was super pretty.



Just outside Bruton Parish Church are the graves of Martha Washington's children!


What an awesome time we had!  I think for all of us, history came alive.  I'm so thankful we were able to have these experiences!  I pray that at least a few of my boys will go on to work and even, if need be, to fight, for our constitution to be upheld.  I'm concerned we are losing the America that our forefathers fought and died for!  Yet I trust in the all-powerful God who has a plan---that won't be thwarted!

1 comment:

angie said...

Oh Abby!What an awesome experience.Glad you got to do that with the boys.They will remember that forever.