Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown
Jamestown, Virginia was founded in 1607 as the first permanent English settlement in America. (The colony at Roanoke Island in what is now North Carolina was established 1585 but the settlers mysteriously disappeared. St. Augustine, FL was founded in 1565 by the Spanish and claims to be Americas' oldest city.) As it turned out, Jamestown barely escaped becoming impermanent just like Roanoke.
The first 105 colonists arrived, after a four-and-a-half-month voyage, on three ships with a total crew of 39. Replicas of the ships Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery are moored at the recreated Jamestown settlement. A tour of the ships reveals just how crowded they must have been. And that few of us are brave enough to cross the ocean in so-called ships that are smaller than the ferry to the Statue of Liberty. Or to Put-In-Bay for that matter.
The recreation of Colonial Jamestown includes a Powhatan Indian village. The process of recreation continues in the form of an ongoing archeological dig that reveals how the colonists lived and died. Mostly died.
By 1609 there were about 500 settlers. They had never been what you would call agriculturally inclined. They had planned to survive by trading with the Indians. Gentlemen, you know, don't work. Until they were told, "You don't work, you don't eat." But the summer was dry so crops disappointed. And the winter of 1609-10 was cold. In the spring, there were 60 of them left alive.
The colonial capitol was moved to the more healthful (i.e., less malarial) climate of Williamsburg, founded in 1632. Today Colonial Williamsburg attracts visitors who are fascinated by the recreated homes, gardens, public buildings, and historic re-enactors. There are regular appearances, for example, of historic figures like Patrick Henry giving a rousing speech on the steps of the courthouse. All of the extensive staff are in period costumes and engage with visitors in period dialogue. Numerous craftsmen demonstrate the skills of 18th century carpenters, silver smiths, printers, pharmacists, etc. And don't miss the fife and drum corps leading a parade from the capitol to the governor's mansion.
Just a few miles, via the Colonial Parkway, is the site of the Siege of Yorktown. The American Revolution ended there when the British under Lt. General Charles Cornwallis surrendered to the combined American-French forces on Oct. 19, 1781. There is a monument and a recreation of the earthwork fortifications.
Jamestown
Recreations of the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery.
Colonial Williamsburg
Yorktown
This "surgeon" gave a rather graphic description of amputations as
performed during the American Revolution.
No comments:
Post a Comment