The original inspiration for this whole trip was for Jay to attend the CAA conference (Computing and Archaeology) in Colonial Williamsburg. Williamsburg is a very impressive recreation of 18th century colonial America, complete with many people living and working there. They stage various things for visitors to see, but my favorite thing was seeing the 18th century trades being practiced that I've heard about but wouldn't otherwise get to see. I enjoyed the foundry/gunsmith and the printing press (pictured below) the most.
Williamsburg is very near Jamestown and Yorktown, which I think I enjoyed visiting even more than Williamsburg itself. This is in large part to the gaps in my US history which I was looking forward to filling in. I learned quite a bit about Colonial America, and even more about the Revolutionary War. Jay and I both really enjoyed visiting Virginia...the parts we saw were beautiful and unique (at least different from what we are used to seeing at home).
Jamestown townsite..extensive archaeological excavation has discovered the location of the original fort and town...
The James River near the Jamestown Fort site...
Yorktown was the site of a decisive battle in the Revolutionary War, October 1781. Here are the caves next to the river where Lord Cornwallis hid out before surrendering to the Continental and French armies.
Extensive earthworks were built by the Continental army for the seige on the British positions at Yorktown. Later, they were built up again by the confederate army during the Civil War.
The road goes through the ravine that the Continental army approached from and camped in for several months.
The house where the surrender was negotiated between the British and the Americans.
We couldn't come this far without going all the way to the Atlantic Ocean! One night we went to have dinner in Virginia Beach, which was beautiful but COLD!
It looks like sometimes it must be hot enough for swimming and outdoor beach showering...
Along the highway on the way north towards DC...we just couldn't resist checking it out!
I've often said that it's important to celebrate the huge strides and progress we have made through history, while recognizing that we still have a long way to go. I think losing this balance is problematic. We must not take for granted things such as the Civil Rights Movement or the Women's Suffrage movement, while at the same time recognizing that these accomplishments, while important, have only laid the foundation for the work yet to be done, not finished it. It's good to remember these historical milestones. On the walkway into Colonial Williamsburg there are a series of signs in the sidewalk putting this in perspective. Here are just a few of them...
