We rented a car and visited the three points of America’s Historic Triangle, Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown. The Colonial Parkway, which connects the three cities, is an absolutely beautiful drive!
Williamsburg was the capitol of the Virginia Colony from 1699 to 1780. Colonial Williamsburg is an outdoor living history museum and contains 89 original 18th-century buildings and many more reconstructed buildings with costumed interpreters throughout. We had a creative tour of the Peyton Randolph house in that it was told from the viewpoint of some of the 27 enslaved people who lived and worked at the house rather than the viewpoint of the prestigious owner. In the courthouse, we participated in a mock trial trial in courthouse which was a lot of fun. Kevin’s character was suing Ellen’s character but, of course, he did not win! We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Kings Arm Tavern and were serenaded by a singing musician.
Jamestown was the first lasting English settlement in America. Three ships carrying 104 Englishmen arrived here in 1607. Twelve years later, the first enslaved Africans arrived here after being captured from a Portuguese warship. We visited the site of the 1607 James Fort (which was just located in 1944) and Memorial Church, which is adjacent to the fort site. The only 17-century structure still on the island is the church tower from the 1680’s. We also visited a re-created James Fort which had costumed interpreters showing what life was like for the colonists.
Yorktown was established in 1691. The 50-acre town was originally divided into 85 lots and lot prices were 180 pounds of tobacco. The town prospered until about 1750 and then faced destruction with the Siege of 1781, the Great Fire of 1814 and the Civil War. We enjoyed walking the streets of the quaint town and seeing some of the remaining 18th century homes. The last great battle of the American Revolution took place at Yorktown. In 1781, General George Washington’s troops, aided by French allies, defeated British troops and assured American independence. We drove through the battlefield while listening to the audio tour. We also visited the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. In addition to walking through several galleries of artifacts, we watched “The Siege of Yorktown” on a 180-degree surround screen which included special effects which made us feel like we were experiencing the battle firsthand. There is a also a Continental Army encampment and a Revolution-era farm on the grounds of the museum.
The Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg was home to seven royal governors and the first two elected governors in Virginia.Williamsburg Courthouse built in 1771 with exterior renovation done in 1932Shoemaker Shop in Williamsburg, built sometime before 1773. The shoemakers now make shoes for demonstration as well as for the costumed interpreters throughout Colonial Williamsburg.The Capitol in WilliamsburgSide view of the CapitolCourtroom in the CapitolThe House of Burgess, the first legislative body in British North America, met in this room in the capitol. Among those who served as burgesses were Patrick Henry, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Peyton Randolph and George Wythe. The Speaker’s chair dates to the 1730’s.The Public Gaol in Williamsburg housed debtors and criminals. Blackbeard’s pirates, who were captured in 1718, were confined here until their hanging.
Leicester Longwool Sheep
Peyton Randolph House, Williamsburg – Peyton Randolph’s home for over 50 years. Randolph served the Colony of Virginia in many of its highest governmental offices and became the first president of the Continental Congress.Kitchen in the Peyton Randolph HouseDining Room in the Peyton Randolph HouseFife and Drum demonstration in Colonial Williamsburg. This was the means by which commanders would communicate with the troops during battles.Re-created 1610-1614 James FortRe-created James FortRe-created James FortReplicas of the three ships that brought the settlers to Jamestown in 1607Re-creation of a Powhatan Indian Village, JamestownJamestown’s Memorial Church, built in 1906 on the clay, cobblestone and brick foundations of Jamestown’s church of 1617, shows where and how the church was constructed. The church is adjacent to the site of the James Fort, the fort that the original settlers built in 1607.Jamestown Memorial Church – the benches in the front of the church mark the spot where Democracy began in English North America when the first General Assembly met here on July 30, 1619. We were able to look through glass panels in the floor to see the brick foundations of the 1619 church.Remains of the first substantial Jamestown church built in 1608. This church was the scene of one of America’s most significant weddings, the marriage of Pocahontas to John Rolfe in April of 1614. This is located in front of the site of the James Fort.We saw several clusters of archeologists working on the grounds of James Fort. Glassblower in Jamestown on the site of the remains of the original 1608 Glasshouse furnace Canon firing demonstration on the grounds of the American Revolution Museum at YorktownPart of a re-created farm in Yorktown on the grounds of the American Revolution Museum at YorktownPart of a re-created farm in YorktownThe Moore House, located on the Yorktown battlefield is the site of surrender negotiations between Washington and Cornwallis. Each general selected two officers to handle the face-to-face discussions. The house has been restored by the National Park Service to appear as it did in 1781.Yorktown Victory Monument commemorates the surrender of Cornwallis’ army at Yorktown in 1781, erected on the 100th anniversary of the Yorktown victory in 1881.Nelson House, built in 1730 as the home of Thomas Nelson, Jr., Governor of Virginia in 1781, commander of the Virginia militia at the Battle of Yorktown and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The home was used as a hospital during the Civil War.Sessions House, built in 1760Dudley Digges House, built in 1760Cole Digges House, built in 1720Yorktown Custom House, built in 1721
