American History Lesson
This morning we bundled up (the temperature was in the high 30s) and headed out to Jamestown - a town that was settled in 1607, long before the pilgrims arrived in Plymouth in 1620. We arrived in time to join a guided tour of the old town. We learned that archeologists have made many significant discoveries there in the last 10 years which have changed what historians have previously believed.
Our guide explained how the people lived and died - many died of starvation and disease. In fact, 70 of the first 100 settlers died in the first 3 years. He showed us where important buildings have been excavated and we spent a long time in the outline of the first church which had 4 graves in the nave of the church.
The bodies were removed a couple years ago and taken to the Smithsonian for study but will be returned in a few years to be reburied. He explained the politics of religion as it impacted the leadership of Jamestown. We also learned about the conflict between the English and the neighboring Powhatan Indians.
We were told about Captain John Smith and the story of Pocahontas. After several years of hardship and the colony being surrounded and cut off by the Powhatan Indians, the surviving people decided to board a ship and move down the river. When they got going they were met by 2 English ships coming up the river with supplies and a new governor, Lord Delaware. Lord Delaware had them turn back and he took leadership of the colony and showed them how they could defeat the Indians with alliances with other enemies of the Indians. Soon the colony was thriving and growing tobacco. It was at that time that people wanted a voice in their government so Lord Delaware convened a council of representatives from the colony, they made rules for the colony, and the first representative government in the colonies was born. This was the also the beginning of policies concerning African Americans, slavery, and American Indian policies. All these major themes of American history had their beginnings at Jamestown.
That was a long history lesson but our guide was very informative and interesting and we came away glad that we found this tour.
Next we visited the glass blowing house at Jamestown and watched the glass blower create a beautiful blue vase. We were surprised that a glassblower was one of the tradesmen brought over early in the colony when it seemed that other trades might have been more valuable. Just a thought.
After a nice lunch at The Carrot Tree, we next visited Yorktown Battlefield. We viewed a movie about the battle and its importance in our victory over the British in the Revolutionary War. We also learned the strategies of the battle and how important the help of the French and Lafayette was in winning the battle. Next we drove around the battlefield and saw the defenses and cannon redoubts.
We visited the Moore House where the British and Americans negotiated the surrender and the field where the British laid down their weapons thus ending the war.
For dinner tonight Bill was in the mood for a burger so we went to the Second Street Bistro. Karen had a roasted butternut squash and wild rice salad and Bill had a very drippy - messy - huge - delicious burger. It might be several months before he is ready for another burger!
Our guide explained how the people lived and died - many died of starvation and disease. In fact, 70 of the first 100 settlers died in the first 3 years. He showed us where important buildings have been excavated and we spent a long time in the outline of the first church which had 4 graves in the nave of the church.
The bodies were removed a couple years ago and taken to the Smithsonian for study but will be returned in a few years to be reburied. He explained the politics of religion as it impacted the leadership of Jamestown. We also learned about the conflict between the English and the neighboring Powhatan Indians.
We were told about Captain John Smith and the story of Pocahontas. After several years of hardship and the colony being surrounded and cut off by the Powhatan Indians, the surviving people decided to board a ship and move down the river. When they got going they were met by 2 English ships coming up the river with supplies and a new governor, Lord Delaware. Lord Delaware had them turn back and he took leadership of the colony and showed them how they could defeat the Indians with alliances with other enemies of the Indians. Soon the colony was thriving and growing tobacco. It was at that time that people wanted a voice in their government so Lord Delaware convened a council of representatives from the colony, they made rules for the colony, and the first representative government in the colonies was born. This was the also the beginning of policies concerning African Americans, slavery, and American Indian policies. All these major themes of American history had their beginnings at Jamestown.
That was a long history lesson but our guide was very informative and interesting and we came away glad that we found this tour.
Next we visited the glass blowing house at Jamestown and watched the glass blower create a beautiful blue vase. We were surprised that a glassblower was one of the tradesmen brought over early in the colony when it seemed that other trades might have been more valuable. Just a thought.
After a nice lunch at The Carrot Tree, we next visited Yorktown Battlefield. We viewed a movie about the battle and its importance in our victory over the British in the Revolutionary War. We also learned the strategies of the battle and how important the help of the French and Lafayette was in winning the battle. Next we drove around the battlefield and saw the defenses and cannon redoubts.
We visited the Moore House where the British and Americans negotiated the surrender and the field where the British laid down their weapons thus ending the war.
For dinner tonight Bill was in the mood for a burger so we went to the Second Street Bistro. Karen had a roasted butternut squash and wild rice salad and Bill had a very drippy - messy - huge - delicious burger. It might be several months before he is ready for another burger!
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