LAST of the DC Pictures: Colonial Williamsburg

((This is DC Pic Post #4. Read more here about what in the world that means.))

This is the last- but most certainly not the least post of our DC Adventure. After my moms prompting, we took a day trip down to Virginia to visit a place called Colonial Williamsburg. She had been there twice with my dad and loved it. We are SO glad we went!

















The motto of Colonial Williamsburg is "that the future may learn from the past." and they mean it! (This is a picture of some of the bricks you walk over on a bridge to the 301 acre historic distric of the city of Williamsburg Virginia.

What is Colonial Williamsburg? Colonial Williamsburg consists of many of the buildings that, from 1699 to 1780, formed colonial Virginia's capital. For most of the 18th century, Williamsburg was the center of government, education and culture. It was here that Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, James Monroe, James Madison, George Wythe, Peyton Randolph and dozens more helped mold democracy in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States. Early in the 20th century, the restoration and recreation of Colonial Williamsburg, one of the largest historic restorations ever undertaken, was championed by the Reverend Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin and the patriarch of the Rockefeller family, John D/ Rockefeller, Jr., along with the active participation of his wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, who wanted to celebrate the patriots and the early history of the United States.

Many of the missing Colonial structures were reconstructed on their original sites during the 1930s. Other structures were restored to the best estimates of how they would have looked during the eighteenth century, with all traces of later buildings and improvements removed. Dependency structures and animals help complete the ambiance. Most buildings are open for tourists to look through, with the exception of several buildings that serve as residences for Colonial Williamsburg employees.

The Mission of Colonial Williamsburg
The major goal of the Restoration was not to merely preserve or recreate the physical environment of the colonial period, but to facilitate education about the origins of the idea of America, which was conceived during many decades before the American Revolution.
In this environment, Colonial Williamsburg strives to tell the story of how diverse peoples, having different and sometimes conflicting ambitions, evolved into a society that valued liberty and equality.
If you want to learn more, visit Colonial Williamsburg's website.

We were able to see, hear, taste, smell, and touch our nations history. An experience I hope our children never forget!

Here are a few pictures of the local colonial people (and us).

You could interact, intermingle, converse and play in on the life of Williamsburg. It was so hands on which is our family's love language!

Places we visited in Colonial Williamsburg:

The Govenors Palace (a place where Thomas Jefferson once lived) One picture is a real smoke house- only the rich could have that much meat! And one picture is of all the armory in the entry way of the home- just to show off, and the other pic is of a bed in one of the rooms.

The Courthouse(where Benjamin Waller read the Declaration of Independence from the steps), this is the girls getting their punishment!

Great Hopes Plantation,

Joel carrying water like it was done!

The other pics are of some construction being done like it would have in the day,

and of a typical kitchen! Im sure it got hot in there!

We stopped at a working bakery(and enjoyed the treats too!)

We vistied a gunsmiths, and a Printing & Binding Shop

Then looked through the historic, beautiful Bruton Parish Church, (which had lots of graves dated back to the 1700-1800's.)

We also passed through the Millinery shop(clothing), a trades shop(where we bought a few trinkets to bring home), and lots of nurseries and gardens.

Throughout the day performances and skits take place. Some would be political, and some would be cultural. It was great to hear and see the people of the old day.

Heres a video of a traditional dance that went on.