Tues. 5/2.
Richmond VA—visited the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar. It interprets the Civil War from perspective of Union, Confederate & African-American, in 1861 Tredegar Gun Foundry; war’s causes, course, legacies thru films, interactive displays, artifacts; picturesque views of James River. Richmond was the center of iron manufacture in the South in the mid-1800s and helped rebuild the South after the war.
Wed. 5/3.
Shirley Plantation Museum—recommended by volunteer at Tredegar. From 1613, it is VA’s oldest & the most intact & authentic in the country—all buildings are original (main house, laundry, storage, kitchen, etc.; no remaining slave quarters). Grows cotton, corn, soybeans, wheat, no longer tobacco. Is the oldest family-owned business on North America (1638)—see postcard of “flying staircase”.
Overnight at Chippokes Plantation (state park). Chippokes is an Indian name. Plantation is one of oldest working farms in US, still has original (1600s) boundaries.
Still have trouble getting cell & internet reception in places.
Thurs. 5/4.
Historic Jamestowne (the archaeological site). Great guided tour by ranger.
Est. 1607. Ruins & original foundations of fort palisades and other structures, 1st glass furnace. 1690s church tower survives. Foundations of bldgs built after 1620 can be seen in New Towne section.
Rented a wheelchair for Bob, whose artificial knee broke (again), found way for Sally to push Dad AND Bob at the same time!
Didn’t get to Jamestown Settlement (Living history msm).
Fri. 5/5.
Stormy. Rest day.
Sat. 5/6.
Williamsburg. Saw fife and drum corps, Journey to Redemption program, bindery. Barbara Swanson (bindery) talked a lot with us, wants us to come back on Sun. to meet her son, an Iraq War vet.
Colonial capital moved inland from Jamestown in 1699. It was the political, social & cultural center of Virginia in the 1770s. Site contains 88 bldgs that survived from 1700s + 400 rebuilt on original sites. Living history museum, with costumed craftsmen, etc.
See postcard of guns in governor’s palace—just like in royal palaces in Europe!
Sun. 5/7.
Williamsburg—saw more craft work. exhibits/demos. Revisited Barbara, & son (ex-military, wanted to meet John).