Today we explored Williamsburg. We started with a series of re-enactments, including town ladies, this Benedict Arnold speech, and an interesting "sermon" in which two protestant "pastors" used Deuteronomy to support the revolution.
The irony to me was that if Williamsburg were not a private enterprise, these re-enacted sermons might not have been possible, yet they were espousing freedom of religion! The pastors encouraged and got a lot of "amens" from the crowd.
We saw the printer making a pamphlet newspaper. He was very interesting and informative.
The carriages running around town were a nice touch, although the horse manure everywhere made crossing the street a little tricky! Probably a more authentic experience.
We had a nice lunch, including Virginia salty ham sandwiches for Forrest and Sherry, and of course hamburgers for the boys. They got these refillable cups that can be refilled in numerous places around town. That helped when the afternoon became hot and muggy.
This is a picture of a catawba tree (also known as catalpa or indian bean). Jefferson wrote about these, and some trees may be the original trees in Williamsburg. They are very common, and well liked by fishermen. The catawpa sphinx moth caterpillar is apparently great fishing bait.
This is a photo of the outside of the old Bruton Parish episcopal church, where people were required by the British to come and worship, and also where they were required to pay their taxes. No wonder they wanted religious freedom! There are grave markers dating back to the 17th Century around the church.
Sherry took this picture in the Wythe house. He was a friend and fellow law student with Thomas Jefferson, and signed the Declaration of Independence. Apparently, he had a thing for well-mannered children. At this house, we lost Jeremy for the third time today.
This the reenactor who played George Washington. Ian got a chance to ask him anything, and he asked who Washington's favorite general was (he said Green, who Ian says was very successful at playing cat and mouse with Cornwallis).
Both boys, especially Ian, enjoyed the arsenal in the Governor's Palace. There were many more guns and swords in the imposing entrance hall.
There were many emblems of the lion and the unicorn in the Governor's Palace, including these gate-top gargoyles. These animals represent the union of Britain and Scotland under one monarchy.
Father's Day started out kind of rough for Forrest, but we ended it with a very nice meal, and all was forgiven.
These pictures of Queen Charlotte and King George III are in the Capitol Building. Williamsburg was once the capital of the Virginia Province, after it was moved from Jamestown, and before it was moved to Richmond to be closer to the population--nearly destroying Williamsburg.
The boys ended the day by acquiring these tri-corner hats. Mom and Dad popped for the hats, but Jeremy added his own birthday money for an ostrich plume.
Behind the boys is the courthouse, an original structure. Of the 500 structures on site, 88 are actually original (17.6%). John D. Rockefeller teamed with a local pastor to revitalize and fund the town's restoration.
Ian and Jeremy both played the harpsichord in the video below. Both liked it for the light touch that is necessary. Harpsichords don't get louder or softer based on pressure on the keys, and have a muting function immediately after a key is struck. This was a copy of the original harpsichords of the time. Jeremy didn't stay on it long enough to get a video.
