We arrived fairly early; got to park in the first row of parking lot A. We purchased a single day ticket and opted to walk to the Historic Area instead of taking the shuttle. This way we were able to walk past Great Hope Plantation that operates on the outskirts of Colonial Williamsburg.
Fountain in front of the ticketing building. Mary, the plaques on the wall record million dollar donors. There was one plaque that recorded quite a few $20M donors; one for $10M donors; one for $5M donors; and, five filled with names of those who have given over $1 million.
Huge, blooming, magnolia tree along the walk-way.
Colonial chicken that lives at Great Hope Plantation. I always like to take pictures of chickens I meet, reminds me of my childhood.
Walkway past the Plantation. It was a lovely day.
Colonial overpass.
Our first stop was the Governor's Palace. In Colonial Williamsburg, if it is morning, the focus is on the year 1775 and the lead-up to the Revolutionary War. In the afternoon, the time period is during the War. At the Governor's Palace, our tour guide, Bill, told us all about Governor Murray, Fourth Earl of Dunmore, who lived as Governor, here in 1775. He was disliked and not trusted by the residents of Virginia, but his wife was admired.
Front gates and entrance to Lord Dunmore's Governor's Palace.
Our tour guide, Bill.
The front hall of the Palace during Lord Dunmore's time. The guns and swords are meant to impress the enemy or, as is said in "The Matrix" movie, "Guns, lots of guns."
He had two teen-aged daughters. They had to share this room.
Ornate stove in the parlor.
Gardens behind the house.
Leaving the Governor's Palace we walked down the Palace Green toward the Duke of Gloucester Street. At the juncture we entered Geddy House for another tour. The Geddys were middle class. The first generation were gunsmiths and had a foundry and the second generation were silversmiths and had their store adjacent to their home.
Carriage driving by along the Palace Green.
Vegetable and flower garden behind the Geddy house.
Colonial picnic table behind the Geddy House.
My favorite picture of the day - Frederick learning to show his "courtesies." For women it is easy, put your heels together, make a "V" with your feet, then, for two counts, bend your knees and say "Good Day". Men had to keep the front leg straight out in front, bend the back knee, doff their hats and not fall over. Frederick was the best of any of the men who tried.
Fireplace with original dental work from the 1770s. This is one of the original houses in Williamsburg.
We then walked down the Duke of Gloucester Street towards the Capitol.
Market Square. It looked like a Colonial flea Market.
The Magazine, right in the middle of town.
This interpreter is in the Courthouse.
Right next to the Courthouse were the pillories. No one I know!
As we neared the Capitol building, there was a crowd of people gathering in the Capitol Circle, right in the front of the building. It was 1 p.m., a time for the reading of the Declaration of Independence. My favorite part, in addition to listening to the full reading (15 minutes) of this sacred document, was the reaction by the costumed interpreters. At the appropriate parts they would shout out, "Tyranny!" or "Never!","For shame!", just as they would have reacted hearing it read for the first time on July 25, 1776. After the reading we entered the Capitol for another tour.
Reading the Declaration of Independence on the Capitol steps.
Citizen of Williamsburg listening and reacting to the reading.
Cupola atop the Capital with the Queen's Coat of Arms "Semper Eadem" - always the same, constant.
Sitting in the House of Burgesses listening to the issues of the day presented by our guide, Edward.
Committee Room.
Edward discussing changes in the Virginia Charter to fit the newly independent state of Virginia.
The more ornate Council Chamber.
After all that work it was time for our lunch. After lunch we drove the Colonial Parkway 10 miles to Historic Jamestown and Colonial National Historical Park - Jamestown.
See if you can find the three turtles that were in the pond along side the footbridge to Old Towne.
Tercentenary Monument - that's 300 years!
Pocahontas statue.
Oh boy! Another fort!
Barracks inside the fort.
And, another cannon!
Wattle and daub to enclose the walls of the barracks.
John Smith statue.
Burial site of 30 colonists who died during the summer of 1608. These crosses mark the excavated sites.
Scale model of the fort at Jamestown.
Historic church tower that was first build in the 1670s.
It seems you have found a strong WiFi signal again! You've seen many historical sights, I think you're due for a visit to either a Science Museum or an Art Museum just for a change of pace.
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