June 16, 2016

Jamestown Settlement

Spent morning at Jamestown Settlement.  Living history similar to Colonial Williamsburg but aimed at earlier time period – the establishment of Jamestown in the very early 1600’s.  John Smith, Pocahontas, etc. (The two were never romantically involved and may not have ever met.) Three living history areas: Indian village, fort, and wharf with working replicas of the three ships that brought the first colonists. As with Williamsburg there are active demonstrations everywhere with period dressed docents explaining many things.  Unlike Williamsburg they are not into living in the time frame so it is a bit easier to interact. In addition to living history areas there is a very good museum.  It traces the area and it’s peoples from before Jamestown to the moving of the colonial capitol to Williamsburg.  Lots of information presented so as to not overwhelm or bore.

 

Indian village

Interior of Indian hut. Pretty roomy ‘till you consider there could be 20 people living in there.

Largest of the three ships that brought the Jamestown colonists.

 

Entrance to fort.

Musket firing demo.

Grammar lesson

June 15, 2016

Colonial Williamsburg

Spent the day at Colonial Williamsburg living history area.  Over six hours of wandering, touring, attending lectures, watching demonstrations, interacting with craftsmen and docents, learning about many things, and walking a lot.  Many colonial era buildings of all styles and uses.  All of them immaculate as are the grounds and many gardens – all of which are open to browse through.  Many character dressed and acting docents all eager to help and provide information.  Spoke a bit with George Washington.  He was portraying the time just before the Yorktown battle seated in the actual room where  some of the planning took place.  Couldn’t talk about being President because that was way in the future.

Fife and drum marching practice

 

Warming stove in ballroom of Governor's Palace

 

Small flock of these guys were grazing on town green.

 

After walking the mile long town several times, this looked pretty good.

June 14, 2016

Yorktown

Drove to greater Williamsburg avoiding freeways where ever possible.  Parked carbus and then off to reconnoiter.  Finally ended up at the NPS visitor center for the Yorktown battlefield.  Toured the museum, watched the descriptive video, and drove through some of the battlefield sites.  As with other battlefields we have seen it is interesting to see the dimensions of a battle.  In many cases opposing lines were only yards apart.  Fighting was often point blank or hand to hand.  The final charge that over ran the British at Yorktown was done with bayonets and unloaded rifles.

After the battlefield we drove the town of Yorktown.  Small town, many period style buildings and homes, some actually old.  Lots of tourist style activities and businesses.  Have to work to pick out the history from all the stuff.

Battlefields aren’t very picturesque.  This is Victory Monument that Congress authorized to commemorate the Yorktown victory that led to end of War for Independence.  Only took 100 years to get it built after it was authorized.  Pretty quick actually.

June 13, 2016

Monticello

A day at the home of Thomas Jefferson.

Drove from RV campground to Monticello on small country back roads.  Much prefer that to interstates.  Mile after mile of picturesque Virginia farms separated by deciduous forests.  Bright sun and blue skies.  Fun drive.

Visitor center is about half way up Monticello ‘mountain’.  Purchase tickets and get time reservation for house tour.  Board shuttle to top of mountain.  Spent half hour self touring lower/basement level of house.  This level has a large number of rooms that housed a variety of activities necessary for the functioning of the house and estate.  We have seen buildings with these functions on other estate/plantations but Jefferson designed and built all these functions into a contiguous ‘U’ shaped unit and, using the slope of the hill top, built the back walls into the hill so that the roof was at ground level and did not obstruct the view from the house and gardens.  The base of the ‘U’ runs under the length of the house and includes a tunnel to allow quick and efficient movement of cooked (kitchen was one of rooms) and stored food and beverages to house.

Jefferson was a self taught architect and there is architectural ingenuity everywhere. 

Not just architecture.  Science, mathematics, art, music, literature, horticulture, and on and on.  Not to forget politics, diplomacy and running a country.

His mind was always active.  Created a turntable device that allowed him to actively read and refer to five books at the same time.  Created an odometer for his carriage. On and on and on.

Docent staff very good.  Very knowledgeable and presented lots of information in an easy to assimilate manner. 

Admission includes three guided tours (house, gardens, and life as a slave) in addition to self exploring grounds, displays, and museums.

We spent well over five hours there and didn’t feel it go by.

 

Back of a nickel in color

 

Only tree remaining from Jefferson’s time.  The white spindly one on the right.

Grave of Thomas Jefferson.  Marker includes the three things he felt were his life's’  greatest achievements.  President of the United States is not one of them.

Thomas Jefferson and friend

June 11, 2016

Layover Day

A do nothing day. We have been sightseeing and walking (and walking and walking and …) for ten straight days.  Today was a kick back day.  We did get some groceries. Hot tub and long hot shower also. 

Yesterday we went to Annapolis and walked around the Naval Academy.  Lots of tradition, history, museums, and interesting grounds.  Have pictures somewhere.  Will post later.

In case we do not have internet tomorrow -

Happy Birthday  Gracie Sue !!

We love you.

Gramma and Grandad

June 9, 2016

Pentagon, Marine Memorial, Smithsonian Natural History.

Pentagon tour first thing this morning. 

Early ride on the Metro to the Pentagon.  Before checking in we went to the Pentagon 9/11 memorial.  Very well done.  To appreciate, go there. 

Next check in for tour.  Tightest security we have seen yet and we have been through a lot of checks.  Security is intense and is ongoing.  No letting up after one is in.  Tour was fact filled and fast paced.  Very impressive part of tour -  the Coast Guard seaman who lead the first half.  In full dress uniform, he walked nearly 3/4 mile backwards, talking the whole time, and never looking back where he was going.  Most amazing is that we went up and down six escalators.  He stepped on, rode, and stepped off with out looking back or down at his feet.  He just knew when to step.  Good info about the building, what goes on there, and about 9/11.  NO PICTURES !

After Pentagon a metro ride to Arlington Cemetery and a walk to Marine Corps Memorial.

View from memorial . The big three.

The Iwo Jima Memorial

A walk toward Georgetown to a Metro station and then a ride and walk to Smithsonian Natural History.  First, a personal backstage tour by the niece of a dear friend.  She and her husband work in the Ornithology research branch of the museum.  She gave us a very interesting and informative demonstration on the process, extent, and depth of the study of birds at the Smithsonian.  Thank You Christina !!  We then toured through the Natural History museum.  As with all the others, very well done and informative and very overwhelming in volume of material available to see.

Hope Diamond

Perspective is off.  Bear is nearly nine feet tall.

 

Home to spend some time in the pool and relaxing minutes in a hot tub.  Felt good.

June 8, 2016

Basilica and Money Making

Spent the morning doing laundry.  Early afternoon we took a tour of The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (say that five times fast).  Impressive  building from the outside.  Second floor (Upper Church)  quite impressive. Lower (crypt level) floor interesting.  Might be more meaningful to Catholics but I found the National Cathedral to be more impressive and inspiring.  Sorry.

 

As I said – outside view is impressive.

 

Small portion of inside of main church.

 

Clue to size of church.  This is a closer view of picture of Christ seen at far end of church in picture above this.  The face of Christ is six feet across.

 

 

Cross town on Metro.  Wait for our appointed time.  Tour of Bureau of Engraving and Printing.  Saw money being made.  Lots of information and fun to see the process.

Not very impressive.  Just a great big building (two actually – each a city block in size) with minimal ornamentation  No pictures allowed inside so that’s all you get.