This vacation had been in the planning for nearly a year as a special treat for our granddaughters. The trip, which covered over 3,500 miles through ten states, was to visit the 'Historic Triangle' (Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg and Yorktown, Va.). A side trip took us to Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hill, NC. - the site of the Wright Bros. historic flights. While adding five states to the list of states the granddaughters have visited with us (their list now stands at 30!), it provided a first class history lesson for all of us.
After three days on the road, we arrived at our condo in Williamsburg, late afternoon of June 5th. For our first day of touring, on June 6th we visited Jamestown settlement, Jamestown historic site, and the Yorktown battlefield. A prime feature of Jamestown settlement is replicas of the tall ships that brought the first English settlers to the new world in 1607. The settlement site also includes a fort compound and a reconstructed Indian village. This original settlement disappeared within three years. Jamestown historic site is the second Jamestown, settled in 1616 - it is the site of extensive archeological digs to reconstruct Jamestown of the 17th century. Just over twenty miles away is Yorktown and the Yorktown battlefield - the site of the decisive, final battle of the revolutionary war.
On June 7th we journeyed to NC. (about 150 miles) to visit Kitty Hawk - listed as the site of the Wright Bros. history making flights. Actually, the flights took place about 8 miles further south at a place called Kill Devil Hill, which is where the modern day museum and monument are located. In 1903, Kitty Hawk was the only town for miles around, so that is where the reports of the Wright Bros. activity were dispatched from. The Kill Devil Hill site includes the actual course of the Wright's first four powered flights - complete with stone markers at the end of each flight.
The remainder of our week was spent on 'A Revolutionary Adventure' as we toured Colonial Williamsburg. Quoting from a visitors guide - "Only Colonial Williamsburg offers an 18th-century living-history experience in the faithfully preserved and restored capital of Virginia - the cradle and intellectual flash point for the founding fathers of the American Revolution". America's Town, America's Townsfolk - Time travel to Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area and arrive in a town packed with historic and architectural treasures. Explore dozens of reconstructed or restored buildings, including some of the 301-acre Historic Area's original 18th-century structures. Drop by the Printing Office and Bookbindery and see how newspapers and books were printed. Visit the Brickyard and see bricks being handmade in the 18th-century fashion. Get a lesson in carpentry and cabinetmaking. Enjoy costumed historical actors, artisans, and guides as they share their perspectives on work, family, politics, religion, and culture. Don't be surprised to encounter Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and many lesser-known historical figures. You'll discover a variety of citizens who were the real Nation Builders. Yes, History speaks here! See a map of Colonial Williamsburg here.
Our granddaughters found the interactive history lessons far more exciting than the boring museum they had envisioned visiting. We visited and toured almost all of the main, historic buildings - including the Capitol, the Governor's Palace, the Courthouse, the Magazine (armory), and the Randolph House. We learned about 18th-century life by watching the Blacksmith at work, seeing bricks being made in the Brickyard, watching carpenters craft wooden trim for the new coffee house being built near the Capitol, viewed the tools and work of the artistic Cabinetmaker and enjoyed seeing the products of the Silversmith / Jeweler. We enjoyed the presentations by the actors portraying Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Lady Washington and Anne Wager - the mistress of the Bray School for Negro Children. Lady Washington was especially interesting as she discussed the "Duties of the President's Wife" in a setting of late spring, 1789. At the Raleigh Tavern, in a session of 'Pleasures of the Dance', Willardene and Harry participated in a line dance; then Harry and Jessica took part in box dance - a form of square dance. Later, Harry served in the jury at a reenactment of an 18th-century trial. While afternoon activities were rained out one day, we stayed busy. We found a different tavern or eating place for lunch each day, had time for the girls to enjoy shopping in Merchant's Square and take a horse drawn carriage ride. Our granddaughters are likely to long remember their 'Revolutionary Adventure' in Williamsburg.
In winding up our tour, we paid a return visit to Yorktown, to visit the restored site of the 1781 Encampment of Washington's army. For anyone who has never visited this area known as the Historic Triangle, we strongly recommend it.
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| Tall Ship Jamestown | Jess-Danaë on ship |
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end of 4th flight |
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Governor's Palace |
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| Magazine Weapons | Tavern Lunch |
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The Carriage Ride |
previous trip page - click here