Jamestown Settlement

Today was a beautiful, mild, sunny day in Williamsburg, so we were eager to spend time outside! Ben's on spring break, too, so that means just a tiny bit more free time to have fun on the weekends. We posted pictures awhile back from our trip to Jamestown Island here - aka Historic Jamestowne - which is the "authentic" location of the original Jamestown settlement. Today, we went to the other half of the Jamestown attractions: Jamestown Settlement. It includes a very large museum/gallery detailing the history of the early colonies and a bunch of outdoor exhibits too. Outside are replications of the three ships (see above photo) that the colonists sailed to the New World in. Can you name them?

They are the Godspeed, the Susan Constant, and the Discovery. Apparently, people actually sail in the replicas - they aren't just for show! The most amazing thing to me was how small they are relative to the number of people and supplies they had to carry. Can you imagine sailing halfway around the world, leaving your home, and taking virtually nothing with you? I think the risks taken are beyond what most Americans can comprehend nowadays; the discomfort and utter sacrifice of the trip is just not fathomable in our comfy 21st century minds! I think we should all have to read their writings and what they experienced so that we can truly appreciate the roots of our country. The way it was founded is truly unique to any country in the world!

Anyway, I digress. In addition to the ships, they have replica villages from the colonial times, one of the Powhatan (Indian) village, and one of the colonists' village. Most of the houses are full of barrels, furs, and weapons (bow and arrow for the Powhatans, guns and cannon materials for the colonists); others have dried food (tobacco, ham). There were also a church and schoolroom.

Above: Powhattan (Indian) village replica

Above: Furs in the Indian village.

Below: Colonist village (apparently their roof material was really good and would still be considered good today--I think it's some sort of reeds, but I can't remember).

Below: Me trying out the armor, wondering if the colonists' heads were coneshaped since that is the shape of the head armor (which was very, very uncomfortable).

Below left: Backgammon game from one of the colonist homes. (They had Checkers then too.) Below right: Demonstration by a colonial "footman"/soldier.



Below: An Indian canoe (for fishing and traveling)