- jim
- First Reviewer
- 4 out of 5
- Avg. Member Rating
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174
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Just Awesome and Amazing
- June 30, 2009
- Rated 5 of 5 by
sambosky from Alexandria, Kentucky
I highly recommend visiting this place. I stayed 8 days and found something to do all day and in the evening. I really enjoyed the presentation of God is our Rock. It was about a slave who became an ordained Baptist preacher. The person who played the part was really great. All the actors were really good and I learned a lot about "living" history.
Don't miss it! I think one statement stood out for me. "The revolution of 1776 was for Freedom of Religion. It seems to me that we have missed the point in modern day. We keep talking about Freedom from religion.
Just a great place to go...get off the beaten path and walk over to a really great golf course via a path behind the Bassett House.
Sam
Every American Ought To Go At Least Once
- February 27, 2009
- Rated 5 of 5 by
eamar1 from St. Louis, Missouri
I go to Williamsburg at least once a year. There is always something new to do, something to learn, and much fun to be had. A perfect family vacation, but fun for singles with an interest in history as well. Summer can be brutally hot, but the other seasons are less crowded and just as beautiful. There are fantastic restaurants and shopping in the historic district, as well as evening concerts, and day and evening tours of the historic buildings and gardens.
Editor Pick
Colonial Williamsburg
- December 31, 2008
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Travel'in Gal from Mantua, Ohio
It truly is an awesome experience. Virginia in the 18th-century is what Colonial Williamsburg takes you back to. It's almost like stepping into a time machine. Williamsburg, Virginia, is located on Interstate 64, 150 miles south of Washington D.C., 50 miles east of Richmond, and 50 miles west of Norfolk. In the middle of the city of Williamsburg lies Colonial Williamsburg, a trip back in time. Life there truly appears as it did back then. There is a 173-acre Historic area of life on the eve of the American Revolution.
There is the mile long "main street", Duke of Gloucester street, and tunneling below is the Colonial Parkway, which connects Colonial Williamsburg to nearby Yorktown and Jamestown. Each day at Colonial Williamsburg brings a variety of activities and programs you can participate in. They have a rotating schedule for the regular programs, but as the seasons change their special programs change too. Each year at special times they also have re-enactments of important colonial history moments.
Mid-February they have a celebration of George Washington. Of the first five American Presidents, four were Virginians. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were two. Programs historical re-enactments, and lectures during Presidents Weekend celebrate our early leaders. George Washington’s birthday is February twenty-second. The activities that weekend include George Washington’s traditional review of the troops. Mid-June is Brothers in Arms: The African-American Military Experience. From the Revolutionary War to World War II African-American men representing soldiers take up temporary residence at Carter's Grove to demonstrate military techniques, discuss life in military camps, and re-enact hard fought historic battles.
Late-June Under the Redcoat: Lord Cornwallis Occupies Williamsburg. Prior to the battle of Yorktown, 1781, British soldiers occupy the city by imposing martial law. At Market Square more than 200 military re-enactors camp, setup military checkpoints, patrol the city, and conduct courts martial. Make sure you know the password if your wandering the city at night. Fourth of July Independence Day - They begin the day with Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps salute to the 13 colonies.
The Declaration of Independence is read from the Courthouse steps at noon. The Governor's Palace has a garden party at evening with entertainment and Virginia delicacies. The 4th ends with a salute on Palace Green and of course fireworks. Mid-July A Town Unchained: The Continental Army Encamps at Williamsburg. In 1781 under command of the Marquis de Lafayette Continental troops march into the city, prior to the battle of Yorktown, to relieve it's citizens of British Martial law. Lafayette’s arrival is converged on by more than 200 re-enactors.
In Early-September A Call to Arms and Action: A Muster of Troops and the first Virginia Convention. British and American colonies relations worsened and delegates were elected to a new American government. Groups of armed citizens organized in response to the Boston Tea Party. 18th-century diversions and a horse race are part of the weekend's re-enactments.
This is such a short description of Colonial Williamsburg and all it has to offer. It is truly a wonderful and amazing experience, and an excellent history lesson of how our country was founded, all in one. If you have seen Mel Gibson’s "The Patriot" movie this place is the real thing, where it all actually took place. And the movie, which I loved, does not do justice to the real experience of seeing and being a part of the true history. I highly recommend you visit this awesome place and piece of American history if you ever get a chance.
From journal Weekend in Williamsburg, VA
Editor Pick
Public Hospital
- November 26, 2007
- Rated 3 of 5 by
two cruisers from Ames, Iowa
Red bus to the Palace Stop. Blue bus to the Museum Stop. That’s how easy it is to get to three museums included in the price of the Colonial Williamsburg entrance ticket. We arrived at the Public Hospital a few minutes before it opened. That gave us time to admire the huge magnolia tree on the lawn at the corner of Francis and South Henry Streets. I had seen magnolias in bloom before with their big showing white blooms and deep dark green leaves. In the fall the trees are covered with huge clusters of red berries attached to a cone-like pod. It was almost as beautiful as the white blooms.
Inside the Public Hospital of 1773 we had to put our carry-bags and water bottles in a locker. Then we were permitted entry into the hospital museum and after that we could take the elevator to a lower level where we walked a wide corridor with gift shop to the side toward the museum café and the elevators that would take us to the other two museums (Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum).
This was the first public institution for the mentally ill built in colonial America. Known in 1773 by the politically incorrect name of “Hospital for Lunaticks”, it went through several revisions of use during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. It also burned down and has just recently been reconstructed. We saw two rooms that represented the way patients were housed in 1773 and 1845. The earlier version was more like a prison cell, the later version looked to be more humane. While we looked in the cells we listened to the words of patients who might have lived there. There were displays of implements used to treat the patients. One looked like a coffin with wire mesh sides used to confine particularly violent ones.
From journal Colonial Williamsburg Collage
Editor Pick
Colonial Williamsburg, Part 2
- November 25, 2007
- Rated 5 of 5 by
two cruisers from Ames, Iowa
One of the most rewarding experiences a tourist can have at Colonial Williamsburg is conversation. Throughout the village costumed interpretive guides are stationed.
Some are the tour guides who show you through a building. At the Raleigh Tavern a young Black maid showed us to our rooms and told us about the work required of her and who the guests were. Downstairs two actor guides gave a running dialogue about life in Williamsburg when the Revolutionary War had American and British armies encamped nearby. They welcomed conversation and questions from the tourists.
Another type of interpretive guide could be found in the shops and trade buildings. I had long conversations with a tailor, cap maker, bookbinder, silversmith, apothecary clerk, and weaver/spinner. These guides continue to give you information and “gossip” as long as you remain interested. They were all quite good at staying in character. One man at the gunsmith shop even told me that I might need to take the cover off that “strange image capturing devise” that I was pointing at him!
A third type of guide took on an actual personality of a historical person. We didn’t get to see him, but we were told that the man playing Thomas Jefferson was excellent. We did have the opportunity to meet Dr. Robert Carter. He dropped into the Kings Arms Tavern while we were having lunch. He wanted to know what colony or territory we were from and if we brought any news from beyond Virginia.
Other shop clerks and tavern waiters dress the part, but they do not mentally live in the 18th century. Some of the craft areas let us actually see work being done. We watched the blacksmith, the metal foundry silversmith, and a spinner producing hard at work. All these fine people made our visit much more enjoyable and gave us a better understanding of the era.
From journal Colonial Williamsburg Collage