Williamsburg

 This weekend I have an event in Richmond, Virginia, so, instead of driving home and back, we decided to stop for the days in between in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.

The first developed capital of Virginia, eighteenth century Williamsburg was rescued from gradual historical erosion by John D, Rockefeller, Jr., beginning in 1920 and today exists as the country’s largest museum of American history.  Both outdoors and in dozens of original and restored building both the political history and the ordinary ways of life in our Colonial era are to be experienced here.

Trish and I are staying in a Colonial tavern right on Duke of Gloucester Street where we can walk everywhere easily and also return to our room when needed.  There were many taverns in the day as the taverns were not only for food but also for overnight accommodations when people came to the capital on business.

There are gardens, both for vegetables and flowers, behind many of the houses.  They are mostly open and welcoming to visitors and a reminder that we are in the beginning of spring.

The brickwork and woodwork in these buildings is exquisite and so complicated.  As we admire the beautiful construction work, we are very aware that is was the product of mostly slave labor. Even for enslaved workers there has to have been pride in these chimneys, walls, and finish work.

We finished our day watching the fife and drum corps display their role from Court to battlefield.  We have two more days here to soak in history, food, and beauty.