Colonial Williamsburg

We just got back from an incredible trip to Colonial Williamsburg (Virginia) and the Outer Banks of North Carolina.What a trip!


We decided to stop at Colonial Williamsburg on our way down there. Traffic getting out of the DC area was pretty heavy, but we expected that for a Friday afternoon in August.  It took us about 3 hours to get there.  Leo was asleep when we arrived, so we transferred him to the stroller, and started walking around.

For most of the 18th century, Williamsburg was the center of government and education for the colony of Virginia. Men like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and George Wythe walked its streets, and met to create the Commonwealth of Virginia and even the United States of America.
It's now a 301 acre Historic Area. The buildings were mostly built between 1699-1780, and some that were reconstructed during the 1930s.  We had a great time touring the sites, to see shoes being made by hand, dresses sewn, bread baked, and keys forged.  The tour guides, in full colonial dress, were so full of information and interesting facts.  Leo was mesmerized by the marching soldiers, the flutes and the drums, and the firing of the cannons.  After that, he had to have a colonial tri-corn hat and musket.  He was in little boy heaven!   (Looking so serious here, ready to fight off some bad guys)

They cooked a traditional colonial dinner, using traditional methods, as an example of what the Governor would have been served each day. The staff began cooking at dawn, and then served the large meal at 2pm, because it was too dark (and too hot) to cook much in the kitchen after that.  Any leftovers from that meal were served for supper, around 8pm.

I love, love, love seeing how they cooked back then. It is so fascinating to me!

I love all the beautiful bowls and buckets and copper kettles.

 A tour of the Governor's Palace. The entry way included this display of swords and rifles- a blatant display of his power and prestige.  As the tensions mounted between the English governor and the colonists, these weapons would have been used to defend the palace.

The soldiers lining up.

Leo was so excited to see the soldiers lined up, and marching to the beat of the drums!

The church, with some pretty pink clouds.

 I loved watching the shoemaker work on pieces of leather, and creating beautiful shoes. Aren't these shoe forms great?

The forge, where they make rifles, keys, swords, horseshoes, and more.

The apothecary, where you would have bought herbs, ointments, and medicines.

This was really a fun place to visit. We loved the history, the costumes, and the interesting facts. Leo loved the soldiers, the cool hats and toy muskets...