the education of henry

Day 28: Colonial Williamsburg

2023-10-11

Today we were in Colonial WIlliamsburg to look around.

These nice horses were the first thing we saw.

Then we went to the joinery, where this gentleman told us about his work and showed us some of his tools.

We found this caterpillar in a garden.

The garden.

The garden also had a few of these - pomegranate bushes.

I don't know what this is, but it's pretty.

We went to see the gunsmith - where they actually still make guns as they would have in the 1700s! You can even buy them, if you're willing to wait ten years on the list and pay $20,000. This is a rifle gun, which was the only type of gun being made in America at the time. Muskets and fowling pieces would have all come from England or France.

They also make the bullets.

The big piece of metal shows how the make the barrel, by hammering a flat plate of steel into a long cylinder.

This is the machine they use to create the grooves in the rifle barrel.

Some more examples of their work.

The Virginia capitol building from the time. We will go back to this building for our evening program tonight.

The Apothecary. Who was also a doctor.

No prescription needed! And all the jars and bottles are actually full of the real medicines that would have been used at the time, made in the shop. And, all the bottles and jars are real period pieces - not recreations.

The apothecary's office.

Mom tried on a hat at the market.

For a change of pace, a British soldier firing a musket - from the King's Regiment, 80th Foot.

Up close to see it all.

Then we followed this soldier to do some drills.

Lined up...sort of...to drill.

The line is now a little straighter.

After some practice, we got to hold our pretend guns.

These are the moves we learned.

Then we bumped into Lafayette! We talked to him for a while about his adventures in the war, his troubles in France during their revolution, and his return visits to America after the war.

A little bit later we ran into President Washington, and talked to him about philosophy, battle tactics, and his ideas about statecraft. We need a man like Washington to be president again.

Me with Martha and George.

Checking out the foundry. They had a mold to make 13 bullets at a time!

When we exited the foundry, Lafayette was riding by on his horse and greeted us! The horse is named Agamemnon.

We also visited the Engraving shop, where they had a nice reproduction of the Boston Massacre image done by Paul Revere.

The tinsmith, who made supplies for the military and the town - they showed us how they crimped and soldered the metal to make all sorts of useful things like cups and buckets.

We discussed the differences in the footwear of the British and Continental armies footwear with the shoemaker.

The book binder was very busy, so we really just looked in.

This shop made leather breeches, which were surprisingly durable - 5 to 7 years before they needed to be replaced. And they were the superior riding gear because you stuck in the saddle with them on.

Then we went back to Jamestown for the last hour they were open because I wanted to get on the Discovery again.

Back on board!

This is Max. He was really friendly and helpful in answering all my questions.

On the ropes.

I was on the ship so long they put me to work.

We also went on the Susan Constant, and talked to the guys there - Leon (who is Irish), and Andrew (who I talked to a couple of other times).

Me with Leon and Andrew.

Leon gave me a bracelet he made!

At the entrance fountain to Jamestown.

We went back to the hotel and had some supper, and then we went back out for our evening program: To Hang a Pirate!

Back at the capital for the trial of Israel Hands, the associate of Blackbeard who was actually put on trial here.

In the courtroom.

The cast - who were great. The whole production and the atmosphere were amazing - this was so much fun! The crowd voted to convict, including me. But the real story is that Israel Hands turns King's evidence and was pardoned after providing testimony against his fellow pirates.

Me with the guys who played the pirates.

Mom on the courthouse steps.

My shadow on the wall.

Then we walked back to the car in the dark - not a lot of light in Colonial Williamsburg at night. Back at the hotel we were all tired and fell aslepp pretty quickly. What a great day!

Thanks for reading!