Colonial Williamsburg

As I mentioned in my Cartoon Saturday post, Agnes and I took Bernadette and Richard to visit Colonial Williamsburg this past weekend. It's only about 2 1/2 hours from here, and we've been meaning to go for a long time, but it's always been one of those things we never get around to unless we have visitors to take (sort of like the Luray Caverns visit).

Unfortunately, the weather was about as lousy as it could have been ... it poured rain both days of our visit, except when it tapered off to a dreary drizzle. It wasn't cold, fortunately, but the rain put a real damper (sorry) on our enjoyment of what is normally a beautiful and extremely interesting place to visit. Here's my summary, along with a few of the pictures that turned out ...

We arrived on Saturday morning in drizzling rain. Here, Agnes and Bernadette, put on a brave face in front of the visitors' center, the entrance to the historic area of Williamsburg ...

Colonial Williamsburg is a "living history" area, filled with original and reconstructed buildings that are staffed by actors who are often craftspersons trained in the original colonial era livelihoods they demonstrate. You can talk with the actors - who usually remain in character - and ask questions about what they do, how they do it, and the social and political events of pre-revolutionary America. We visited a shoemaker (who told us that a good pair of shoes would cost a person two days pay), a printer, the Governor's palace (where the tour was led by one of the maids who led a lively, interactive discussion with the group), and the court house (where a very interesting fellow presented a wonderful look at 18th century justice and the early development of American law out of English common law). We also visited the Geddy House, where a young lady in perfect period dress and manners presented an imaginary afternoon tea and talked about household management, and the Bruton Parish Episcopal Church, where people like Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and George Washington worshiped. Some displays are closed on certain days or times, and so we didn't get to visit the blacksmith, gunsmith, wigmaker, and numerous others.

We passed on the coach rides (a bit pricey) ...

On Sunday, because of the pouring rain, we decided on indoor activities. We visited the Public Hospital of 1773 (the first in America to specialize in the treatment of the insane), which was also the entrance to the series of wonderful museums filled with exhibits and artifacts of colonial America.  Here, Agnes, Bernadette, and Richard swim toward the reconstructed hospital building (the original burned to the ground in 1885) ...

Richard may have found a new friend ...

The hospital exhibits trace the evolving treatment of the mentally ill in America through three eras: the "Age of Restraint," the "Moral Management Era," and the "Custodial Care Regime." The Age of Restraint was characterized by this cell which featured chains, manacles, and minimal comforts - a straw bag and blanket for a bed and a chamber pot in the corner ...

The later Moral Management Era took the view that the mentally ill needed not the brutal care of earlier times, but a more homey atmosphere that would aid them in recovering in more gentle surroundings ...

The Custodial Care Regime reflected the decline of interest in treating the mentally ill in the late 19th century, when the hospital became more of a center for the treatment of the chronically ill.

After viewing the hospital exhibits, we passed the obligatory warning signs to enter the museum complex ...

The museums were absolutely fascinating, and would alone have needed a full day or more to adequately visit. There were wonderful exhibitions of 18th and 19th century weapons, furniture, textiles, books, art, ceramics, and silver. Here are just two of the many hundreds of beautiful silver articles on display - a set of matching urns ...

... and who doesn't need a silver cucumber slicer? ...

There was also an interesting display of traditional wooden cigar store advertising figures, as well as a very large display of artifacts made out of wooden cigar boxes ...

Sadly, I didn't get as many good pictures of everything as I'd have liked, but I think I can guarantee that Agnes and I will be going back to visit again ... in better weather. Colonial Williamsburg is a bit expensive to visit, but it's a wonderful experience that has our highest recommendation.

Today, we plan to try to drive into DC and take Bernadette and Richard to see some of the monuments that may or may not be open. The rain is supposed to be over ... we'll see.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo