A Tough Day's Tourism
Moorglade's Voyage
Ted Wilson
Wed 23 May 2012 03:21
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23rd May 2012
Today we did American history. Well perhaps not
quite all of it, and we might be criticised for being a touch superficial with
our approach. However I do know a bit more than I did, which is not saying much,
and a quick browse in the visitor centre shop enabled me to buy a slim, but
highly recommended volume, that should fill in some of the gaps in my knowledge
about the Revolutionary War (American War of Independence)
The area is home to the Scenic Colonial Parkway a
Historical Nation Park that includes James Town, the place where the very first
successful English settlement was established in 1607, Williamsburg, which was
the capital of Virginia at the time of the revolutionary war, and Yorktown the
sight of the last decisive battle of the war where the French helped the
Americans defeat Cornwallis in 1781. At the James town site there was quite a
lot of exposed archaeology and a small museum with a well presented collection
of artefacts. Williamsburg is a cross between a theme park and enactment
society. All the buildings are reconstructions. Yorktown is a real little town
with a lot of old buildings with information boards. There are also the
battlefields.
The five sites and visitor centres are linked by a
free bus service which once you understand how it operates, which is far from
obvious, helps you get the whole lot done in a day. In fact we got back to the
dock in time for the very helpful harbourmaster Mike to give Travis and
I a lift in his car to the supermarket. John and Chris were gutted there
was not room for them in the car and had to fill in time waiting for our return
at the local bar. Back in the dinghy for more Another Adventure
hospitality.
Williamsburg
 The repro British Governors
House
Most of the church is original
 Re enactment is a full time
job.
The Capitol
Jamestown
 The crosses mark the burial place of the 240
settlers who died in the first winter The church
was built within the fortifications
Pocahontas
was married to John Rolfe here.
Yorktown
 Victory
Memorial
Main street Yorktown
 Moorglade and Another Adventure viewed from the
monument
Yorktown Bridge
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