Colonial Williamsburg Pt. 1

Today we once again took a step back in time...this time to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.

Founded by Reverend Dr. W.A.R Goodwin and John D. Rockefeller Jr. in 1926, Colonial Williamsburg has since become the largest living history museum in America.

Great Hopes Plantation is one of Williamsburg's newest additions, having debuted in 2003. The plantation is a representation of a "middling" plantation...owned by someone of the middle class.

Here you will see typical colonial farming techniques of the times.

All the buildings were constructed by carpenters using methods of the 18th century.

Interpreters portraying carpenters, working farmers and African American slaves give insight into life on the middling plantation.

The actors have arrived at The Play Booth Theater and the drama of Colonial Williamsburg has begun.

Marlon has been a naughty boy since about the colonial times, so a nice lady helped him figure out how to get into this pillory.

He was freed from the pillory in time to watch a court case come to life in Order in the Court.

Some guests prefer the less strenuous way to get around Colonial Williamsburg.

The Raleigh Tavern is the setting for 18th barroom drama.

It is Business as Usual at the Raleigh as guests listen in on the latest social and political views of the time.

Here it was business as usual for a hard-working horse.

The Old Capitol is where "Patrick Henry first kindled the flame of revolution" in 1765.

An interpreter explains the importance of the building.

Although this looks like a poker room, more important decisions than "call, raise or fold" were made here.

These are actual bricks made here at Colonial Williamsburg. Let's follow the process used...backwards. Step #5-use finished bricks to make things such as walls and chimneys.

Step #4-place the formed bricks out in the sun to dry for about one week. Then move them to a drying shed, where they will be protected from the weather, for about six weeks.

Step #3-form clay into brick-sized loaves using a wooden mold.

Step #2-brickmakers get down and dirty with the clay to stomp it to a smooth consistency.

Step #1-shovel the clay into the stomping pit (actually called a treading pit).

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/june/colonial-williamsburg-va/ pictures 1-67.

For a video see Colonial Williamsburg Pt. 2.

To be continued...