Day 1: In the beginning…
Jamestown Settlement
and
Historic Jamestowne
Jamestown, VA
As a mini-vacation before the semester begins, a friend and I took a three-day weekend trip to the Williamsburg, VA area. Our first day was spent at Jamestown, the site of the first permanent English settlement in America.
Jamestown Settlement
The large, privately-maintained museum, run in conjunction with the Yorktown Victory Center, is focused on telling Jamestown’s story. It’s located within miles of the actual settlement site.
Powhatan Indian Village
Reed-covered huts
The recreated Indian Village consisted of several reed-covered huts of varying sizes. Each was set up a little differently inside. Some were very spacious and very comfortable, while others seemed rather cramped. The beds were made with animal furs and the walls lined with drying food, fur, reed-baskets and such.
Colony Pier
Aboard the Godspeed, with the Susan Constant to the right
Canon firing aboard the Susan Constant
Docked in the pier are replicas of the three ships aboard which the first colonists traveled to Jamestown, Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. The trio carried a combined one hundred and five individuals across the Atlantic Ocean during the initial four-month journey from England to Virginia in 1607.
On a funny side note, while we were innocently touring the Susan Constant, one of the ship’s crew took a liking to my friend. Her body language and facial expressions screamed ‘leave-me-the-hell-alone,’ but that didn’t deter this guy. He showed us two of the ship’s cannons, letting her go through the motions of loading one and aim another. The good sport she is, she went along with it, and the good friend I am, I laughed the entire time.
We waited around the river for a live cannon firing demonstration aboard the Susan Constant. We were told (by my friend’s admirer) the best picture angle was on another ship, so we watched on the Godspeed.
James Fort
James Fort
The final stop was a living recreation of the 1610-14 James Fort, which housed the original settlers in the area. They had a blacksmith working, a woman making bread, several individuals discussing various aspects of early colonial life. All very interesting.
Galleries
Jamestown Galleries
The galleries were very nice. It was impressive. The exhibits were definitely top-notch. It started with an exhibit about the Virginia land, moved to the three different people and cultures, the Powhatan Indians, African slaves and English settlers, who would eventually met at Jamestown, and then the story of the settlement.
You could definitely spend an entire afternoon, if not much more, wandering through the museum. There’s a LOT of information and a LOT to see. My friend and I both agreed our brains began to hurt halfway through. Wow, it was rather overwhelming. We skimmed through the last ‘year’ in the museum and skipped the special exhibit because we were overloaded and ready for lunch.
This morning’s Flickr set: exhibit pics
*Note: Photography was not allowed within the museum galleries, so it’s just of the outdoor exhibits.
Colonial National Historical Park – Historic Jamestowne
Moving onto the actual site of the settlement, maintained by the National Parks Service.
Old Towne
“Old Towne” is the site of the 1607 James Fort. The triangular fort was built by the original settlers to protect their fledgling colony.
Jamestown Memorial Church
Captain John Smith Statue overlooking the James River
Excavating the first original well within the James Fort
The Memorial Church tower was built in 1690, making it the oldest surviving structure at the site, while the rest of the church was added in 1907. The remaining cobblestone foundation of the original 1639 church is displayed through glass panels on the inside.
Captain Smith is probably one of the most famous early settlers. He was captured by the Powhatan Indians, lived with the tribe and eventually released. He felt he was saved in some respects by the chief’s young daughter, Pocahontas. Disney even made a movie about his story. He later explored part of the Chesapeake Bay region and was elected head of the settlement, when it was struggling to survive. Under his leadership, the settlement stabilized and began to thrive.
The Jamestown Rediscovery Team of archeologists has two digs currently in progress within the presumed original site of James Fort. In the largest, they are excavating a well, which has apparently yielded a number of artifacts already. The second is near the church, where they are looking for evidence of a small cottage.
New Towne
In the 1620’s, the colonists began to expand beyond the walls of the fort creating their permanent settlement in the “New Towne” area.
Merchant Row Ruins
The remains of the Ambler House, a 1750’s Georgian-style mansion
Jamestown served as Virginia’s capital until the end of the 1690’s, making it a relatively bustling town. There were a variety of homes, taverns and shops built in this area to support the activities of the state government. The area now includes remaining foundations of large and small houses, as well as rowhouses. Interpretive boards are scattered along the walkway to help put it all in context.
After the capital was moved to Williamsburg, the island was eventually split into a couple of plantations, including one owed by the Ambler family. The remains of the family’s mansion still stand amongst the former town’s ruins.
Jamestown Island Drive
“The Gooden Weed”
View from the auto-tour
The Island Drive is a large looped road (3-5 miles) around the remaining portion of the park. It has a series of pull-offs with signs containing a painted scene and information about some piece of settlement life, such as growing tobacco or the failed venture of harvesting silk. Again, the area was gorgeous. There were several bridges over marsh areas which provided amazing views. The rest of the drive was through wooded areas.
Glasshouse
As you enter the sight, one of the first attractions is the settlement’s glassblower. The foundations of the settlement’s original glasshouse furnaces are housed in a small exhibit hut. In addition, a working studio with live demonstrations and a shop is set up.
Glassblower
The glassblower makes a different item each hour, which is then sold in the gift shop and priced base on the number that can be made within an hour. While I was there, he was making a small, clover-lipped bottle. There were some pretty amazing pieces, including this year’s collector’s piece, an extremely intricate glass horn that cost well over $100.00.
It seemed like a storm was brewing almost the entire afternoon, but fortunately, held up until we finished at the glasshouse. However, just as we walked to the car, the rain came pouring down. Talk about perfect timing.
This afternoon’s Flickr set: site photos
Visiting Hallowed Grounds
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, VA
and
Fort Marcy
GW Parkway, VA
I woke up inspired this morning, with new insights into a current project swirling through my brain. Love when that happens. Not wanting to waste such a moment of clarity, I started the day with school work, however, by mid-day I was ready to ditch campus and get outside for the afternoon.
Arlington
Cemetery
Section 67
Section 35
Memorial Section I
The cemetery grounds are absolutely gorgeous, especially on a beautiful early fall day. Green grass, blue sky, bright white headstones… picture perfect.
Memorials
I found several of the various memorials scattered throughout the cemetery.
Coast Guard Memorial
USS Maine Memorial
Civil War Unknowns Tomb
The United States Coast Guard Memorial is dedicated to the Coast Guardsmen who lost their lives during World War I, particularly the crewmembers killed aboard the USCG cutters Seneca and Tampa. It’s inscribed with the names of those lost. The Seneca lost eleven crew members in September 1918 aboard the torpedo-damaged British steamer Wellington. The men went down with the stricken allied vessel while maneuvering it to the closest port. Ten days later the Tampa was sunk by a German U-boat torpedo while crossing the Bristol Channel, killing all 131 crewmembers on-board.
The USS Maine (ACI-1) Memorial is inscribed the names of the 266 crewmembers lost when the battleship sank in Havana Harbor in February 1989. The memorial consists of the mast of the battleship, as well as an anchor similar to the one aboard. It sits near a section of the 208, most unknown, crew sailors and Marines that were returned to the US. The sinking of the Maine, believed to have been due to a Spanish mine, propelled the US into the Spanish-American War.
The Civil War Unknowns Monument marks a vault in the Arlington House rose garden containing the remains of more than 2,111 unknown Civil War soldiers gathered from the Manassas battlefields and surrounding area. Union Quartermaster MG Montgomery Meigs chose the location to deter Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and his wife from returning to their pre-war home.
Individuals
As usual, I also made my way around various sections visiting individual graves. There are certainly some interesting stories within the cemetery walls. This trip I found quite a few Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients and five-star Generals, among other interesting military figures.
GA John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing, USA
MM1 Robert Raymond Scott, USN
CAPT Charles Frank Burlingame, III, USNR
During the ‘Great War,’ President Woodrow Wilson appointed John Pershing as the commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). In recognition of his service, he was later promoted to General of the Armies of the United States, a rank created for him, in 1919. Additionally, he served as the Chief of Staff of the Army and was awarded the 1932 Pulitzer Prize in History for his WWI memoir, My Experiences in the World War. His two grandsons, Richard and John, are buried next to him. Richard, an Army lieutenant, was killed in action during the Vietnam War.
Robert Scott was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions aboard the USS California during the December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor attacks. After battlefield was struck by a torpedo, the mechanic refused to leave his station in a flooding air compressor compartment and continued to operate the air compressor until he died. In doing so, he continued to supply air to numerous trapped sailors within the ship and to those manning its guns.
Charles Burlingame was a Naval Academy grad and Navy aviator during the Vietnam War. As a long-time Naval Reservist, he volunteered for active duty during the Persian Gulf War. He piloted American Airlines Flight 77 on September 11, 2001, which was hijacked and struck the west façade of the Pentagon.
In addition, I found the Sullivan brothers (5 siblings killed aboard the USS Juneau during WWII), Joe Hooper (the most decorated soldier of the Vietnam War), Audie Murphy (the most decorated soldier of WWII), Ira Hayes (one of the Iwo Jima flag-raisers), and Hap Arnold (the only General to hold a 5-star rank in two services – Army & Air Force) and many more.
Fort Marcy
So, on the way home, I made one last stop along the GW Parkway – Fort Marcy. The earthwork fort was built as part of the Civil War Defenses of Washington, DC. It never saw action during the war, but was manned by units through it.
The park area was almost completely empty, although it wasn’t surprising. It sounded more interesting than it was. The mounds that made up the ‘walls’ and batteries are still visible, but extremely overgrown. There’s isn’t much information available for the site. It’s set up as a park, with picnic tables and benches, and is located along the Potomac Heritage Trail.
Today’s Flickr set: Virginia pics
A duo of historic sites in Glen Echo
I didn’t go too far today, since it started as such a dreary morning and I absolutely HAD to do some work this afternoon. Clara Barton’s house is just around the beltway, so I decided to check it off my list. The neighboring park was added to the day’s agenda because I reached the site prior its opening.
Glen Echo Park
1921 Dentzel Carousel
The park is a restored early 1900’s amusement park maintained by the National Park Service. Its center piece is an operational 1921 Dentzel Carousel. It seemed like it would be a great place to spend an afternoon with a family.
The House
Clara Barton House
American Red Cross office door
Clara Barton was considered the Civil War’s “Angel of the Battlefield.” She traveled between battle sites, including Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Petersburg, treating wounded soldiers in the field and at field hospitals. Later, while in Europe, she became involved with the International Red Cross and worked with the organization during the Franco-Prussian War to bring needed supplies to victims. Once she returned to the US, she fought for the ratification of the Geneva Convention and the establishment of the American Red Cross. As the organization’s first president, she pushed for its involvement in disaster relief around the world, as well as during wartime.
The house was designed, at Barton’s request, in a similar fashion to a Red Cross hotel building at its 1889 Johnstown (PA) Flood disaster relief operation. She lived out the last fifteen years of her life there. The interior has been restored to its original decor. Barton’s original bed is still in her room, where she died at 93-years-old.
The house served multiple purposes during Barton’s time there. It was the American Red Cross headquarters for a period, as she worked out of a back room. She housed several volunteers who assisted her with administrative work for the Red Cross and used it as a disaster supply warehouse, with all closets and crevasses filled with bandages, blankets and such. Then, of course, it was her home.
Today‘s Flickr set: site pics
To boot, after getting home, I’ve been rather productive in terms of research, which makes this a good day. I’m caught up with my work from the summer and feel much more ready for the semester to begin. I’ve decided this Fall, I’m going to make more of an effort to take time away from campus and school work to do “other” things, including continuing my weekend day trips. I’d like to avoid burning myself out and I think this is an important step in taking care of myself. My therapist would be so proud to read such a goal.
A surprise stop at Towson’s Hampton House
Towson, MD
I know it’s a Monday, but I managed to squeeze in a short photo trip this afternoon. My nutritionist and I had a small miscommunication regarding our appointment time this afternoon, which put me in Baltimore more than an hour early. Not wanting to sit in her waiting room that long, I set out to find something else to occupy the time. Fortunately, I had already noticed signs for a National Historic Site in the area and had my camera just waiting for action.
The Farm
Farmhouse
Dairy
The farmhouse is used as the site’s visitor center. It’s surrounded by various small buildings, many were servants’ (or slave, at a point) quarters. I arrived right at closing time, but I was able to sneak into a few of the buildings before the doors shut. The dairy was kind of a neat building. It had an underground spring diverted through it in order to keep it cool. The park ranger on duty was very enthusiastic about the structure. He rambled on and on about it without any prompting.
The Mansion
Mansion
Back Gardens
The garden behind the Georgian-style Mansion was fairly large. At this point, it’s mostly green, but I’m sure it’s colorful in the spring. There are a few greenhouses and stables on the property as well. Somewhere in the back is a small family cemetery, but I didn’t have time walk to it.
Today’s Flickr set: estate photos
I really liked the park ranger there. He was very nice and extremely knowledgeable about the site, which was helpful, but not overbearing. We ran into each other a couple of times while I was there, so I took the opportunity to ask a few questions about the place. The government acquired the land, which had been in the family for six generations, after the owners were forced to relinquish it to pay back-taxes. Ouch. The estate and house have no particular historical significance, except, at one time, it was the largest house in the US. The mansion and estate date back to the Revolutionary War period. Now, I think the site’s “claim to fame” is in the story of its multi-social class inhabitants, a population ranging from the indentured servants and slaves, who worked the land, to the array of wealthy merchant estate owners.
“Oh say can you see…what so proudly we hailed”
Baltimore, MD
Things worked out today in such a way I had an opportunity for a mid-week walk, always a nice addition to my schedule. It’s a therapy day, so I have to leave campus early anyway and since I was already in the area on such a beautiful day, I went to see Fort McHenry.
The Fort
Enlisted & Junior Officers’ Quarters
Parade Ground and Flag
The five-point star shaped fort was built after the American Revolution on Baltimore’s Locus Point peninsula to defend the Port of Baltimore. It’s most notable for its role in the Battle of Baltimore during the all-but-forgotten War of 1812. The fort endured a 25-hour bombardment from British Navy warships in the Chesapeake Bay on September 13, 1814. The ships were unable to pass the harbors defenses and withdrew the following morning, ending the naval portion of the conflict.
The fort was later used as a Union Civil War prison and, with the addition more buildings on the grounds outside of the fort, as a military hospital during World War I. Finally, during World War II, the US Coast Guard used it as a base to defend the port. In the mid-1920’s the National Park Service took it over and restored it to its original condition.
Misc
View of the Chesapeake Bay from the fort, with some of its Civil War-era guns
During the Battle of Baltimore in 1814, the British Navy, including Francis Scott Key’s truce ship, would have been straight ahead in this view.
The Statue of Orpheus, honoring Key
Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer, had traveled to Baltimore in September 1814 to negotiate the release of a friend held as a prisoner by the British and watched the fort’s bombardment from a truce ship in the Bay. Seeing the oversized American flag, sewn by local Mary Pickersgill, still flying unscathed the following morning as the fighting eased inspired him to pen the poem The Defense of Fort McHenry. Sound familiar? The poem was later set to music and renamed The Star Spangled Banner.
The site is very well maintained. This is what a National Park area should look in my opinion. The fort itself was in great shape. The buildings inside were in good condition and housed exhibits providing information about the fort, life within the fort and the people who occupied in during various times. The grounds were kept up nicely. Overall, definitely worth the trip and $7.00 entrance fee.
Today’s Flickr set: site photos
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