In 2004 we visited the living history part of Jamestown and had a lot of fun!  At that time my kids were ages 11 and 8.  There were numerous activities, perfect for that age group. They carried these memories with them when we studied Jamestown in school at the dialectic level in TOG's year 2 unit 4. Because this unit covers my favorite era in history, we read lots of extra books and spent extra weeks on the history. One week was specifically devoted to Jamestown, as we examined the causes and effects of the choices the men made.  Recently we got to come back to Jamestown. This time we visited Historic Jamestowne, which is operated  by the National Park Service. This is the actual site of the budding colony, whereas the living history center is recreated next door.

     We drove to Jamestown on my favorite road, the Colonial Parkway.  Well, this lovely drive through wooded area came to an end abrupt end because of a detour. Detour???? We don't know Williamsburg roads at all.  The detour signs took us out to Jamestown Road, and like it's name implies, it takes you directly to Jamestown.

     When we arrived to purchase our entry tickets, I told the ranger that we were not vacationers, because they sell vacationers a one week pass into both Jamestown and nearby Yorktown. I explained that we now live in Northern Virginia and will be coming back.  After discovering that we were homeschoolers, interested in history, nature and the beautiful scenery, he suggested the annual National Park Pass.  He started naming several locations near our home that we could visit with the pass and we were excited.  We had been talking about visiting all of those locations.  

     The Memorial Church...

     Captain John Smith... 

      This was the site of the fort.  Although placed stragetically for military purposes, it was extremely unpractical. Strategically, it overlooked the James River, which is near the merging of the York River, Chesepeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. The enemy by sea were the Spaniards. 

However the men who arrived were primarily interested in gold, which didn't exist in the area.  Most of the men who came were gentlemen, used to being served.  They spent their days seeking gold, going hungry due to the dwindling food supply which they lazily refused to work to replenish, drinking brakish water and getting bitten by maleria infected mosquitoes.   Most died.  To keep the American Indians from knowing how many were dying, the dead were buried within the fort.  The entire land upon which we walked is a graveyard.  Only a few are marked as graves, and even fewer marked with names.

 Although John Smith had been initially appointed as one of the leaders, the men had issues with that, imprisoning him.  In due time he assumed leadership of the colony.

Running a tight ship, he made a steadfast rule: those who don't work, don't eat.  Grudgingly, hunger drove the men to comply.  Although condidtions improved, the location continued to drive disease, leading many to death.  Furthermore, injuries from an accident sent Smith back to England. Relations with the Indians were tenuous.  When new ships arrived full of more men seeking gold, they came with few supplies and joined the seemingly hopeless task of survival.

      The infamous Pilgrims, who came to the New World seeking to raise their children according to their Puritan ethics, without influence from the rest of the world, were ontracted to sail to Jamestown. However a storm blew them off course and they landed in what would become Massachusetts Bay Colony. Interesting these first two colonies assumed leadership roles in the American Revolution and our first presidents. 

     When we studied Jamestown in our TOG books, we concentrated a great deal on the financing of the venture.  The stockholders in England paid money to send these men to the New World, specifically to find gold. Eventually, they came to grips that there was no gold.  Instead, their fortune was to be made in tobacco. John Rolfe, who married Pocahontas, was famed for bringing a special tobacco seed to the area.  Although the Indians grew tobacco, it was bitter. Rolfe's seed produced a sweet tobacco. Thus, the British Empire established a strong foothold in the Virginia colony with the production of tobacco, enrichening the stockholders' pockets.  Since bachelors weren't fruitful, families were sent to the colony, providing stability. At last, Virginia began to be a productive colony.

     We walked around the grounds and found the foundations for many old sites. After the tobacco industry became profitable, wharfs were built for exporting to Great Britain. Jamestown became the seat of government for Virginia and the first House of Burgesses met in Jamestown. The crown required all tobacco to be shipped from this one port.  It was interesting reading about all the control.  I could faintly hear Patrick Henry in the distance, arguing about the tyrannical control of the King of England.  

     There are a lot of markers and foundations to see on the path in the park.  If your kids are young, and quickly get bored, there are plenty of paths to explore and boats to see on the river.  We saw the ferries go back and forth. Then we saw a tugboat pulling a huge boat.  Keep an eye out because someone might be watching you...

My son captured this shot of the eagle spreading his wings.  

      At the edge of the path, I noticed some people sitting in a rest area watching tv.  I heard voices that sounded familiar, so I went to take a peek. When they left, my family joined me as I panned the television across the park to certain locations. By activating buttons, we learned more about some of the sites we had walked to. After reading a bit of history and visuals of what the sites looked like, we selected videos of reenactors recreating historical stories that went with those sites.  And guess who these reenactors were?  We gave exclamations of delight as we recognized favorites from nearby Colonial Williamsburg! 

     There is an architectural dig, that was all covered up from the rains the night before. This dig is especially interesting, because it is one of the featured Colonial Williamsburg Electronic Field Trips this year. Are you signed up yet?  The deadline for this wonderful series is looming. In December, an entire field trip will be devoted to the archaeological dig at Jamestown.  There is an archaeology museum nearby, showcasing many of the artifacts they have unearthed.  We didn't have time to see everything, so we'll be back. There is clear glass on the floor so we can see the original foundations of the building that held the House of Burgesses.  Eventually, the seat of government moved to Middle Plantation, so named because it was between Jamestown and Yorktown. (Those mosquitoes finally got to them.) You and I know Middle Plantation today as, Colonial Williamsburg.   

     We went back to the Visitor Center and ate the lunch I had packed  at picnic tables nearby.  Then we toured the visitor center quickly, since we had to head home for our 2.5 hour drive.  (We'll be back.) 

    Then we went for a drive around the island on a special road. Along the way, we had to stop for a raccoon family.  I wasn't able to get a picture in time. It was a mother raccoon with several babies.

     Then we went to the historic Jamestown glasshouse.

     Then it was time to leave. It was close to dinner and my husband asked me where to go. Um, I don't know. I had a Williamsburg tourist booklet of restaurants but I have no idea how to get around town.  But I did know that we were on Jamestown Road and that would take us to Merchant Square in front of the College of William and Mary, bordering the CW historic area.  My husband has this thing about asking me for directions, then not following them. He told me there was another way to get to Merchant Square.  Well, yes, the long way.  Since he's driving and a longer route would mean more time in Williamsburg, I wasn't about to complain! Actually, he followed my directions and we stayed on Jamestown Road. I had never driven on this road before, nor many other roads in Williamsburg.  I was delighted. Can't my husband imagine living here?????  It is beautiful!  My husband did admit, he now considers Williamsburg our second home!