Jamestown

We decided to relive a memory this morning. When we were here the first time, over 15 years ago, Bubby went to a luncheon at the Chickahominy House. We took Daniel and Matthew there when we visited in 1996. So, this morning we drove out on the Jamestown Road and found the restaurant in the same place, and popular as ever. We did notice how much had sprung up around it since we were here last. Urban sprawl is certainly effecting this popular area.

When you go to the Chickahominy house it is all about the plantation breakfast, which includes hot square biscuits and salty Virginia ham. There is a lovely gift shop in the home and we had a chance to look around while we waited for a table. When you go to this spot, you feel like you have stepped back in history a couple of hundred years.

We continued on to Jamestown and made our first stop at the glass shop. The NPS has a glass blowing operation on nearly the same site as was occupied by the first Jamestown craftsmen. It is hard to believe that this site was the first industrial venture in the new world.



They were making wine jugs today and we watched with interest through the blowing of several. In this photo, the glass blower is forming the bulb of the jug.



In this photo, two glass blowers are working together to attach the handle to the jug. It is quite a process, but interesting to see how quickly the 21st Century craftsmen were able to turn out today's production item.



We were surprised and pleased to find that Jamestown has a brand new visitor's center. It is really beautiful and state of the art. They completed it in conjunction with the 400th Anniversary of the founding of Jamestown (1607-2007). We watched their new multimedia film and then walked out to the shores of the James River to see the old church and stockade.

We had to walk out over a tidal swamp to get to the exhibits, and Bubby was taken by all of the turtles and frogs we saw. If you enlarge this photo, you will see two small turtles in the center of it. The other fun thing was the noise from all of the frogs.



They were really croaking up a storm, and Bubby had me make a movie, just so our readers could here them sound off. It would have been a noisy place on a warm spring night, for sure.



This monument was part of the commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. It really stands out as you approach the site.



This inscription is found on the site of the monument that faces the James River. It is hard to believe that these hardy folks notched a living out of the wilderness at this site. It is true that initially their motives were more financial than practical, but the colony survived and, as was pointed out in the orientation film, when the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, the Jamestown colonists were already making laws and had an organized government.



All of our young readers will know about Pocahontas and her important role in the founding of Jamestown. Both she, and Bubby chose to wear green today.



Here is the statue of Captain John Smith, again a key player in the success of the Jamestown colony. It was really fun to revisit this place and to sense the history of the area. Besides the fact that it was over 70°, and while we were there, and Daniel called to tell us it had snowed a foot in Cedar City last night. It really is great to be here, today!

Buboppy