Yorktown

After leaving Colonial Williamsburg but before heading to Washington, D.C., we visited Yorktown.  I had some of the same feelings at Yorktown that I did at Jamestown - feeling overwhelmed at standing in the same spots, on the same battlefields, as George Washington and thousands of men who fought for our country.  It was pretty great.  There was a hard freeze that morning, so we were all quite chilly as we toured the battlefields - gorgeous today, but bloody some 235 years ago.

Actual piece of George Washington's field tent, which he used at Yorktown. 

Elizabeth was obsessed with the privy - and when she found this one on a replica ship, she squeezed right in.   

Lafayette's cannon, which bears the scars of British small cannon fire (below). 

There was a cemetery in the middle of the battlefields for soldiers that died, in battle there, during the Civil War.  Many of them looked like this.  I won't lie - it was very emotional to think of the thousands of mothers that mourned their sons, having no idea of the location of their final resting place.  In 1866, the cemetery was designated as a national cemetery and Union dead from over 50 different field sites within a 50 mile radius were re-interred here.  There is now a total of 2183 burial sites; only 747 were ever identified.

Cannons and other types of firepower were everywhere - and original.  That blew my mind. 

Part of Redoubt 9. 

The Moore House, sight of the signing of surrender papers. 

At Surrender Field, the spoils of victory of victory - 11 British cannons - are on display.  

The village of Yorktown. 

Yorktown Victory Monument - stands 100 feet tall and took 100 years to build. 

Hee Haw Hayride

We interrupt our vacation programming for this post about the Hee Haw Hayride....

The Drama Club held its annual performance this past weekend.  Last year, Elizabeth was a member of the chorus but this year, she had a speaking part.  After the auditions in September, she was awarded a part with about 25 lines and was very excited.  She attended drama practice after school once a week from October through April, and every day last week.  She practiced her lines so often, I figure the rest of the family knew them as well as she did!  Friday night was the opening performance and she was a bit nervous - but she nailed it!  She did so fantastic and we were so proud of her!!  As explained by a line in the play, Hee Haw Hayride is a bit like a "Romeo and Juliet of the hills," two clashing families of hillbillies who have young children that fall in love with each other.  There were some really great solo singing performances by the upperclassmen, but Elizabeth and her crew of friends certainly held their own (and also made the front page of our local newspaper!).  She is already counting down the days until next year!

Where has my little girl gone? 

Holding up the newspaper article.

Megan and Sarah, Elizabeth's friends since pre-school (also on her soccer team), came to her Friday night performance with their mom. She said the best part of the entire performance was having them there.

Last year with Emily in the audience - next year, she will be old enough to be in the play too!

In a highly touching (and unusual) move, Emily made this beautiful card for Elizabeth.  She also picked out the flowers that we gave her.

The College of William and Mary

The College of William and Mary is literally right across the street from Colonial Williamsburg, so we didn't miss the opportunity to visit another college on our trip.  Again, the campus was beautiful and made enough of an impression on Elizabeth that she's now expanded her college list to include it (along with Yale and Notre Dame).

James Madison is buried at the college. 

And this happened.  A group of three guys made a beeline for Lee as we were leaving campus.  One of them handed him a slip of paper, which contained information about a class he was taking and that he needed assistance.  Lee was happy to oblige and a short game of charades ensued.  Eventually, it became clear that Lee needed to get him to the base of tree, doing this.  The other two guys videotaped the entire encounter for their class.  It was quite amusing and they all shook hands when the task was complete.  No words were spoken the entire time.

Thomas Jefferson was everywhere during this trip.

Jamestown

It was pouring rain the morning we visited Jamestown, but we still were able to make the most of this historic place.  Jamestown is the site of the first British colony.  I have to say, it was pretty crazy to look out at the waters of the James River and think that John Smith and Pocahontas did the same thing at the same place, hundreds of years ago.

Our day started with a bald eagle sighting just as we arrived at the national park.  As you can see in the photos below, he had just caught a fish and was trying to eat it.  The photos are dark because it was pouring at the time.

Actual pottery recovered at the site. 

The church. 

Pocahontas statue. 

Part of the church burned during a revolt in the 1700's.  You can still see the marks on the brick. 

Site of the first landing. 

James Smith statue. 

"Firing" the cannon. 

Statue remembering the Virginia Company. 

Jamestowne ruins. 

Burned out mansion.  This home was built in the early 1700's and burned during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War.  After the Civil War, the family decided not to rebuild. 

On the shore of the James River.