Sunday, September 20, 2009

A Walk Way Back in Time

Just years after the founding of the Jamestown Settlement, the English founded the Henricus Settlement further up the James River. This weekend, there was living history and exhibits there. This interesting place is adjacent to the Dutch Gap hike that I blogged about last year.
Part of the display is an American Indian village
All of the comforts of home inside an Indian lodge
Not only did you have to make all your own clothing, you had to kill and skin the deer, and tan its hide
A colonial soldier on guard duty
No electric ranges or mix-masters in those days. They were baking some kind of bread in the dutch oven, and cooking stew over the fire
Ye olde blacksmith shop
This home was about 50% larger than a typical colonist's home
Turkey in a pen
Tobacco curing in a shed. Indians' revenge? While this is the crop that made Virginia rich, today it gives us lung cancer.
Hospital building. Anyone all upset over today's health care debate should see the wonderful medical implements of the 17th century on display here - and listen to the descriptions of the advanced medical care of those days. We have it pretty good, folks!
The settlement is right on the James River.
Exact replica of the Godspeed. Settlers from England traveled 144 days on this 88 foot long ship. I cannot even imagine.
Small railing gun on the Godspeed
Colorful Colonist
View from today's short hike a little ways into Dutch Gap Conservation area. Go here for lots more photos from my hike here last year

3 comments:

  1. I ventured here nearly 25 years ago, the amenities, even by colonial standards were non existent.

    My son's boy scout troop went to Jamestown last year and I tagged along as one of the chaperones. We were able to go into the new museum adjacent to the fort and got to see some exceedingly grizzly medical tools. I would not have wanted to be sick in the 1600's.

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  2. And we think we have it hard at times.
    Enjoyed looking at all the photos.

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  3. Great photos and sounds like quit a place to visit.

    Dorothy from grammology
    grammology.com

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