We arrived just shortly after they opened at 9:00am. It was warm, sunny, and calm.
We started at the palace with an excellent history of the residence of the governors and other ruling dignitaries. An interesting fact was how large the Virginia Colony was in the 1700s. Another fact was how some of these structures were actually here in 1716 - 300 years ago.
Thomas Jefferson was governor here for a while. Although not much is said about the Spanish, French, or Indians they were all threats to the colonists BEFORE the American Revolution.
That was the first hour and a half of this morning. We visited a shop where wooden wheels and axles were made. Wooden wheels are still made there today - in 2016. There are master wheel makers, journeymen, and apprentices. It is all done with the instruments and tools used in the 1700s.
We then toured the George Wythe house. He was a clerk for the government. He was one of the few people that lived in Williamsburg that wasn't an aristocratic - he was an orphan that was an apprentice to a clerk and excelled in his profession. George Washington used the Wythe house in 1781 to muster troupes.
It was now time for a tour with the newspaper publisher. He had quite a bit of knowledge about all the people who lived here, and who they were related to. There was too much information for us who didn't have a base of understanding but it was a good tour. The man - in character of the newspaper man - thanked God for many things. It was evident that this historical figure believed in God. We ended up at the printing shop and got quite a lesson on the printing press of the day - which they still use; and how the articles were set in type.
We were pretty overwhelmed so took time to have a nice lunch at a "tavern". Then being refreshed we visited a brick yard - again this is an active brick yard where bricks are made that will used around colonial Williamsburg. It is all done the way it would have been 300 years ago.
Then on to the first mental hospital in the United States. Didn't realize there were such things way back then. It told of treatments, conditions of patient and hospital. There were some of the medical instruments on display.
There was a museum in the basement of the hospital - not on mental illness. We saw dishes, metal serving items, musical instruments, old toys and doll houses, old quilts, furniture and many things we can't remember even now.
It was a full, fun day. No time for anything else. Side note: as of yesterday we have driven over 6000 miles.
