Richmond and surroundings

On Tuesday, 9/2 we drove the "Seven Day Battle" trail. This included many sites where McClellan's armies (union) tried unsuccessfully to take Richmond, the capital of the confederacy in 1862. On Wednesday we went to Jamestown. We listened to an actor for about an hour, who played the role of an indentured servant. We visited the one "original" building still standing, a church that was rebuilt multiple times, but still dates to the 1700s (picture). There was also an archeology site digging going on from the original fort (picture). There were lots of artifacts to see in the museum from the 1600-1700s.

On Thursday we went to Williamsburg. The Virginia Historical Society has protected about a mile square called "Colonial Williamburg". There are lots of old houses, the original Governor's mansion (for the early British governor's) and the original capital building. After P. Henry and T. Jefferson served as governor's, the capital moved to Richmond. At Colonial Williamsburg, which you pay to see, the town has actors dressed up in original costumes (picture) and they reinact the decisions for Virginia to join the original congress and vote for independence. Also, in Williamsburg, is the College of William and Mary. The campus was quite beautiful, all red brick and "colonial"-looking.

Today (Friday) we tried to go to a National race, but the weather did not cooperate. Tropical storm Hanna has struck and is dropping rain and wind. We are expecting 4 inches of rain and wind up to 40 mph tonight. The races have been postponed until Sunday.