With three full days here, we've decided to take it chronologically. So, that means today was Jamestown - the site of the first permanent English settlement in the U.S.
We began the day with ride on the ferry to and from Jamestown. It was interesting for the kids to see how this form of travel works. Because, let's face it, it's just not all that necessary in Oklahoma.
Notice the cool Father's Day shirt!
And the woman who made me a Father!
On the trip back across the James River toward Jamestown, you get a good look at the actual Jamestown site much the way the first settlers must have seen it for the first time.
"Hey little girl, could you move out of the way so I can take a picture of Jamestown?"
We spent the balance of the day at Jamestown Settlement -- a living history museum full of recreations of the settlement -- including interpreters dressed up a early settlers and explaining the different stagings.
First stop was the Powhatan indian village which showed life before the arrival of the English. We got to go in their reed covered houses, lay on their beds of straw and fur, watch fishing nets be woven, remove fur from a hide, see weapons being fashioned and watch fire being started from wood.
In 1609 came the English settlers. And they came on three ships: the Susan Constant, the Godpseed, the Discovery. 104 people (all male) made the initial voyage which took over four months.
17th Century Swagger Wagon
A month after the final site was chosen, Fort James was built. It inhabitants and wooden structures were protected by cannons and muskets.
On the way back to the family truckster we wandered through the Quadricentennial Plaza out front of Jamestown Settlement. It flies flags of all 50 states along with placards telling each state's history of settlement and the order in which they joined the Union. We had to make a quick stop by the Oklahoma flag. Because, while we find all this history extremely interesting, we still love our great state!
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