Ellis Island

Can you name a relative of yours who came to America through Ellis Island?  Beginning in 1892, some 12 million immigrants came through Ellis Island. Who knows, one of them might have been related to you. We took the audio tour which took around 40 minutes.  I would recommend taking the audio tour if you make it to Ellis Island.  We caught the ferry from the Jersey side and Ellis Island was the first stop.  There were more people on the ferries from New York.

Gary fishing in Delaware and New Jersey

Gary is getting closer to catching a fish in every state.  So far, I have been successful in finding campgrounds close to ponds, lakes, or rivers.

Killens Pond, Felton, Delaware

lots of little Blue gill.  Gary became a celebrity when a teacher hiking with her class, watched Gary catch a fish and had her students pose with the fisherman for a class photo.

Chestnut lake, NACO park near Port Republic, New Jersey

Blue Gill

Bass

Philadelphia

Took a ride into Philadelphia today to see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Christ Church, and the home of Betsy Ross.  We are staying at a NACO park near Port Republic, NJ.  The trip into Philadelphia took about and hour.  Parking was $18 and paid about $8 in toll fees.  Traffic was not bad going in, but a little busy coming home.

Gary really wanted to see the Liberty Bell.  Had to stand in line for bag check.

This is George Washington’s copy of the constitution.  He made a change in a date on the paper.

Independence Hall.  Need to get tickets, free, from the national park desk.  We were there by 10:00 and all were gone, so we did not get to tour the inside.

no tickets required to tour the senate floor.

need to pay to tour inside of house.

Jamestown Settlement Fort

Every wonder what Jamestowne really looked like?  I have and am glad to say that I have had many of my questions about Jamestown Fort answered.  There were more buildings than I thought there would be.  Jamestown settlement has built a fort to resemble what the original fort would have been like.  The buildings are open and we were able to see what life would be like inside the fort.  Crops are planted outside the fort just as they would have been in 1607-1619 complete with chickens bothering the ladies who were working in the gardens.

Gary would have been a fisherman in Jamestown and these would have been his tools.

Jamestown Settlement Ships

The first colonists came to Jamestown on three ships.  Those 3 ships have been reproduced and placed at the pier at Jamestown Settlement.  You are allowed to go onboard all 3, but can only go beneath deck on the largest ship.  The staff are dressed in appropriate period clothing and will answer any questions about life onboard the ship during the 4 month crossing to the Americas.  We know that we would not have wanted to cross the ocean on even the largest of the ships.

the largest ship over 100 made the crossing on this one


two smallest ships

Jamestown Settlement Indian Village

The Indian village is set up as a Powhatan Village would have been during early Jamestown days.  There are many dwellings set up that you can enter.  Inside the dwellings you can see what the Indians used during their daily life.  Very interesting and worthwhile to see.

Historical Jamestowne

Historical Jamestowne is operated by the National Park service.  You can see where Jamestowne was established.  They are doing digs there and finding more information about the establishment.  There is a short movie to watch.  It was very hot so we did not stay very long, but did manage to walk the trails.

Memorial Church was location of 3 churches.

Guess who this statue represents?

John Smith

reproduction of barracks

Museum of the Confederacy, Richmond, Virginia

Wow.  What a great museum.  In 1890, some of the Virginia ladies decided to save the White House of the Confederacy and as many items from the civil war that they could.  Because of their work, this wonderful museum exist.  Items from all major battles are in the museum.  We spent many hours in the museum.  We also toured the White House of the Confederacy.

White House of the Confederacy

Lee’s sword of surrender

Colonial Williamsburg Mental Hospital Museum

The first mental hospital was in Williamsburg.  The hospital is also the entrance to the museums at Colonial Williamsburg.

 

used for unruly patients.

Colonial Williamsburg Museum Music

There are not very many musical instruments here, but there are some different ones.

This is a Hippocerous.  You can see that it is a record player that needs to be wound up to play.  Once it plays, the hippo’s tongue moves back and forth.

Shitholt

Colonial Williamsburg Museum Coins

If you’ve ever wondered what kind of coins were used for money in Colonial Williamsburg, then you will enjoy the part of the museum that displays the different coins.

prettiest coin

doubloon

ugliest coin

Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg has lots to see and do.  We bought a pass that allowed us to visit 3 days, really need that many days to see it all.  We watched both movies, took the tours, visited the museums, and watched the reenactments that took place in the afternoons. 

 

as part of the reenactments,Patrick Henry speaks to the people.  He came and visited us as we were waiting for the show and answered questions about what was happening in Williamsburg during the 1770s

House of Burgesses where many important decisions were made concerning the independence of America.

Capitol building

Armory  where lots of guns are stored.  There is a staff member who explains all the guns and things stored in the armory.

reenactor