Day 2 Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown, and up to DC

We started this morning off after a great night of sleep. We didn't have to travel far this morning as we were already staying in Williamsburg. We went over to Colonial Williamsburg which is the world's largest living history museum. Every building is either an original from the 1700's or recreated. Each worker there does the job that they did back then and acts the part. We saw the wigmaker, silversmith, carpenter, tin shop, blacksmith, and the brick maker. We then ended our stay at the Governor's Palace. 

While Aaron was inside getting our tour guide for Colonial Williamsburg, Jamal our driver gave me a bus driving lesson in the parking lot.....

Meeting our tour guide for the learning in Colonial Williamsburg.

 Entering the Wigmaker

 The wigmaker was great. Consistently questioning the children's choice of hair cuts and wondered why none of them wanted to shave their heads so they could start wearing wigs. She recommended they go next door to the pub, get an ale, and potentially change their minds!

I would've had more from the wigmaker but once she realized I was using a 21st century recording device she highly recommended that I don't and should paint a portrait of her instead......

 Fancy ladies wig with a famous ship in the hair.

 Different animals made different types of wigs. Some are stronger or softer than others.

Into the Silversmith we go.

The Blacksmith

 We learned that bricks come from clay. They were expected to make about 2,000 bricks an hour but the holder they have to make them in only makes 2 at a time! Thomas Jefferson said, all it takes is one person to mold, two to step all over the wet clay to make it smooth, and a boy to haul the bricks. 

One of the nice buildings in town used 250,000 bricks to make! You can do the math to see how long it would take just to make the bricks for that one house. 

 We got to step on the clay!

 Gotta clean those feet!

 We got to do a great maze at the Palace Garden. It took a few of us a little to long to complete. It felt like a challenge in the show, Survivor. 

 Inside the Governor's Palace we had quote of the day number 1. 

Tour Guide, "Why was it a good thing to not have political parties?"

Student, "So they don't get drunk."

That got a pretty good laugh out of the tour guide. 

 The Governor's Palace

 We then traveled down the road to finish off the historic triangle. Completing the triangle is the location of the British surrender of the Revolutionary War, Yorktown. They had a great museum with a really neat movie that had shaking seats, smoke, and great affects all around. 

We then went outside and saw soldiers and others acting the way from back in the 1700's. We saw the tents, gun and cannon firing, a farm, and medical equipment. 

Learning about slaves in Yorktown.

Fun movie for everybody to watch. 

Kids turned into solders and experienced what it would've been like to be in the tents with a bunch of others. Sorta crowded. 

Firing the gun.

We ran back up from the farm to watch the once a day cannon firing.

Malie was selected as the doctor to help take a bullet out of Kaizen's shoulder.

Best quote of the day #2. 

Tour Guide, "You are treating dysentery, do you know what that is?"

She whispers, "It's diareah"

Joobi "It's when you poop till you croak. Like on the Oregon Trail."

Smelling stuff to help with insects. Kids thought it stank. 

 Tobacco hanging from the ceiling again to let it dry. 

After Yorktown it was back to where we started our East Coast Trip the day before, back in Washington, D.C. So we hopped back on the bus for a 2 1/2 hour drive back north. It was a nice nap for most people. Along the way, we stopped in Fredericksburg for a bbq dinner. 

 We then did a quick memorial tour. We were in the midst of playing an exciting game of avoid getting dumped on by the incoming storm. It was very exciting as lighting danced in the distance.

We went to the Vietnam Wall. At first we went to the Vietnam Woman's Memorial celebrating the women who helped in the Vietnam War. At the time, women were not allowed to be soldiers, but they could do non-combat duties. Many were nurses.

 We then went down to the Vietnam Wall. The wall is in memory of those that fought and died or went missing in the Vietnam War. There are 58,318 names of each individual that didn't come back home alive. Kids did a great job of being respectful and looking at names on the wall.

 We then ended our day at the Lincoln Memorial. The Lincoln Memorial honors Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President. Known for leading the Union during the Civil War and signing the Emancipation Proclamation which abolished slavery. Inside the memorial is a giant statue of Lincoln along with two of his famous speeches on each wall. The Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural speech.

It was a great way to end the second day of the tour. We then had to hurry to our bus as it was about to open up on us. We got to our hotel, unloaded everybody's luggage, and got inside. We immediately went up to our rooms and as soon as we got inside, it was dumping outside. Great timing. Another great day in the books. It looks like the hot weather is leaving us so expect a change of attire in the next few days of photos and videos........

Special thanks to the other chaperones for assisting with pictures!