Inspiration for the Modern Revolutionary
The celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture, and society has taken place annually since 1978. As Women’s History Month begins, Colonial Williamsburg has several special programs planned that allow you to explore the broad experiences of women during the American Revolutionary era. From the home front to the battlefield, women in Virginia contributed to the founding of our nation and the freedoms we enjoy today….
Our own Renaissance man, Thomas Jefferson, was able to take a look at some of Leonardo da Vinci’s works now on display at the Muscarelle Museum. Naturally, the cameras were rolling. …
There may still be some snow on the ground, but the first lambs of the season are here! As we welcome the most recent additions (twin sisters) to the flock, we’re also reflecting on the breed as a whole since this year marks a major milestone for Colonial Williamsburg’s Rare Breeds Program….
In the 18th century, when 90 percent of the working population was farmers and most families found themselves living well outside of town, firearms were necessary for protection, hunting, and pest control. Almost everyone learned how to operate and shoot a rifle by the age of 13, and in the back country, each home contained roughly one gun per family member. Flintlock rifles, pistols, and fowling pieces were a part of everyday life in the 1700’s and are still made and used in the Revolutionary City today….
Between the snow and the sub-zero wind chills, this week feels like one of the worst cold snaps in recent memory (and with good reason). I checked with a meteorologist friend and she confirms we haven’t seen highs in the teens for 21 years. And we could break a record low temperature set all the way back in 1896! Still, this doesn’t seem much compared to some of the harsh winters our ancestors faced in the 18th century….
Britain has been a nation of chocolate-lovers since the 17th century and history shows the chocolate drinking craze actually began with the royal family and traveled across the pond to the colonial capital. Rumors of a secret chocolate room in the Hampton Court Palace circulated for years, but no one could seem to find it. After several dead ends (and nearly three centuries after it was built), researchers finally unearthed the hidden kitchen—one that catered to three different kings. We have a behind-the-scenes look at this crowning achievement.
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Today is Presidents’ Day, also known as Washington’s Birthday to the federal government. While George Washington was actually born on Feb. 22, 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved the holiday to the third Monday in February. Here is a list of interesting facts about our nation’s leaders.
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Over the years, we’ve learned a lot about our nation’s leaders but there are some lesser-known facts about their careers and private lives you may not have seen on your history tests. Next Monday is a federal holiday set aside to honor all U.S. Presidents. To celebrate, we thought we’d focus on the four presidents who hailed from Virginia with specific ties to Williamsburg in the 18th century.
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February is home to several major events including Presidents’ Day and Valentine’s Day. I thought it would be great to celebrate both by taking a look at the love lives of Washington, Jefferson, and Madison….
In 1865, Congress passed the 13th Amendment which abolished slavery in the United States. And in 1909, the NAACP was created to ensure equality of rights to all people regardless of their race. Since 1976, each president has designated February as Black History Month….