The Blog of Colonial Williamsburg
Let’s face it, 2016 has been a bumpy ride. Many people are counting down the days until the New Year, but as historians, we must point out the usefulness of looking back, as well as forward. To help motivate you for the year ahead, here are some of the quote memes, featuring thought-provoking words from our Founders, that were designed and posted to our social media channels in 2016. …
George Washington lost four pounds playing the ponies as a 27-year old freshman legislator in Williamsburg in 1759. He wasn’t alone. Horse racing and gambling were favorite pastimes in colonial Virginia.
Large crowds turned out from Virginia’s earliest years to find out who had the fastest horse—and to bet on the outcome….
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How should the United States welcome immigrants?
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“They play away and play it all away.” So wrote the great Virginia planter Landon Carter of his son’s penchant to win and lose fortunes at cards.
Today we can tune into ESPN and watch the ancient spectacle, reborn as the World Series of Poker: competitors waging a battle of wit, concentration and not a little luck to win the crown as the top card player.
It’s a spectacle because we love to watch. To admire the skill of the winner? That’s part of it. It’s the personalities, the strategies of deception and risk, and perhaps most of all, the thrill of witnessing the train wreck.
It wasn’t so different in the 18th century. Card games were a favorite diversion for many Americans, something to while away an evening with family or over drinks with friends at the tavern….
May 15, 1776. As debate wound down and the time to vote approached, a crowd gathered in the streets of Williamsburg.
Inside the Capitol, one by one, delegates to the Fifth Virginia Convention voted for independence.
The vote was unanimous….
There was no day in May to honor Mom in the 18th century. So how did our founders honor their mothers?…
Is education as an expense or an investment? When does spending, even for a good cause, yield too little of a return to be worth it?
George Wythe and Patrick Henry tangle over these questions in this imagined conversation at Christiana Campbell’s Tavern….
Historian T.H. Breen
Americans take it for granted today that politicians are going to go to great lengths to “connect” with the public: with grip and grin photo ops, visits to local diners, talk show appearances, or just by dropping pop culture references.
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This early 19th century painting of Washington is a copy of the well-known work by Gilbert Stuart. Discover more treasures in Colonial Williamsburg’s collections at http://emuseum.history.org/
…and second in the latest rankings of best president ever.
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Should the government get involved with gambling on sports?
Federal law currently allows sports gambling in only four states—Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon.
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