I have been to Jamestown Nat’l. Park twice before but both days were cold & rainy. So I have toured the museum at the Visitor’s Center but hadn’t seen much of the site itself. Today the weather was perfect & Jane & I got there in time for the 1st ranger tour of the day. It is a most excellent tour & well worth the time.
Cap’n. John Smith
John Smith probably saved the Jamestown colony from itself but he certainly wasn’t an easy man to get on with. My personal sympathy goes to the men who had to share a very small boat with one who considered himself to be one very big man.
Turtles on the way in
The Jamestown site is fairly large & has all sorts of interesting wildlife to watch. Deer, geese, squirrels, rabbits & eagles – they’re all here.
Seal on the Church
There are church ruins on site from a house of worship built after John Smith’s tenure. A coat of arms like this one once graced it front.
Outdoor model of the 1st Jamestown Settlement Fort
This model of Jamestown is based on the written records as confirmed by on site excavations.
Crosses Marking were Bodies were Found
The more the site is excavated the more there are bodies found buried nearly everywhere inside the settlement perimeters. Everywhere a body is found a cross is placed.
There is a 2nd museum in the vicinity of the original settlement which is very good. Photography isn’t allowed inside this facility in part because 2 skeletons from the site are on display. Personally I abhor actual human remains on display anywhere no matter what excuse is used. I like Canada’s law in this regard: skeletons found by any excavation or exposed by nature & found maybe scientifically studied for up to 3 months but must then be reinterred. Any & all bodies found must be reinterred after 3 months. Period. No exceptions. The people who were buried at Jamestown & disinterred by on site excavation should be respectfully reinterred. Period. No exceptions. Putting such a skeleton on display is the worst kind of disrespect. (End of rant).
Jane & I also went to Jamestown Settlement today. There the gardens were all growing with enthusiasm & the hens laying eggs hither & yon. Jane hadn’t seen much of that museum last time we were there so we toured it also until we just plain wore out. The drive back to home was uneventful & we were both very happy but tired puppies.
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