National Public Lands Day at Historic Jamestowne

Saturday, September 26, 2009

As part of National Public Lands Day, Historic Jamestowne will offer free admission on Saturday, September 26th. 

Historic Jamestowne is a place for everone to have fun, reconnect with history and nature, and build a sense of ownership and stewardship toward the park and the environment. Come and enjoy a Saturday at Historic Jamestowne for free!

Entertainment is such an important aspect of life. Throughout the ages, people have explored ways to enliven the mundane activities of every day life. The ancient Greeks explored poetry and drama; the people of the Middle Ages loved to joust; the nineteenth century was characterized by salons and balls. Entertainment has infiltrated every generation of human life. Indeed, I fear we would be a rather dull and uninteresting species without the ability to amuse ourselves.

Today, we have so many kinds of entertainment. The television, video games, impressive technological toys, cars, theme parks, boats, and extensive other options for spending time consume modern Americans. Because I live two blocks from downtown Colonial Williamsburg, I frequently wonder how the colonials lived without all of these extravagant pieces of entertainment equipment. Could I have done it myself? I suppose so, as at that point in time, I wouldn't have known any differently.

Throughout August, Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center are offering a way to understand the pastimes of times past. Hands-on activities and interpretive programs will show the games, storytelling, and other various diversions of the 17th and 18th Century. You'll see things like playing corncob darts, ninepins, mancala and quoits...what exactly is quoits?

Interesting Fact: Quoits (Pronunciation: "k-waits") is a traditional lawn game involving the throwing of a metal or rubber ring over a set distance to land over a pin (called a hob or mott) in the centre of a patch of clay. It is closely related to horseshoe pitching and the fairground game hoopla. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries in the United States, the original Quoit Club was a group of men that met on Saturdays during the spring and summer seasons at Buchanan's Spring in Richmond, Virginia. The club was also known as the Richmond Sociable Club, or the Barbecue Club, and included members such as Chief Justice John Marshall, William Wirt, Benjamin Watkins Leigh, John Buchanan and John Blair. The Quoit Club still exists today and is currently the social arm of Historic Richmond Foundation.

Almost everyone who visits Williamsburg, Va agrees, there's something special about Williamsburg. It's a unique place full of history, great shopping, fine restaurants, and plenty for a family to do.

I found this video on YouTube today from Wes Allen. Wes says he's vacationed in Williamsburg on 7 different occasions and he's anxious to come again. The video that Wes posted captures what keeps luring him back.

Virginia foodways are featured during this three-day event beginning on Thanksgiving Day. At Jamestown Settlement, learn how food was gathered, preserved and prepared on land and at sea by Virginia's English colonists and Powhatan Indians.