First we went to Yorktown. But I'm not going to tell you that story first! It only seems right that I should tell you about Jamestown first because it happened in history first. So now I'm going to tell this story in reverse-chronological order. This should be fun.
At about 3:30 we embarked to Jamestown, after the trolley incident in Yorktown. And you remember that, don't you? Oh, right, you don't! Anyway, we traveled to Old Jamestown, the place where 104 men and boys made a settlement in 1607. I saw the old, old ruins and was flabbergasted at it all. This was the birthplace of America.
I saw and read everything possible in the museum. I am really interested in this stuff!
I learned that the settlers had bad relations with the India...I mean Native Americans (They're not really Indians. Columbus thought he was in India!) How would you feel if someone you didn't know came into your home and claimed it was owned by some guy named King James?
You wouldn't like it, would you? The native Americans were just trying to defend their land. And if you know your history, you know that it doesn't get much better. Later in history, the Native Americans are literally pushed off America, being pushed off and off until they have nowhere to go. And then they were put on reservations! What are they, dogs? It is so inhumane of us that we invaded their land and took it for ours. I am strongly... Wait, why am I going on and on about Indians? I need to get on with the story!
Anyhow, we saw an old church, a state building, watched a short and cheap documentary and even saw a reenactment. It was a blast.
A corner showed the entrance to a bucket load of white crosses, 30 in all. These were some of the poor unfortunate souls who died in the "starving time" during 1608 and 1609. It was really hard on some.
In the middle of all these graves stood a memorial to Captain John Smith:, rogue, jerk, Governor, chief council member, and player (he had 3 wives during his life). The guy did a lot.
When I saw the heroic looking statue with a sword and a steel metal hat, chest shield and beard, it didn't match the suave, sandy haired young man that that Disney promoted. Nonetheless, it was pretty cool. Also, there was a statue that many young girls know as a Disney princess. The people of Jamestown knew her as brown-skinned girl, John Rolfe knew her as Rebecca,but most know her as Pocahontas.
Now, I know there is a question at hand that has been wondered for decades. Did Pocahontas really save the life of John Smith? Although Smith says he was captured and about to die when Pocahontas saved him, it still doesn't make sense. At the time Smith was in Jamestown, the Indians were peaceful with the British, so why would they try to kill Smith? It simply doesn't fit.
Even if the story was true, Pocahontas was Rebecca's age. So why did Smith say that he and her liked each other? John Smith, you've just been proven wrong by an 11 year old. Beat that!
We also saw a digging site where they were still uncovering Jamestown, a memorial for all the people who brought it together, and New Jamestown, the new part of Jamestown. It was a fun time.
This is already long already so... I'm just gonna start a new post and talk about Yorktown.
Blog you then!(:
Andrew
No comments:
Post a Comment