Visiting Colonial Williamsburg - Essay Example

Colonial Williamsburg Visiting Colonial Williamsburg was indeed a riveting experience not because itseemed to be a place out of time and space but simply because it seemed to be living history. Of course, we are well aware of the historical facts surrounding the American Revolution as well as the not so bright spots around the light which is focused on a group of rag tag revolutionaries standing up against the might of the British Empire. However, Colonial Williamsburg gives an experience of what life would have been for the people living at the time. Everyone from judges to wagon wheel makers, from local politicians to international diplomats had a circle of life and a manner of living that has to be experienced firsthand to fully understand what manner of life they were going through at the time of American independence. Undoubtedly, Virginia and the surrounding territories played an important part in that endeavor while Williamsburg was at the time the capital of the state itself. Individual players within that saga such as Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe all lived and left their mark on the city but the focus of the exhibit (if it can be called as such) is not on the leaders which guided and shaped the path of history. The focus is on the lives of the people, how they lived, what they thought, what they did and how they did it. In essence, Colonial Williamsburg seeks to show the lives of the people as well as the histories which formed what makes America a great nation today. Going to Colonial Williamsburg, it becomes apparent that the reason for our greatness today is the manner in which our history was shaped and helped along by ordinary people doing everyday things. Individual workers, teachers, craftsmen, soldiers and people from every other profession came together to build what today is known as America but without the difficult trials they went through, it would have been impossible. At the same time, it seems that the focus of the city is not only on how America was created and how the city played a part in the revolution but on the people of the city itself. In essence, the city is American history preserved in time. For example, there are craftsmen making things such as boots and they are quite willing to explain how they make them. Of course, I did not have the least clue about how boots are made today even though I hear stories about factories in China using extreme labor conditions but to understand how boots were made more than two centuries ago certainly puts the whole thing into perspective. By that example alone, I could only imagine the might of the British Empire which not only had to give boots to all of its soldiers but also provide them with uniforms, square meals and most importantly, the training to fight a war. Another thing which struck me as unusual and perhaps a little off from history was the number of parades and marches with fifes and drums that were going on in the city. I am not sure if the exact same number of marches were conducted on a daily basis but then again, it is a city where the atmosphere is supposed to be maintained artificially therefore such things may be expected. I found the interpreters and historical actors extremely fascinating since they appeared to know their subject matter quite well and could answer any questions as to what they were doing and had explanations about all aspects of their own and other people’s lives. The cuisine was particularly interesting since it offered an insight into what the people could eat given the resources they had. From the very bottom of society to the governor’s table, it seemed that certain things were staples indeed while others were limited only to a few. Interestingly, I found that I’d rather be living today as an average person than as the governor of Virginia at that time. Of course, his life may have been a lot more luxurious by comparative standards but even the simplest things such as automobiles and electricity which we take for granted were perhaps only experimental endeavors at the time. I do not mean to say that their lives were any worse off than ours or that ours are much better now but I found that the absence of modern technology was something that made me quite uncomfortable. Of course, the absence of modern technology also meant that the air in the surrounding area was much cleaner and I also felt a sense of calm which I have not experienced elsewhere. At the same time, I must note that the food being offered, even though I am sure others may have liked it was certainly not to my taste. Things such as Mince pies, rabbit meat and other delicacies of the time may have appealed to those living then, but I found myself passing on the food after the few bites. The freshly baked apple pie however, was excellent and the flaky pastry did make me suspect that the apple pie may not have been made with the exact traditional ingredients but then again, I cannot comment deeply on that. I can say this however, despite all the technology and the assets at their disposal; McDonald’s has yet to learn how to produce a good apple pie which is even half as good as the one available in Colonial Williamsburg. The one thing which really stands out from the experience is the music. The period music which plays in taverns is quite nice but the fife and drum marches are really spirited and made quite want to pick up a musket and join the revolutionaries screaming no taxation without representation. I can understand why the British sent their drummers and fife players to battle since they create a rhythm which is quite exhilarating and difficult to ignore when the spirit of battle comes to the front. Of course, while it aids the side it is playing on, it may also be used to strike fear into the hearts of those who oppose the players. In conclusion, it is easy to see why Colonial Williamsburg is such a huge attraction for the people in Virginia. Not only does it focus on what part was played but the history makers, it also shows how the individuals living at the time experienced the revolution as well as their lives in general which makes it an important piece of living history. It shows us that history is a lot more than knowing who won what war and what pieces of legislation changed governments or societies, history is about knowing how people lived and breathed in a different age and what lessons we can learn from them regarding our present. Perhaps a few hundred years from now, a part of downtown Manhattan may be preserved for future generations to show them how we lived and what primitive computers we used to interact with each other and how our society was so dependent upon money and mundane things such as movies, TV and fashion magazines. Read More