Williamsburg: History in Action II

Our second day at Williamsburg found us at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. After we had spent the first part of the day taking in some of the sites and shops we had missed the day before. We visited the blacksmith, the gun shop, and the Milliner's shop among others. We were at the museum to take a guided tour through the pottery collections and learn about the different styles and other interesting facts about the collections. While we were waiting, we had some very good chili from the restaurant there, and Jake took in the Lock, Stock and Barrel exhibit of colonial era guns.

When it came time for the tour, our guide started in the small Identifying Ceramics: The Who, What and Ware exhibit, using the displays there to explain the different methods and styles. Then, we were taken throughout the museums collections where we were shown many interesting pottery pieces which exemplified the different styles. After the tour was done, we explored some of the other areas of the museum, historic flags, furniture, and portions of the former Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds, which occupies the building above the basement museum. We also made a stop in for some crafts: making Christmas ornaments form old Christmas cards. I love to have Christmas ornaments as souvenirs, and we wound up making two very attractive ones to go on our tree for hopefully years to come.

Then we headed for dinner among the Merchant Square's shops. We chose Season's from the options, and after we were seated were delighted to find that Friday nights were Prime Rib night. for $15 per person, we both enjoyed a fantastic steak with two sides and a salad.

After diner we took a much needed promenade down to the capitol building to wait for the soldiers to gather for the torch lit fife and drum march to the palace greens. Once the soldiers had struck up their drums, they began marching up the street. Some tourists ran along beside them, but Jake and I fell in step behind. It is amazing the quick and easy pace a march can set. It was an impressive display, despite the loose mob of tourists surrounding it, and I couldn't help but try to match my step to the soldier in front of me.