Isn’t it interesting how you can live in a state or city with so much history and not ever visit any of the historic monuments that surround you? I have lived in Virginia for 35 years and until last Saturday had never been to a plantation!
The Salesman, Cheerleader Girl and I (Bud was busy) set out on our Historic Adventure on Saturday afternoon to tour the plantations on the road from Richmond to Williamsburg. We actually had intentions of touring several, but because of our complete indecisiveness about how we were going to spend our day, we got kind of a late start. Although we saw the outside of many, the only one we actually saw the inside of was Shirley Plantation.
The Salesman, Cheerleader Girl and I (Bud was busy) set out on our Historic Adventure on Saturday afternoon to tour the plantations on the road from Richmond to Williamsburg. We actually had intentions of touring several, but because of our complete indecisiveness about how we were going to spend our day, we got kind of a late start. Although we saw the outside of many, the only one we actually saw the inside of was Shirley Plantation.
It is the oldest plantation in Virginia, built in 1613 and has been remained after 11 generations in the same family. It’s still a working plantation today. I was amazed that it managed to survive, still in tact through the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and the Great Depression and the family actually still lives there today. Something weird about having total strangers parade through the 1st floor of your house 7 days a week. I guess after that many generations, you get used to it : ).
It was amazing to me how it must have been back then. I would have been a Scarlet O’Hara of sorts because I don’t want to think of myself as anything other, at least not today ;) I can see myself riding in the most grand of carriages, in the most grand of dresses, on a cool day to enjoy tea and biscuits on the veranda overlooking the James River. (Gotta be a cool day cuz I don’t want to be sweating in my day dream).
I, of course, would have been greeted by Mrs. Elizabeth Hill Carter, or which ever of the Elizabeths, or Hills, or Carters lived there at the time of my fantasy (the guide lost me after the 2nd or 3rd Elizabeth, Hill, or Carter. Did everyone name there kid after someone else in the family back then, geez, how did they ever keep up?) What a grand day it would have been…………………..
Pop- day dream over :( Back to reality!
Although I didn’t have tea and cookies on the veranda, we did manage to make it to a great restaurant in Williamsburg for dinner, Second Street Café. They have the best dang cookies in all of Virginia. Although not close to home, I will be visiting there again. Their casual atmosphere, but high class service to match the delicious food is well worth the drive.
I am not sure where my next historic adventure might take my family, but I'll be sure to share it with you.
3 comments:
I LOVE Shirley Plantation......AND Second Street!! Did you bring me some cookies?
It looks like you guys had an awesome day! (Bud would probably have been bored anyway!)
Educational Outing?!! LOL
Sounds like fun I'd love to see it!!
Now that I think about it, you would most likely have been drinking mint juleps on the veranda. Tea? Bahahahahaha!
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