Exploring Jamestown Settlement
I recently visited The Jamestown Settlement museum after a handful of years. It has changed by way of new artifacts and information presented. Of course they still have the settlement buildings, ships and Powhatan Indian village. All which holds a plethora of information. I have always loved being able to walk through at your own pace. With it being a rainy day not a lot of visitors were outside. It felt as if you stepped back into time when it was the original settlement in the 17th century. The interpreters were everyday people proceeding with daily life and included you by explaining their tasks. It was as if having a private tour.
Inside, the museum galleries have expanded. There was much more information on the people who had lived in the area for thousands of years along with the settlers and other cultures brought there. The galleries hold knowledge to help you understand the time period of how Jamestown came to be. That includes everyday used artifacts to three dimensional buildings representing homes. A new film and theater has been added into the galleries. Which depicts the story of Bacon’s Rebellion that occurred in 1676. A viewer can learn about Nathaniel Bacon, with his group of settlers, who went against the Governor. As well as state the issues in which starts the rebellion. What I enjoyed was the fact it gave more information about Jamestown after the early years before the town was abandoned in 1699.
Yet the main reason I wanted to visit the establishment was for their limited time exhibition, Tenacity. It showcases the stories and lives of the women who called the colony home. Of course back then women were rarely mentioned or written of. So we many times can never really know of them and what life was for each one of them. I found that the exhibition was trying to shine light on theses women to tell their stories. One ways was by listing their names and origins. Not only did they mention English decent but also Native American and African. To aide the names there was fact filled interactive screens, short films and artifacts displayed. One artifact that caught my eye was the 17th century Ducking Chair. It was used to punish or shame people who did not follow rules, most times women. They would strap and restrict a person to the wooden chair. Then proceed to submerge them into water. I could not wrap around my head that the item in front of me was used centuries ago on a person. Over all the museum did amazing with showing examples of the hardships, struggles, and strength the women had in the first years to survive. They endured a lot and I can only hope to have their spirit to live mine with the same tenacity. This exhibition will stick with me for years to come. If you are able to see it before January 2020, I encourage you to!
My time at the Jamestown Settlement helped widen my knowledge I have been learning over the years. It is one of my favorite places that I was lucky to see again.
