Unlike Williamsburg which was restored in its original location, Jamestown was excavated, artifacts collected and then mostly covered back up to preserve the remaining structures from damage from the elements. The town was then replicated at a different location.
The settlement was thought to have been swallowed by the James River, but in 1996 archeologist from the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, discovered a portion of the decayed ruins. Here is a scale model showing what the settlement looked like.
The colonist were as well prepared and supplied as they could have been, based on the artifacts found. Having settled in a marshy and mosquito infested area, only 38 of the original 104 remained by the end of the first year. Disease was the number one killer of the settlers.
Jamestown is the where the story of Pocahontas begins. She made frequent visits to Jamestown and often brought gifts of food from her father. Captain John Smith was convinced that she save his life twice during the colony’s first years.
The colonists were quite ingenious when it came to building their structures. Mud fortified with wooden beams helped them stand up to the constant wind coming off of the James River.
It was quite serene and pleasant by the water and we can see how in April 1607, when the colonist landed, they thought it would be a perfect place to settle. The easy access to the ocean through the Chesapeake Bay would allow them to get supplies from England, and the island area was easy to defend.
After we wandered around the original settlement for a while, we set out for the recreated Jamestown.
On our way there we stopped at the Glass House. In 1608 the Jamestown settlers built furnaces they used for making glass that they shipped to England. This was the beginning of America’s glass manufacturing.
So, what is glass?
How does that become glass? Well first you have to melt all of the ingredients.
This is a replication of the furnace the colonists built.
For all the environmentalist out there reading my post, this furnace is run off of natural gas not wood.
How about all of the pretty colors of glass, how do you turn sand blue? Yeah just a big ‘ole science lesson.
After the piece is made it is put into cooling ovens overnight. If glass cools too quickly it shatters. You can see some of the pieces that they made, available for sale, to the right in the picture.
Now, off to recreated Jamestown.
