The love of my life is driving with me to Colonial Williamsburg in a couple of weeks, where we’ll stay in one of the colonial houses and feast on 18th century food. We plan to spend as much time as possible at the Anthony Hay Cabinet Shop and see how much we can learn. Any suggestions as to what to look for, questions to ask, etc., so we gain the most from the trip from a woodworker’s standpoint?
I believe some of y’all have been there, or even spend time regularly at Colonial Williamsburg, so I value your recommendations.
Bob
Replies
Great idea! I visited it only once, but it was thoroughly enjoyable. My experience was that the craftsmen really respond well to questions. So, ask away. I wish I could join you.
Good luck, Tom.
You’ll love it all. From the cooper to the gunsmith, (my favorite) to the harness maker and blacksmith. It is a great experience.
Napie
I like the gunsmith shop too. I visit George, Clay and Richard every year when I can get up to the CW/FWW conference in January. This year should be fun. A photo of my halfstock beater.
Dan
Is that one in the Ohio style?
Its one of the rifles from the St Louis museum of Hawken rifles. It is not one of the hooked breech rifles. It has a patent breech plug. The one in the photo is a tapered barrel 7/8- 3/4 at the muzzle. Nice balance and feel.
Poured pewter cap? What bore? My Fusil should be done by the end of February, I can’t wait to fire it. I’d really like to try an English sporting rifle next.
Through the years I've seen Williamsburg cabinetry change, in the service of authenticity, from making very fine pieces that they now say would not have been made there, rather Philadelphia or Boston, to less refined pieces that are historically proven to have been made in Williamsburg.
They also no longer say things like "the apprentice turned the lathe" but "a slave turned the lathe."
If you go during the week crowds are lower and sometimes the craft person can give you a lot of attention. Check when school groups are going, really those are the yellow hordes.
For me a more accurate Williamsburg is a better W"burg.
Check the Williamsburg website to make sure the Hay shop is open on the day/days you are visiting! Two years ago, we made a hundred mile detour to stop at Williamsburg on a Friday, paid our admissions only to learn the Hay shop was closed on Fridays.
IMHO, Colonial Williamsburg is a place that rewards the observant and the curious. Only stupid people are bored there.
The Hay shop is great. Check out the new 2' folding rules. The number stamps were made by hand to replicate the originals. Their tools and benches are neat in general. Also look for what they don't have. That can be equally interestiing. Master Headley is really a fine fine carver, so bring your carving questions. He's also very good at explaining design issues.
If you can, try to take in an evening concert in the Governor's Palace. My wife and I did that last year and it was the highlight of our trip. Ask at the visitor center.
The public gaol is the only middle class residence in town. I wasn't interested in hearing about the 18th c judicial system, but I did want to see a middle class interior. There's a house to right of the governor's palace (when standing in the palace green) and maybe adjacent to the palace that has a bright green living room. This reflects the latest paint analysis. Don't miss it. Its shocking.
Lastly, go say hi to Master Wood and his crew of carpenters at the great hopes plantation. They are all very nice and very friendly but remember that they are also the real McCoy. They are 70% real carpenters and 30% interpretters. That's real sweat and they can get ticked off if you ask them if they are hot in those clothes of if they wished they had a chain saw/tablesaw/airnailer for that job.
Also don't miss the Anderson forge (I hear they are going to build a new building) and the Geddy foundry.
Adam
Thanks, Adam. You've considerably enlarged our horizons for the visit.Bob
Check for the various "behind the scene" tours on the website. Several years ago we went on one of the archeology lab which was conducted by the retired head of the lab. The folks working in the lab talked about what they were doing. It was facinating. Cost was something like $10 per person. A lot of the tours sell out several days in advance so you should check the website and register early for the ones you're interested in.
Besides the cabinet shop there is a wheelwright's shop at the governer's mansion, and at least one cooper. I can easily spend several days visiting just the various craft shops.
My wife and I moved to Williamsburg about 3 years ago after our two sons went to college, we moved from Newport News, about 40 minutes away. Part of the reason for our move was all of the buildings that make up the historic areas. While much of the city is growing at a rapid pace it's nice to know some parts will never change.
Be sure to visit the Dewitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, there are some outstanding original 17th & 18th Century furniture. It is a great place for inspiration. If you like wine check out the Williamsburg Winery. The Greenleaf Cafe is a good local restaurant near the college, and Christiana Campbell's Tavern is one of the best in the historic area. Are you planning on visiting Jamestown as well?, the crowds from the 400th celebration should be a little better by Mid-May. The new gallery opened last year at Jamestown. Enjoy your visit.
Rob
Thanks for the tips, Rob. We hope to include Jamestown--we'll be there the week after Her Majesty leaves, since everything was booked solid the week of her visit.Bob
I second the addition of the wheelright and coopers shops. They are almost better than the Hay shop because of the technology.
My favorite was the 'talks' given by persons who impersonate, who really have assumed the personalities of, individuals ,of the time. These are held a little off campus but are well worth the walk.
Frosty
Be careful of your speed in VA. It's a statewide speed trap; especially off ramps on interstates. In 50 years of worldwide driving, I've had 3 speeding tickets....ALL in VA!
I also think that the Dewitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum is a "must see". Their furniture collection is wonderfull, and sure is worth the trip! They have a terrific book that catalogs their collection: "Southern Furniture, 1680-1830: the Colonial Williamsburg Collection" If you're lucky you can find it at your local library (at $75.00 it's a bit pricey).
And radar detectors are illegal in Virginia.
You may have saved us some money, since I rarely slow to the posted speed on exit ramps.
If you have an interest in maritime stuff, check out the Mainer's Museum in Newport News. It is one of the worlds largest collections of seafaring items. The Crabtree collection of miniature ship models is absolutely amazing; They are stick built with wood and use actual copper nails and such for fasteners. They are so small the cases have built in magnifiers in the glass. They also have an actual viking era ship that was raised and put back together.Your wife will enjoy the Williamsburg Pottery and the nearby outlet mall located ten minutes west of W'burg on US route 60, Lightfoot exit off I-64. Kids enjoy Busch Gardens and Water Country. Lots of locals recommend the Gray Wolf Lodge for families. It has an indoor water park in addition to rooms. Leave the kids there and tour the historic area in peace!Yorktown is the third part of the historic triangle and often neglected. Cruise down the Colonial Parkway (45 mph!) and tour the actual battlefield where national independence was settled. See the displays and listen to intepretive talks by the NPS at the Visitor Center for less than $10. Self guided tour of the battlefield is relaxing drive in the country, but will bore any young'ns. Most of the buildings are original and still privately owned. Yorktown waterfront is quaint, but drive south on US 17 about 9 miles and eat dinner at Bill's Seafood (Shopping Center on right at Rt. 173, behind the Veterinarian) 4:30pm - 8:30PM. Great food and very reasonable. The oysters are the only high priced items. Don't eat at the restaurant/bar combination across from the public beaches in Yorktown - I had the worst expensive meal of my entire life there last month... and I grew up there!Enjoy your stay in Virginia. Visit historic places in Richmond, Petersburg, and Fredericksburg as well. The history is pretty thick around these parts!
Thanks, RangerTim. I just showed Rita your post and you have her attention (and made a friend) with your suggestion for the pottery collection and outlet mall. Whether you and I are still friends will be determined by the size of the credit card bill after we leave the mall.Bob
Wood,
The wmsburg pottery outlet has an interesting selection of beers. And the CW visitor's center has a good bookstore. Ditto for the deWitt Wallace gallery.
Ray
If you can manage a visit to Norfolk while in the Williamsburg area, the Chrysler Museum is well worth checking out.
Bob,
My wife and I have visited their often and have always been amazed at the restoration area. All of the interpretators are extremely knowledgeable and it is like stepping back in time, I guess that is the intention. If you get a chance check out some of the restaurants and inns in the restoration area, make reservations and you will not be disappointed with the meals. While we were there we went down to the Yorktown Battlefields and learned even more about the Revolutionary War. Go on the driving tour of the battlefields at dusk and you will be amazed with the amount of deer that populate the national park. I have never seen that many in one place before.
Have fun and with any luck you will learn a lot,
Greg
Thanks for the tips. From information at the web site, we're looking forward to trying the King's Arms Tavern, Christiana Campbell's, and Josiah Chowning's Tavern. Any others we shouldn't miss? Can't tell from the web site, but do we need to make reservations before we leave home, or can we do that when we arrive in Williamsburg?Bob
Bob,
As soon as you know the dates I would make them just to be on the safe side, doesn't hurt to give them a call. King's Arms Tavern has an excellent menu and last time I was there the colonial game pie was wonderful.
Greg
If you like chocolate you shouldn't miss the Trellis restaurant http://www.thetrellis.com/.
I been gone lately, actually around the world, and lately tring to keep tract of 73 baby calfs. If you are in Williamsburg and love woodworking, you have to see the Chrsyler museum. They have some great furniture by the Goddard and Townsand families. I think I spelled their names wrong, but their pieces to me are tops.
Nobody has mentioned it yet so I will. All persons who visit Colonial Williamsburg have to sample the Peanut Soup ;-( It's a tradition.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Nobody mentioned it because it goes without saying. I believe they check for "peanut breath" when you leave. If they can't detect it, back you go. I suppose people with severe peanut allergies are exempted.
-Steve
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