Continued from page 11
is the site of the final major clash of the and replicas of living history, including
American Revolution and the symbolic slave life. Here you will find a gallery
end of the colonial period of our nation’s where you can observe an re-enactment
colonial style at Chowning’s King’s Arms
history. The Yorktown Battlefield allows of two African-American slaves who sup-
or Shields taverns where you can enjoy
visitors to follow in the footsteps of ported opposites sides, an Indian chief
authentic 18th-century food adapted to
General George Washington and walk and a Virginia plantation owner. There
today’s palate. The menu at the taverns
the actual ground where important his- is an open-air exhibit walkway that traces
includes seafood, pit barbeque, peanut
torical events took place. A collection of events leading to America’s split from
soup and buffalo prime rib.
Revolutionary War artifacts is on display Britain. Similar to the Jamestown settle-
The last leg of Virginia’s historic tri-
at the Yorktown Battlefield. Walking ment, visitors can experience re-enact-
angle tour is a visit to Yorktown. Just 14
tours are offered on a daily basis. ments and exhibits depicting life during
that period.
No trip to Virginia’s historic
Enslaved people of African origin constructed buildings,
triangle would be complete with-
out visiting one of the James River
tended fields, kept house, did the cooking and also provided
Plantations of Historic Route 5.
Located between Williamsburg
other skilled labor as blacksmiths, gardeners, and carpenters.
and Richmond, visitors can step
back in history and experience what
everyday life was like for America’s
Tourists can gain an appreciation and colonial aristocracy and those in slavery
miles from Williamsburg, this quaint his-
further understanding of our nation’s and servitude. One plantation definitely
torical city dates back to 1691. Originally
beginning at the Yorktown Victory worth the visit is Shirley’s Plantation.
a flourishing tobacco port in the 18th
Center. Here is where the military cam- Founded in 1613, it is Virginia’s first plan-
century, Yorktown today is a colonial-era
paign of the American Revolution took tation and North America’s oldest family
city with original historic homes, art gal-
place in the fall of 1781. The Yorktown owned business. The guided tour of the
leries, quaint shops and restaurants. You
Victory Center chronicles America’s plantation house highlights original fam-
must do the historic Yorktown Battlefield
struggle for independence, from the ily furnishings, portraits, silver and hand-
tour where the British surrendered and
beginning of colonial unrest to the forma- carved woodwork. Shirley Plantation is
independence was won. The battlefield
tion of this nation through exhibits, film the most intact 18th-century estate in
Virginia where the
“flying Staircase” and
the Queen Anne
Forecourt are the
only remaining
examples in America
of this architectural
style.
Slave labor
was critical to the
development and
operation of Shirley
Plantation. Enslaved
people of African
origin constructed
buildings, tended
fields, kept house,
did the cooking and
also provided other
skilled labor as
blacksmiths, garden-
ers and carpenters.
Shirley ranked at
the top of slave-
holding plantations
during the 18th
and 19th centuries.
Little is known
about slave life at
Shirley Plantation,
but records indicate
Photo courtesy of Virginia Tourism
The rich heritage of the Black experience in Virginia can be experienced by visitors through sites,
Continued on
artifacts, events and museums all across the state.
page 13
12 Trends A publication of the Afro-American Newspapers
TTrends Summer 2007.indd 12rends Summer 2007.indd 12 55/29/07 12:20:35 PM/29/07 12:20:35 PM
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