JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT AND THE SHIPS
FRIDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 14, 2007
When you turn to the left off the Jamestown Road, the first of the two areas you come to is this
enormous new building behind which are the reconstructed villages, both Indian and settler,
and the three ships. Nothing at either Jamestown location had been like this when I was there in
1971.
This is the end of the long gallery you walk along to get to the outside area that leads you to the
reconstructions. It's a magnificent building with museum rooms opening off to your left all along the
way.
Looking back down the length of the building. Shadows make it hard to see, alas.
This is the reconstruction of Powhatan's village. We rather hurried right through the middle of
it because I had this terrible need to get to the ships before the people arrived. I figured they'd
get waylaid by this village and the settlement on their way and I could get my shipshots without
folks other than in costume. I remembered all too clearly the crowds of people on the ships when
I was there before.
This is the pathway from the Indian village down to the ships. The reconstructed Jamestown
settlement is just off a bit to the left. I trucked down this slope pretty quickly.
First view of the Susan Constant as you come around the end of the path.
Ah...perfect! NO people! Wheee!
The ships had been anchored in another place when I was here before, so all this was new. Even the
ships were new. The Susan Constant I'd been on in '71 was just a temporary prop-ship. These three
are actually sea-worthy.
Just before boarding the Susan Constant, looking down at the other two.
Just coming aboard the Susan Constant.
Looking aft across her deck.
Woman guide who just let us wander where we pleased.
Crow's nest. Or...Crowe's nest if one thinks Master and Commanderish thoughts.
Officer's bed
Captain's bed
Looking out of the officer's cabin back down the deck
She's smiling because I'm saying something to her about manning the cannon being woman's work.
Looking straight down into the hold
Coming aboard the Discovery. As soon as I saw the guy on the right I thought, "Oh, MY !
Is he not just glorious !!!"
Meet Richard, a truly fascinating man. Does he not look the part in every way? And he's a
published author, too. An anthology of short stories called "Midnight Gates." Here's a link
to his site: www.midnightgates.com
There were two other men in costume speaking with Richard when we boarded, but they left and so it
was just Richard and us aboard the Discovery. He and Carl got deep in conversation as I wandered
about the small deck, taking pictures.
On the next ship down, another guy caught my eye. He turned out to be the delightful Dennis
from London.
I wanted to get shots aboard all three ships before the people arrived, so I left the Discovery and
went down to the Elizabeth, not among the original three, but of the size of the one that was
currently out to sea. Richard had told us that the makers of Master and Commander had come
to talk with those in charge of these three ships. He also said it was the best sailing movie ever
made. Richard has good taste!! hee hee
Anyway, this is Dennis, with whom I had a lovely conversation, just the two of us aboard the
Elizabeth.
Looking past the Elizabeth's bowsprit across the James River.
Aboard the Elizabeth, I noted at last Carl was not coming, so went up to its stern and took
this shot of Richard and Carl sitting on the Discovery's railing, deep in conversation.
A wider view of that...
People, real honest-to-god touristpeople, were beginning to appear on the dock. Carl found
me on the Discovery, I introduced him to Dennis, then we went back aboard the Discovery to
take our leave of Richard.
Here Carl is handing Richard my e-mail address.
I'd seen some folks heading for the settlement when we headed for the ships, so figured I'd not be
able to get peopleless settlement pictures...but when we got to the settlement they were gone. It
seems they'd all gone down to the ships just as we arrived at the settlement. There was one lingering
woman with the two in costume here, but she immediately left and walked toward the ships, as
well and good she should !!
If you look closely on the left, you can see the touristpeople all flocked to the ships.
I like this because it looks like the Susan Constant is perched in the bushes !
The church of the settlement.
You see? Touristfolk all gone!
Inside the church
I was surprised by the ornate carving on the bed in one of the small houses. All the furnishings
below are from the same house.
Here you can see the relation of the settlement to the ships.
This is Brook, also most delightful and friendly.
The flag through a look-out in the wall.
Arriving back in the area of the exhibition building.
The ceiling of the inner galleries of the building...it's very, very long. This is only a little part.
The fountain by the parking lot again.
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