Showing posts with label Yorktown Victory Center. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yorktown Victory Center. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Yorktown Victory Center, Construction Views, (Part 3)




We received some of the inside construction pictures to allow everyone to see what is presently going on at the Yorktown Victory Center and how the new museum is progressing.  Pictures are courtesy of the Jamestown/Yorktown Foundation.  The above picture is of the finishing of the center basement slab of the upcoming American Revolution Museum.


This picture is the south elevation.


Here we have the installation of the basement concrete masonry looking west.  Starts to put the entire project into perspective as to just how big this museum is going to be.


Here is the foundations of the north elevations.  This is the section closest to the entrance into the present living museum.  

  The Yorktown Victory Center is open everyday with the exception of Christmas Day.  Yes they will be open for Thanksgiving and have a very special day planned for Thanksgiving where they will be demonstrating the collection of food from the farm and food preparations of the period.  

  Average length of a tour is about 2 and half hours.  Now of course that is just an average and is dependent on one's level of interest.  A history buff could spend and entire day here and still want more.  The indoor museum which we are not able to show pictures of, because indoor photography is not permitted, could easily take up half your day.  But allow us to clue you in.  If you have ever been to Disney, the level of displays are easily comparable.  It's the best of both worlds.  Living history and traditional museum history and an incredible movie theater showing even more.

  It's a great way to step back in time and immerse yourself into the 18th century period.  To see what our forefathers fought for and why.  What the struggles of life were really like.  Put your cell phone away while you are here.  You do not want modern distractions to spoil the experience.  

  Yorktown offers incredible history and it is found throughout a number of streets in the historic area.  But the best is found right here at the Yorktown Victory Center, soon to be the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.  

  Oh and let's not forget what we are expecting of the new structure.  It's going to be an 80,000 square foot super center to be considered a nationally recognized facility with classrooms and event space.  Plus the farm and encampment areas will be expanded and an amphitheater will be added to the mix.

   Even though we are still a while away from the new American Revolution museum being completed, it's an amazing journey through time exploring the Yorktown Victory Center.  Put a trip through this place on your calendar as soon as you can.  You will be glad you did.  
Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, November 8, 2013

Yorktown Victory Center Continental Army Encampment (Part 2)


























Earlier this week we had the privilege of touring the Yorktown Victory Center and it's various areas of living history.  Today we are going to cover the Continental Army Encampment.  Again, a super job of recreating an historical view of what life was like during the American Revolution has been extremely well done and again, this one area alone is worth the visit for anyone seeking to further their knowledge of American History.

  One section of the encampment focuses on military operations and demonstrations of firing both muskets and canons are done throughout the day.


An interpreter, well versed in history, explains every step of preparing to fire a musket in a military lineup.  He goes through all the steps and fires the musket into an area free from any form of endangerment to any humans or species.  Once done, he further explains the steps for reloading and demonstrates the process until he once again fires a second shot.


Pictured above is part of a table of tools and weapons used during the period.

Multiple canons are on display and yes one of them does actually get fired.

There are a number of muskets on display and if you have never had the opportunity to hold one in your hands, you get a chance to do so here at the encampment.  Again, this is a living museum and many areas are hands on.  How often do you get such a grand opportunity?

There are numerous tents that you can go into and explore what life was like inside one of these.

Attention to detail is never lacking.  There are surprises around each corner and if you have your camera ready, you have some great opportunities to take advantage of.

An entire area has been dedicated to what cooking for the troops was like and even includes the supply shed.

Foods and their preparations are fully demonstrated.  The above is only a very small sampling of what you will see.

Pictured here is the troops laundry area and costs for having someone wash your cloths for you based on the money used during that period.

There is also the encampments doctor with all his tools and medicines used during the time and he covers their uses in full detail.  Sure we have pictures, but the objective is to get you to pay a visit and see everything for yourself and start your own educational process.  While we seek to educate as many people about our nation's history, we have found that taking a hands on approach gives a more true appreciation for such.  With that said, this is why we are promoting area museums and sites and will continue to do so.  It's a combined effort to bring our nations history to as many people as possible for a greater appreciate of what this country really is and can once again be.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Yorktown Victory Center Remodeling Updates, Part 1


























The Yorktown Victory Center has been under a remodeling for some time now, however, their doors have remained open to the public and the experience is just as grand as it has always been.  We took some time this week to explore the facility and take a number of pictures and meet with some of the staff as well as the reenactors to get a better picture of what is going on.  Though they have a large wall up surrounding the new construction site, giving the appearance that maybe they are closed, the living museum experience has not suffered in the least by the new construction.

  The staff at the facility were great and very helpful.  While we walked around the the colonial American farm section of the living museum, one of the staff members was cooking some incredible meals that both looked and smelled very delicious.

Meals are made in period fashion to give visitors a real world idea of what life was once like for our forefathers and foremothers for that matter.

The entire farm section of the living museum is incredibly recreated in very rich detail and includes tobacco farming common during the era.

The details recreated in a typical family farmhouse are amazing.  The dinner table all set for the family to sit down and eat once the food is ready.

  Details in every area of daily life are not spared.  Even the laundry area was set up to give visitors and idea of what a typical day consisted of during the period.

 Even the socks were hung out to dry along with other laundry.  Obviously someone earlier in the day had spent time doing the daily load.

There was so much to see and do here alone that this area itself is well worth the visit.  If you have not been to the Yorktown Victory Center in awhile, it's time for a return trip.  If you have never been and you have even the slightest bit of interest in history, then this is a must for your list.  If you are a photographer, then this is a dream place to shoot.

Below is a PDF that shows what is under construction and what we can all expect in the future.  The plans are very exciting.



New Yorktown Museum Highlights Flyer 10 2013 from Chuck Thompson

To view the PDF in full screen mode, please left click the icon at the far bottom right hand side of the Slideshare container.  To exit full screen mode, just hit the escape key on your keyboard.  This is part one in our series on the Yorktown Victory Center.
Enhanced by Zemanta