So class, yesterday we learned about the CSS Virginia and how most people call her by the incorrect name of…..?
The Merrimack.
Sure you do… you just haven’t realized it yet.
It’s okay. I’ll wait.
Today, we’re going to the movies.
In a surround sound theater that promised an ‘edge of your seat exciting’ depiction of the Ironclad battle.
“You’ll feel like you’re right there!” exclaimed the docent.
Yeah.
About that…
It was a cartoon.
An informative cartoon, I grant you…
But a cartoon all the same. And even with the rolling smoke that issued from the walls and floor…. I didn’t feel any more there than I did watching Bugs Bunny as a child.
Oh well, there were better things ahead.
Like the USS Monitor… famous for her spinning gun turret.
Is it me, or does that thing look like a drunken owl?
She was built in 100 days, which was an amazing accomplishment for the time.
And the museum faithfully recreated what the officer’s quarters looked like upon completion.
Not too shabby.
If a wee bit small.
There were lots of interesting artifacts to examine.
As well as photos of the men who served aboard her.
Of course, being me…. you know I had to find some reference to alcoholic refreshment.
And then, in the next section of the museum….
A replica of the recovered Monitor’s turret.
The original is currently on site and being slowly and painstakingly preserved. Read about it’s discovery and journey to Newport News here.
This was basically what it looked like on the ocean floor.
All that rusty metal! You know my other half was thrilled….
But one of the most impressive aspects of this museum’s exhibit?
A life size USS Monitor right outside.
Of course it was raining and they advised you not to walk on her slippery deck….
So that’s exactly what we did.
Stand on the bow of an Ironclad?
Uh… yes. I will!
Husband even rung the turret’s bell for good measure.
Cool beans!
And if that wasn’t awesome enough? Back inside and down a flight stairs….
Took you inside the turret.
And literally inside the ship itself.
Admittedly the engines and engineering diagrams were above my pay grade.
But the display really gave you a feel for the ship.
And my inner history nerd was sighing with satisfaction.
We did climb up to the observation landing to peer into the lab where the original pieces of the ship are being restored, but it was just giant vats of seawater with electrical current running through them.
Not very photo worthy, so I’ll spare you the shots.
Fear not.
The second half of the museum starts tomorrow…. and it will be a little more fun.
If you’re not a fan of museums, or history, or naval war battles and the Civil War Ironclads?
Please feel free to skip the next dozen posts because that’s probably how long it’s going to take me to document this amazing place in Newport News, Virginia.
It was an overcast day that was threatening rain so I thought this would be a good choice. I had no idea what to expect and was ready to pay a large ticket price… so imagine my surprise when I saw this.
My first reaction was… man, this place must bite.
But oh, was I wrong.
Upon arrival this magnificent eagle greets you.
It’s a remarkable carving and was lovingly restored from it’s original perch on the bow of this ship.
Look closely, it’s there. And gives you some perspective of how large those ships really were.
Next up was a light.
But not just any light.
And if these were the items in the lobby?
I knew we were going to have a great day.
There are 2 distinct areas of the museum to visit, but being a Civil War buff? I had to choose this first.
The Ironclads.
If you know nothing about them? Hang on.
You will by the time I’m through with you.
Great.
Let’s continue….
Turning the corner, we entered this bizarrely blue movie theater that told the story of the Monitor’s sinking.
Turn another corner…. and there she was.
Right under your feet.
And by watching the films, you come to realize how truly dedicated these people are to preserving history.
I found it quite moving.
Around the next corner…
Some interesting artifacts and a glimpse into our Naval past.
I tend to read faster than the husband and am always a few exhibits ahead.
Interestingly enough most people think of the Battle of the Ironclads as the Monitor vs the Merrimack, but technically that’s incorrect.
This was the Merrimack.
She was originally a Union ship that was captured by the Confederates when Gosport fell.
She was damaged, but thanks to this man…
Would be overhauled, covered in iron plate and turned into the CSS Virginia.
The Confederate’s Ironclad.
This is the museum’s recreation of her outfitting.
And what she looked like upon completion.
The Merrimack no longer.
There, you’ve learned something.
Now that wasn’t so bad… eh?
No! Not boring.
It’s history!
And how many of your friends can say they’ve seen inside a Civil War Ironclad?
None, I tell you!
None.
But now you have…
And are sure to be the envy of all your neighbors at the next block party.
Now don’t get excited food people, these taverns were for touring not eating.
Shield’s Tavern was closed, but had something the husband wanted to photograph.
Men. I can’t explain them….
But the gardens out back were lovely.
And I enjoyed a stroll among the well tended shrubbery.
I think Edward Scissorhands would approve.
There were vegetable gardens…
And wreaths…
I even saw an old ball and chain gate closure.
And then down the road, we found Wetherburn’s Tavern.
Where we had a guide give us the history and a tour.
Taverns back in the day were far different from what you might think. Rooms were rented for private parties, balls were held in the great rooms, owners lived behind the kitchen and the upstairs served as a hotel.
Which rooms you rented depended on your social standing.
Up to 12 men bunked in here.
I like cozy, but not thatcozy.
Middle class families might sleep 8 in this room.
A private room? You had serious money.
Business deals were struck and government policies were made in rooms like these.
While the tavern keepers cranked out the meals in here….
That’s one high tech rotisserie right there.
Many taverns had their own smokehouses and livestock.
Which prompted a 30 minute conversation from my husband about being raised on a dairy farm.
An appropriate wreath was decorating their door as well.
We may not have seen any beer…. but it was still a tavern.
Still strolling Duke of Gloucester Street, we found the apothecary shop and it’s mistress in the middle of recounting some 18th century cures.
Trust me when I say you should be glad you weren’t sick in the 18th century.
Many towns and villages didn’t have doctors and these pseudo pharmacists were as close to modern medicine as many people could get.
There were some interesting drawings….
And a back room were the cures were administered. Though why that fellow in the corner needs a hat, I’m sure I don’t know…
Next up was the reconstructed Capitol building.
The birthplace of American government if you will.
The flag flying at the entrance meant it was open for tours…
So we settled in to wait for the guide.
With the husband admiring the rather odd gutterless drainage system.
Which was really more of a moat.
If you’re interested, the history of the Capitol is here. I’ll spare you the retelling and just post a few interior shots.
Local representatives met here, first to report to the crown….and then to form a new government.
The speaker had a throne… make of that what you will.
Here are the rooms our founding fathers formed the basis of the country we know today.
One can only imagine how they’d react to our current state of affairs.
I’d say that’s pretty close.
There was also a court where grievances and victims of crimes were given justice.
To me, the nicest part of the tour was when our guide proudly told us that he had helped officiate over the swearing in of 250 new American citizens on that day…. a 300 year old tradition lovingly continued on site.
Leaving the Capitol, we found the gaol, pronounced jail.
Live Oak trees dominate the landscape, spreading their limbs for decades on end….
And I was seriously enjoying the all natural Christmas decorations.
How clever is that?
And while I was wreath gazing….
The husband spotted the entrance to a lounge reserved for veterans and their families.
To be honest I dreaded going inside. My husband has the gift of gab every day of the year, but when surrounded by other servicemen and women? I’ve spent half my married life waiting for him to conclude conversations.
But there was free tea, coffee and hot cider…..
And thankfully, a veteran free room.
Of course he spotted the challenge coin cases which started a 45 minute long convo with the staff of volunteers….. but he added a coin of his own, which admittedly was rather nice.
An hour later? More decorations…
More wreaths…
Some cleverly trimmed shrubbery ….
And the silversmith’s shop…
We oohed and aahed and chatted with the man who ran it.
Did you know the phrase “put your money to work” dates from colonial times before the advent of paper currency? You were normally paid in silver, and instead of having bags of the stuff laying around your home…. you took it to the local silversmith who melted it down and made you a fabulous coffee urn or tea set. Your money was “put to work” and you got to flaunt your wealth to visitors. A win, win situation.
Many of his beautiful pieces were for sale in the shop next door…. but the husband wasn’t thrilled with the idea of me spending his hard earned silver to bring some home.
So we strolled.
And were amazed to learn some of these nice little homes were still privately owned.
Who in the world would want to live in the middle of a tourist attraction?
But more importantly…
Where do I find a peacock for next year’s Christmas wreath?
Of the Colonial Seat of English rule in early Virginia.
Our guide led us inside…
Where we were immediately surrounded by a large numbers of weapons.
Weapons.
Everywhere.
I won’t bore you with the long history of the place, if you’re interested…. take a peek here.
I’ll just point out that it was home to the Royal Governor pre revolution, and numerous Virginia Governors like Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson post revolution.
It was an impressive place.
With an impressive wood stove.
Amazing decorative detail….
And some pretty brightly colored walls.
There was even a separate room for men to powder their wigs.
Maybe that’s what’s wrong with politics today…
Not enough wigs.
The beds were elaborate.
But the only thing I thought of when I saw the red room…
Complete with fancy dress crib to show off the progeny?
Was this:
It’s in there Rosemary….
Grab your knife.
(Sorry, but I saw that movie when I was 9 and it still creeps the hell out of me)
The final part of the tour was self guided.
And led us around back…
To the cellar.
Which was basically a whole lotta barrels…
And a whole lotta wine….
So… that done, we emerged.
And caught a charming scene.
A horse drawn carriage.
Adding a little something to the atmosphere of days gone by.
As well as making us watch where we walked… because, well. Horse diapers hadn’t been invented yet.
River's world..... 