COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG
WHERE HISTORY LIVES

We'll have to park the Chevy. No cars permitted here, but it's a fine day for a walk. Colonial Williamsburg is an incredible living history museum with over 500 homes, shops and buildings; 90 acres of formal gardens and hundreds of period-costumed interpreters.

Originally settled almost on the eve of the American Revolution, and restored to its 1770 grandeur as Britain's largest colony in the New World, Colonial Williamsburg is alive today.

This is the Governor's Palace. A lot of original furniture remains.

This is the armory and magazine.

So much to see and so little time. Let's climb back in the Chevy for a six mile trip down the road.

WELCOME TO CARTER'S GROVE PLANTATION

Carter's Grove Plantation, located approximately six miles from Colonial Williamsburg, was begun in 1750 by Carter Burwell, grandson of the original Robert "King" Carter. Carter's Grove was named the most beautiful house in America by the American Architects Association. The manor house is approached by a scenic drive through woods, meadows and marshes in pristine isolation.

This is the main hall. It is 28 feet wide and panelled in walnut. During the Civil War, some patriotic soul painted this gorgeous woodwork red, white and blue. This room was also used for storing hay for the horses. Can you imagine?

This is the study.

Thousands of Colonial guests were drawn to this center of Virginia social life and culture. While Carter Burwell, born October 8, 1716, moved onto the property in 1737, the manor house was not completed until November 1755. Burwell only lived to enjoy Carter's Grove for six months. He died in May, 1756 in his 41st year. Stipulated in his will were these words: "This estate in all times to come to be called and to go by the name of Carter's Grove." Any succeeding owner had to agree to this before the sale of the property could be finalized.

Oh, how we wish we could linger here, in the past, but we must move along.

WE'RE GOING ON A SHORT DRIVE
ALONG THE SCENIC
COLONIAL PARKWAY

That was an enjoyable ride, but what's happened? It's 1607 and we're in JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT

On December 20, 1606, three merchant ships...Discovery, Godspeed and Susan Constant...set sail from England loaded with 104 men and boys charged with starting a settlement in the New World.

On May 14, 1607, the three small ships arrived in Virginia, the place chosen was James Island, and set the course of American history.

The passengers, being "gentlemen", were ill-suited for the task of building the first permanent English settlement in America, pre-dating Plymouth, MA, by 13 years. The early years were extremely difficult ones and many were lost from lack of food, disease and occasional hostilities with local Indians.

In time, more ships carrying more settlers arrived, and Jamestown became a bustling settlement. Hostilities with the Algonquin Indians, led by Chief Powhatan, ceased - at least, for a while - when his daughter, Pocahontas, married John Rolfe.

The first representative assembly met in Jamestown in 1619 and it then served as the Capital of Virginia until 1699, when the capital was moved to Williamsburg.

Two events, which could have occurred hundreds of miles apart, but which, in fact, occurred on the same peninsula between the James and York Rivers, turned the world upside down. One of them was Jamestown. The other was...

THE BATTLE OF YORKTOWN

The drama of the American Revolution and the birth of a great nation comes alive at Yorktown, Virginia. It was the scene of George Washington's greatest triumph and the end of the American Revolutionary War with the surrender of the British.

The Battle of Yorktown began March 15, 1781. British General Cornwallis disobeyed orders and moved his battered army north to Virginia.

The Continental Army, fighting side by side with its French allies, soundly defeated Cornwallis, ending the fighting. America's battle for freedom was won!

See, history isn't always boring. We're heading north now if everyone will get back in the Chevy to see the home of our first President.

THIS IS MOUNT VERNON
HOME OF GEORGE WASHINGTON

Let's start our tour outside Mount Vernon on the east front which faces the Potomac River. George Washington ordered the construction of this piazza (porch) from his military headquarters in the second year of the eight-year Revolutionary War. Washington lived at Mt Vernon for 45 years.

Washington had this room added to the mansion to create a private office. From this room, Washington wrote to political leaders across America and managed Mt. Vernon's 8,000 acres.

This is actually the front of the mansion. It's not the view we're used to seeing.

Everone back in the Chevy, and we're off a short distance to Arlington.

HERE WE ARE IN ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

WELCOME TO ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, AMERICA'S MOST HALLOWED GROUND...WHERE VALOR PROUDLY SLEEPS.

Arlington is one of more than 100 national cemeteries. However, it is only one of two administered by the Army. Nearly four million visitors pay their respects to over 250,000 fallen military heroes entombed at Arlington each year.

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWNS...The unknown soldier is an unidentified wartime casualty who has, since World War I, been memorialized by the United States as representative of all those who died in our national service. Service members from World War I, World War II and Korea are buried here. The Viet Nam unidentified solder was later identified by DNA testing and his family asked to have him removed.

This is Arlington House, seen in the distance behind the soldiers' graves and also known as the Lee-Custis Mansion. The 612 acres of Arlington National Cemetery were once part of the 1,100 acres of Arlington Plantation, owned by Mary Lee Randolph Custis, a relative of George Washington.

She married Lt. Robert E. Lee on June 30, 1831, and lived in Arlington House for 30 years.

It was confiscated in May, 1864, and sold to the Federal Government when the Lee's failed to pay $92.07 in property taxes in person.

The Pentagon is probably Arlington's most well-known site and is home to the U. S. Military. It is the world's largest office building with 6.5 million square feet. As a size comparison, the U.S. Capitol building would fit easily into any of the five wedge-shaped sections. Approximately 25,000 employees work here.

Everyone settle back, and we're going to head southwest toward Charlottesville, VA.