Revolutionary City



"The Next Disagreeable Thing"

Revolutionary City is a popular 2 1/2 hour street theater program that happens daily starting in mid-March, and ending in mid-November. This program started on March 20, 2006, and has been going ever since. Important events that happened during the 18th century unfold before your eyes as you see firsthand the struggles, turning points, and triumphs of our quest for independence.



In this program, there are historical figures that everyone knows such as General George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and General Benedict Arnold. There are also figures that may not be known by people who are not too familiar with our American history like Lord Dunmore, the Randolph's, Mann Page, Gowan Pamphlet, and George Mercer. And these are only a few of the people you will meet as you yourself become a citizen during this time period in Revolutionary City.



Throughout Revolutionary City, you will experience the contrasting viewpoints between the patriots and the loyalists, the struggles of the slaves, angry mobs complaining about the stamp act, the "dissolve" of the House of Burgesses by Lord Dunmore, and the occupation of the town by the "lobster-backs" just to name a few. 



The Marquis de Lafayette in "On to Yorktown & Victory!"



Revolutionary City is broken up into three acts:
Act I- The Collapse of the Royal Government: Takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and follows events from May of 1774 to May of 1776. During this act, you will see events that made most citizens want to break ties of the British monarchy and become a free and independent nation.



Act II- Citizens at War: Takes place on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays and follows events July 26, 1776 (the news of Declaration of Independence comes to Williamsburg) to September 28, 1781 (when George Washington along with the French and American armies leave Williamsburg to head for Yorktown.) During this act, you will see major events of the Revolutionary War that happened right in Williamsburg.

Act III- Building a Nation: Takes place on Mondays, and is filled with stories of regular citizens that made a big impact on the nation.



What is also special about Revolutionary City, is that when possible, direct quotes from historical documents are said in the program.

The historical interpreters/actors really make this program a major hit. Each person brings to life the history of our American Revolution extremely well in their own way. There is absolutely NO WAY you could not see and feel the hardships and the triumphs through the way each one of the interpreters portrays each person. They make everything feel so real, and you will definitely get caught up in that moment. Revolutionary City is certainly an experience everyone should encounter... and let me tell you, you will have nothing but raving reviews about this program.



The Reading of The Declaration of Independence



Do not expect to be left out during Revolutionary City either. Although the historical interpreters are the ones acting out these events for the audience, you are encouraged to take part. You can cheer or boo at things you like or dislike. You may even get carried away as I always do and shout out (loudly) a big ol'  "HUZZAH!"

Hopefully you will all get to partake in the wonderful program, Revolutionary City, where you can see firsthand some of the major events of our American Revolution.

I only have one thing to ask you.... Are you ready for a Revolution??????







General Benedict Arnold in "The Town is Taken"









 














The Construction of the Anderson Blacksmith Shop's Kitchen



The Anderson Blacksmith Shop's Kitchen, July 2010

On a visit to Colonial Williamsburg in July 2010, archaeologists were just uncovering the Anderson Blacksmith Shop's kitchen.  As months went by, I ended up visiting Colonial Williamsburg once again just a week before the construction of the kitchen in November. As one can only imagine, it was absoultly wonderful to see the progress in person. While unlocking a piece of 18th century history, archaeologists and tradespeople alike discovered many interesting things such as dog burial sites and even a wig curler. Now the walls are up and tradespeople in the brickyard are working on putting the chimney/fireplace in place! It seems with just a blink of an eye, the Anderson Blacksmith Shop's kitchen went from a new discovery, to on the road to being almost finished. But mind you, there still is quite a few more things to be done until it is completely done. Hopefully you, just like I am, are very excited to see the finished product of the kitchen. Updates on the construction of the kitchen will be posted later on!!



Anderson Blacksmith Shop's Kitchen, late December 2010
(Picture courtasy of Colonial Williamsburg's Brickyard)