Colonial Williamsburg bills itself as a “living history museum” and describes itself thusly:
In Colonial Williamsburg?s 301-acre Historic Area stand hundreds of restored, reconstructed, and historically furnished buildings. Costumed interpreters tell the stories of the men and women of the 18th-century city?black, white, and native American, slave, indentured, and free?and the challenges they faced. In this historic place, we help the future learn from the past.
It is, or at least is intended to be, an exact replica of life in 18th Cenutry Williamsburg. That is, of course, as long as you ignore the iPods:
WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia (AP) — Thomas Jefferson isn’t about to start listening to an iPod, with telltale earbud wires dangling from beneath his three-cornered hat as he walks the streets of Colonial Williamsburg.
But people far from the restored 18th-century capital of Virginia can use their portable audio players to hear costumed interpreter Bill Barker talk about portraying Jefferson or, in honor of the Fourth of July holiday, read the Declaration of Independence.
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Colonial Williamsburg is creating free weekly audio programs people can listen to on computers as well as portable players to find out more about those who work there, plying old trades and playing historical figures. The idea is to educate people and, hopefully, inspire them to visit
The complete menu of Williamsburg podcasts is available on their website, and Williamsburg isn’t the only Virginia historial site utilizing this new medium of communication:
Among sites related to America’s independence, Monticello, Jefferson’s home in Charlottesville, has a collection of podcasts available on its Web site, ranging from talks about restoration efforts there to the former president’s own words, such as his “rough draft” of the Declaration of Independence.
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For Civil War buffs, Richmond National Battlefield Park in Virginia recently made available a podcast with a historian narrating a 1.5 mile tour of the battle fought at Malvern Hill on July 1, 1862.
Monticello’s podcasts are available here, and the Richmond National Battlefield podcast is available here. Before long, I’m sure we’ll see alot more of this from historical sites around the Commonwealth, and elsewhere.
