Introduction
Wind energy was the fastest growing power source at the starts of the 21st century, yet wind-driven mills and pumps, and nautical sails for transport, were, along with waterwheels, the first mechanical devices to power industrial production. The advantages of harnessing wind energy are obvious; it is free, clean and widely available. This unit explores the Wind as a potential source of useable energy.
Fashion and Function
A corset's engineered strictness defines the shape of the 18th-century woman. Journeywoman Brooke Welborn explains the trend.
The Fifth Virginia Convention
The American rebels stood to lose a lot by winning the war. Sites interpreter B.J. Pryor discusses the risk of success.
The British Constitution
The fundamentals of British law reside in the American Constitution. Historian Nancy Milton describes the English influence.
Restoration and Reconstruction
Putting an 18th-century face on a 21st-century building is a feat of research and resourcefulness, explains Colonial Williamsburg architect Scott Spence.Author(s):
Witches in the Colonies
Author Carson Hudson shares some practical 17th-century tips for identifying witches.
Colonial Journalism
Political pressure and personal bias have hounded American journalists since the first newspapers were printed. Interpreter Dennis Watson talks about the Virginia Gazette.Author(s):
The Native Tongue
Native tribes and colonizers began a dialogue without a word in common. Buck Woodard describes the early exchanges.
African American Programs at 30
African American programming adapts through the decades. Harvey Bakari outlines the goals of interpreting Williamsburg's enslaved population.
Ironworks at Jamestown
Virginia's soil yielded unexpected resources. Journeyman Blacksmith Shel Browder talks about an early iron foundry at Jamestown.
On This Day
News and notices from the 18th century are the subject of a new compilation. Librarian Juleigh Clark describes the Revolutionary War Era Daybook.
The Governor's Palace at 75
Fresh eyes refocus an architectural icon. Chief Curator Emeritus Graham Hood on recomposing an 18th-century landmark.
In Their Own Words
Old sources give fresh voice to slavery's story. Manager of African American programs Tricia Brooks explains how we know what we know.
Smallpox and the Covenant
America's smallpox eradication has its roots in 18th-century Boston.
Comic book history
Comic book author Bentley Boyd uses a vivid medium to snare new students of American history.
The Joy of Discovery
Recreating 18th-century technology takes perseverance and luck, says Jay Gaynor, Director of Historic Trades.
Bees in the Colonies
The humble honeybee sweetens the American story. Apiarist Bill Krebs says bees have been here since the beginning.
Horses in Williamsburg
Horses lend their speed and strength to the American colonies. Head coachman Joyce Henry shares the horse's role in early Virginia.
Consider the Pumpkin
Pumpkins sustain early settlers through American winters. Author and historian Mary Miley Theobald explains why the gourd deserves more respect.Author(s):
The Rights of Youth
Children and the law: Historian Cathy Hellier and Law Professor Jim Dwyer contrast 18th-century and 21st-century juvenile justice.
