Man, I disliked history when I was young. Booorrring. Can I get a big, fat yawn? Why is history so dull, so lifeless, so sleep-inducing when we are kids? And why does our repulsion for it switch later in life? Trust me, I know there are some people that will never find a way to connect with “olden” times and that’s okay. It can’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Yet, many adults, after notching a couple decades on their belts, begin to find interest in things of yesteryear.
There are many, many perks to military life and one of them is exploring this great country (or other countries if you are really lucky). While reading crusty, tedious history books as a kid, I never thought I’d revel in exploring our country’s rich past. But now, these places are not only coming to life, but are becoming a part of me. Living in Virginia enables my family to experience historical possibilities that enrich our lives.
With that said, each year for our birthdays, Dustin and I try to plan a special trip. We usually try to surprise each other with a quaint bed and breakfast and some sight-seeing adventure. There can be no chain restaurants or hotels–locally owned is the goal. This year for Dustin’s birthday, I planned a trip to Fredericksburg, Virginia. Revolutionary and Civil War here we come!
The place I picked for us to stay is called the Richard Johnston Inn. Architected by one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, it was an upscale inn back in the 1770’s. 1770’s! Then it became the mayor’s home in the 1800’s. How cool is that? It survived both wars, which is remarkable.
And let me tell you…the breakfast. Seriously, it was ah-ma-zing. Here is where it went down.
Omelets, coffee, fresh fruits, cream, tea, bacon. And I didn’t have to make any of it, which, of course, always makes it taste better. Best of all, the staff was extremely accommodating of my gluten intolerance. We also met some great people while having breakfast. This is one of the things Dustin and I love about bed and breakfasts; you always meet interesting and engaging people.
Our room was a comfy, rustic suite and we learned that it was used by slaves as the kitchen. It still had all the original wood and brick flooring. The big fireplace was still there and the remnants of meals cooked over a wood fire still lingered in the air. I always like to visualize the people that used to inhabit the spaces that I’m now leaving my mark on. I could just see in my mind the men and women preparing meals for the wealthy owners. What were their names? Did they ever wonder about the people who would come after them? What could they tell a 21st century family? I love to let my mind wonder about the lives that came before me.
Word is, the inn has a couple friendly ghosts, but we did not encounter any.
Our adventure for the day was to walk through historical downtown Fredericksburg and visit unique “living” museums. The first stop was The Apothecary. This was where you could go and see the “doctor.” I’d say it was more like a guy with a jar of leeches and a hack saw. The workers dress in period clothing and speak to you as if it’s 200 years ago. They enlighten you on the medical advancements of the time, which leaves most people squirming in their seats.
I’ll break it down for you. If it was infected–chop it off. If it was broken–chop it off. If you had something wrong with you that couldn’t be chopped off, slice open a vein and let the blood pour out. If something hurt in your mouth, rip it out. And when all else failed, stick some leeches on you to suck the bad thing out. The tour was extremely educational and I left there with a renewed sense of appreciation for our modern medical knowledge. To make it through just one of those operations, you would’ve had to get me rip-roaring drunk or knock me out with a swift punch to the head. Most likely, though, I would have NEVER gone to the doctor. An 18th century Amy would likely have looked like a Stephen King character: Rotten teeth, infected, dangling limbs, and bad, oozing sores. They were some hard-core people back then.
Our next stop on the tour was The Rising Sun Tavern. This was built by George Washington’s brother, Charles, around 1760. All the connections to the very historical people of our past really bring these places to life. Here, we were introduced to tavern life. From a woman’s prospective, it was interesting to hear how women travelled. They didn’t do it very often, because it was difficult and very expensive. But if a woman did stay at a tavern, she was confined to a few rooms in the house, so as not to have her reputation tarnished by the menfolk staying there. The men were usually drinking, smoking, gambling, and cursing, which was viewed as an improper environment for women and children.
We listened, enthralled, to hear how they operated a tavern without modernities. From sleeping in beds with strangers to make room, to bathing infrequently because they thought it was bad for you, to sleeping with a nightcap on your long hair (for the ladies) so the rats wouldn’t nest in it, the stories were an eye-opening glimpse into the past. Once again, I left there with a new appreciation for my cushy life.
There were many other places to visit on the tour, but, unfortunately, we ran out of time. Plus, we needed to get cupcakes, which naturally has top priority even if you are turning 35. That night, we feasted at a German restaurant called The Bavarian. It is located in an old train depot. Dinner was delicious and gifted our tastebuds with new flavors. It was a great way to top off an awesome day.
So, what do you think? Old or nerd? I never thought I’d say this, but I hope you vote for nerd. Well, at least a novice history nerd. I’m learning to embrace this new aspect of my personality. Virginia has so much to offer in learning and understanding our past. I’m trying to soak it all up in the short time we are stationed here. What is one of your favorite historical places that you have visited?
