We could have used another half day in Williamsburg, as there were a few parts that we left uncovered. But the things we saw and did helped history come alive.

We toured the capital building, where men like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson sat and legislated colonial Virginia. One room we entered was famous for Patrick Henry’s passionate speech against Britain’s imposition of the Stamp Act.

This colonial man was our tour guide.

Williamsburg consists of several buildings that house tradespeople, all of whom still produce goods used today. For instance, there was the wigmaker’s house where a person sat making wigs, and the cobbler’s house where shoes were made.

I’ll give you one guess as to which house we chose to visit.

The gunsmith. If you happen to have an extra $20K laying around, you could order a custom-made colonial musket, made using the technology of the 18th century. These guys are serious about their guns! They love answering questions.

And also love sharing their creations.

This is an actual bullet.

I managed to learn something new that day: the origin and meaning of the word ‘smith,’ as in gunsmith and blacksmith and silversmith. It comes from the word ‘smite,’ meaning a heavy blow or strike, as with a hammer.

I got a kick out of Ruthie wherever we went. As soon as we’d walk into a building–any building–she would immediately sit down and take off her shoes and coat. She would then proceed to make herself at home by freely running around.

After the visit at the gunsmith’s house, we sat and listened to George Washington give his famous farewell address then answer questions from the audience.