Ironworks at Jamestown

Description

Settlers came to Jamestown in the 1600s looking for natural resources that would make them rich. They were disappointed in their search for gold, but the New World offered a metal nearly as precious: iron. Shel Browder of Colonial Williamsburg discusses early efforts at smelting, and describes the smelting process.

Learn more about ironworks in Virginia by checking out this article by Christopher Geist.

Freedom Bound

Description

When slavery was introduced to the colonies in 1600, the reaction was a struggle to become free. Writer Christy Coleman discusses the efforts of slaves to secure freedom and the creation of an Electronic Field Trip on the subject for Colonial Williamsburg.

Interested in learning more about Electronic Field Trips? Click here!

Colonial Chocolate

Description

From the Colonial Williamsburg website:

"Chocolate held the same appeal in the 18th century as it does in the 21st. Colonists spiced it, baked it, drank it, and drizzled it with an eagerness which makes the past seem not such a distant place."

A journeyman cook in Historic Foodways at Colonial Williamsburg, Jim Gay, talks about making chocolate.

Learn more about colonial foods by clicking here.

Colonial Costuming

Description

Brenda Rosseau, supervisor of Research and Design in the Costume Design Center at Colonial Williamsburg, talks about the work involved in accurately costuming historical interpreters and the place of clothing and fashion in colonial society.

Carolyn Wilson on Betty Randolph and Independence Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 02/02/2009 - 12:35
Description

Carolyn Wilson, who interprets the historical figure Betty Randolph at Colonial Williamsburg, talks about the Randolph family, one of the first families of Virginia, focusing particularly on John and Peyton Randolph and the American Revolution.

Coopering

Description

Marshall Scheetz, an apprentice cooper at Colonial Williamsburg, talks about coopering according to colonial-era practices.

Note: this podcast is no longer available. To view a transcript of the original podcast, click here.