Sometimes the signs of rebellion pop up in surprising places, such as the back of a silver spoon.
From above, an 18th-century silver spoon looks like a regular, run-of-the-mill piece from a set. When turned over, tiny letters reveal a message: “I love liberty.” The letters form an arch above an image of a bird escaping its cage. It was a common motif, commissioned by families who wanted to show their loyalties in a subtle way.
The spoon is just one object telling the story of America’s revolution in a new exhibit at Jamestown Settlement opening March 1. The exhibit, called “Jamestown’s Legacy to the American Revolution,” builds a bridge between the men and women who populated Jamestown and their descendants who fought the British for independence. It also provides a peek at artifacts acquired for the future American Revolution Museum, which will replace the existing Yorktown Victory Center in 2016 (read more here).
The exhibit, partially funded by James City County, features furnishings, weapons, nautical items, documents and commemorative objects, all acquired for the future museum. They range from a trunk owned by a Continental Navy shipbuilder to an American-made saber stamped with the owner’s name to a replica of the famous statue of George Washington that sits in the Virginia Capitol.
The exhibit will explore Virginia under King George III’s rule; profile the Ambler family to illustrate the lives of merchants, planters and famers; focus on Colonel Richard Taylor to tell the story of soldiers and sailors in early Virginia; highlights the statesmen and diplomats, including Richard Bland II; and finishes with an overview of Washington’s career. His own ancestor, John Washington, arrived in Virginia in 1656 and later served in the House of Burgesses at Jamestown.
Curators with the future American Revolution Museum are focused on acquiring pieces for the future 80,000-square-foot facility, and are in the planning stages for the museum’s media elements, which will include films, interactive screens and more. So far, they’ve acquired about 500 artifacts, bought with private money or donated. They look for objects that have credentials, a history of association, engage with 18th-century life and are in good condition.
The curatorial staff is led by Tom Davidson, longtime senior curator with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. Last month, former Colonial Williamsburg curator Martha Katz-Hyman was hired to lead the development of the media elements. She is also working alongside Sarah Meschutt, senior curator, on acquisitions. They’re tasked with making the future museum a must-see for anyone wanting to learn about the Revolutionary War.
“We want to tell the story of the Revolution in a more extensive way,” Meschutt said Thursday. “It’s bigger than the Virginia story. I don’t know of another museum that tells the national story and has a teaching program reaching thousands. We hope to be the target for all people who own paintings and objects of the era to donate.”
Katz-Hyman is working with McLean-based Cortina Productions to develop historically accurate media elements, providing source materials, quotes and even sound suggestions. “I’m saying yay or nay to things like costumes and the physical set-ups,” she said, adding that she’ll help to choose actors to portray historic figures like Washington. Currently, Cortina is scouting for filming locations to recreate battle scenes.
Meschutt, who came to JYF from the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, is working to fulfill the curators’ wish lists of objects and artifacts that tell the story of the Revolution. It isn’t easy, however, because of Americans’ enthusiasm for the founders.
“It’s an area of great patriotic appeal, and we’re quite late in the game of collecting highly desirable artifacts,” she said.
Meschutt, a Brit, learned about the American Revolution in school around the age of 12. Even across the pond, the war is portrayed as patriotric; all nations can relate to the universal theme of independence, she said.
The curators say the museum will be relevant to all Americans, including new citizens and immigrants who can relate to the colonists’ mixed feelings toward their home countries. It will put visitors in the moment, helping them understand the complexities of the period, including the two-year fight to adopt the Constitution.
The lesson to take away will be, “We’re all supposed to be working toward the greater good,” Katz-Hyman said.
Parts of the Victory Center will remain open to the public throughout construction of the new museum, which will happen in phases. Once complete, the building will have to run for a test period of about six months before the climate will be suitable for the fragile artifacts. Curatorial staff expect to move back to the site in the third quarter of 2014.
“Jamestown’s Legacy to the American Revolution” opens March 1 at Jamestown Settlement. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Jamestown’s admission, $16 for adults and $7.50 for children ages 6 through 12, includes the special exhibit. Residents of the Historic Triangle, including William & Mary students, have complimentary admission with proof of residency. For more information, call (757) 253-4838 or visit https://www.historyisfun.org.
