Author Description

"Discover Virginia through the lens of the Stuart monarchy, whose royal foothold impacted and influenced early America and shaped the struggles and determination of those who lived in the colony in the 17th and 18th centuries. This two-fold special exhibition extended through September 19, 2023 at both Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown spans the centuries and makes connections between the past and our present, to illuminate how the Stuarts — and their legacies in Virginia — are closer than you think. At Jamestown Settlement, the exhibition considers how the reign of the Stuarts in the 17th century solidified Virginia’s identity as the Old Dominion, which had lasting impacts not only for the 18th century but for the world we live in today. At the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, the exhibition explores how the legacies of the Stuart era contributed toward Virginia’s distinct American identity, resulting in formerly loyal Cavaliers fighting for independence from Great Britain. Reign & Rebellion intertwines groundbreaking moments in Virginia’s history, provocative personal stories and showstopper artifacts that lay the path of Virginia’s road to Revolution. With the approach of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the exploration of the Stuart dynasty has never been more relevant. When colonists arrived in Tsenacommacah and established the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown, they brought with them English history, culture and attitudes that entwined with those of Virginia’s Indigenous population and individuals forcibly brought from Africa. This convergence during the Stuart era prompted turbulent engagements with ideas about class, religion, the role of government, and evolving constructs of race. Reign & Rebellion explores the complex legacies of the Stuart’s rule in Virginia through the personal stories of those who lived it."- From Exhibition Webpage: