It's Saturday night.

Not just any Saturday night; it's the final Grand Illumination celebration in Colonial Williamsburg (CW) of 2025. I saw the fireworks, drove out of the historic area at a snail's pace, and decided I'd brew up some decaf and open my laptop.

Because I got inspired.

There's something about watching fireworks over the very spot Virginians voted for Independence on May 15, 1776. Let's be clear, the Capitol that stands at the end of Duke of Gloucester Street today is a reconstruction. But still.

No matter what time of year it is, Independence and our early American history, is constantly in view. That reconstruction stands as a reminder of the role Williamsburg played in the creation of our United States.

Grand Illumination over reconstructed Capitol Building, CW.

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I am where I should be.

Standing there in the silence of the crowd, watching the Capitol illuminated under the flashing then fading light of fireworks, grounded me.

Do you ever get that moment, that rush, of complete calm?

I experienced it full-on. All the worry, the sheer terror of still trying to turn this blog into an income-earning, sustainable business... stopped. What I'm doing, what I'm attempting to build, it's right.

Don't misunderstand. I've known for awhile I've made the best decision possible in going after life as a history blogger. But tonight was one of those "once in awhile" reminders. The clarity. The confidence. That all-encompassing certainty.

Ok, it's more than "once in awhile." It's whenever I wander past Jefferson with his quill - the statue on Merchant's Square, hear a fiddle being played on the street, see the passionate performances of CW's actor interpreters and historians, ask questions of the skilled tradespeople, wander over to Yorktown or Jamestown, visit a historic site for the first time, touch an historic document found in special collections... it's often.

Writing about all the things directly and indirectly related to the founding of this nation, as we head into the 250th anniversary of American Independence-- is not only what I want to do, but what I'm compelled to do.

Jefferson with his quill, Merchant's Square, Williamsburg

Musings and a journal-style approach to writing.

This blog started as a hobby blog. It started as my musings and my journal as I dove deeper and deeper into the stories of our shared past. So tonight seemed a perfect one to drop a post paying a bit of homage to my initial dip into the waters of American history.

And I'm pretty confident I'll be continually inspired by my surroundings, the people I meet, the historic sites I visit, and you- my fellow history-loving readers.

Thank you for coming along for the ride! And if you visit CW, know I'm doing customized history tours and travel itineraries for the whole region!

Want to see some of the posts related to all the inspiration I mentioned above? My reminders? Click the links below to go down a rabbit hole or five.

• My book review for The Family Letters of Thomas Jefferson.
• My visit to the John Marshall House in Richmond, Virginia.
• Interview of Cadence Hodge, a student preserving black history in Surry County.
• Special Collections shared with me at Stratford Hall.
• Customized history tours in Colonial Williamsburg.

CW's Governor's Palace, discussed on some of my custom tours.

Closing words from history.

After Virginia voted on the question of Independence in Williamsburg, Thomas Nelson, Jr. got on his horse and rode to Philadelphia. There, Richard Henry Lee took the directive of his countrymen in Virginia to the Congress. On July 2nd, Lee's resolution passed- and Independence was the way forward.

Today's closing words honor that event and the thoughts running through my brain as I watched the CW's Grand Illumination.

Click here to read the letter in full, with notes and citations, on the Founders Archives.

....

But the Day is past. The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.—I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with 4 Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

Are you enjoying this free blog? I love writing and researching it! And I want to continue sharing What American History Is About with you. Use my online tip jar and buy me a coffee:

There is a huge practical disclaimer to the content on this blog, which is my way of sharing my excitement and basically journaling online.

1) I am not a historian nor an expert. I will let you know I’m relaying the information as I understand and interpret it. The employees of Colonial Williamsburg base their presentations, work, and responses on historical documents and mainly primary sources.

2) I will update for accuracy as history is constant learning. If you have a question about accuracy, please ask me! I will get the answer from the best source I can find.

3) Photo credit to me, Daphne Reznik, for all photos in this post, unless otherwise credited! All photos are personal photos taken in public access locations or with specific permission.