President Bush is related to Pocahontas?

The replica ships docked at Jamestown, in order of size: Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery.

America's Heritage Flag unveiled at Jamestown this weekend.


Last night, we attended the VIP Evening Reception of Jamestown 2007's Anniversary Weekend, celebrating America's 400th Anniversary. Organizers said that more than 15,000 people came to the beginning of the three-day commemoration of the first permanent English settlement in America.

Over the course of the weekend, local, national and international dignitaries are scheduled to participate in various activities. President Bush is scheduled to visit Sunday, and retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor participated in Friday's opening proceedings as well as Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, U.S. Sen. Jim Webb and former governor and Republican presidential candidate Jim Gilmore.

Organizers for the event, which has an estimated price tag of $30 million, have said it has three main goals: increasing state tourism, teaching visitors about history and attracting new economic development.

We toured Jamestown Settlement, a living history museum with a wonderful docent who added animation to the stories within. Later this summer, we'll tour the rest of Historic Jamestown (which is a federal park), since Bert has never visited before. As a Virginia-born and -bred girl, Jamestown IS history to me.


Interesting tidbit: who would have thought that President Bush is related to Pocahontas?

In Anniversary Park, across from the Settlement Museum, Ancestry.com had an exhibit showing that:

Bush's 8th great-grandfather Robert Bolling was married twice. His first wife, Jane Rolfe, was Pocahontas' only grandchild. Bush descends from Robert Bolling through his second marriage. In addition, Bush's 8th great-aunt Mary Kennon married Pocahontas' great-grandson.

He's related to most - if not all - of Pocahontas' living descendants. Don't hold that against Pochaontas, though. LOL

More cool, interactive info re: Jamestown:
You think you've got it rough? 1607-2007