Several special events have been planned for conference attendees:
Sunday March 22: Opening Remarks at the Williamsburg Lodge.
Join us for the official kickoff of CAA 2009. The highlight will be the keynote address, “What’s New in Old World Archaeology? A North American Perspective,” to be given by Brian Rose, James B. Pritchard Professor of Archaeology, University of Pennsylvania and President, Archaeological Institute of America. Other speakers will include James Horn, Vice President of Research and Historical Interpretation, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation; Jeanne Zeidler, Mayor of the City of Williamsburg; Nick Ryan, Chair of the CAA Steering Committee; and Lisa Fischer, Chair of the CAA 2009 Organizing Committee.
Sunday March 22: Opening Reception at the Governor’s Palace (included in Conference Registration*)
Following the opening session, attendees are invited to a reception in the garden of the Governor’s Palace. Reconnect with old colleagues and meet new ones in this special venue. Participants will be able to tour the Governor’s Palace, the reconstructed home of seven of Virginia’s royal governors.
Monday March 23: Shields Tavern Dinner (optional—limited to 100 people)
For a truly unique dining experience, join your colleagues for dinner at Shields Tavern. Diners will enjoy the ambience of an 18th-century tavern while sampling foods based on 18th-century recipes. When registering, participants will be able to select one of three tasty dining options: chicken, salmon, or vegetarian. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the price of the dinner, but will be available for purchase.
Tuesday March 24: Conference Dinner (optional)
The Conference Dinner will be held at the Williamsburg Lodge. Feast on a buffet of regional cuisine while strolling balladeers entertain you. A historic person from the past will also make an appearance. Attendees will receive two wine/beer tickets; there will also be a cash bar.
Thursday March 26: Closing Reception at Historic Jamestowne (included in Conference Registration*)
Join your colleagues for a reception to wrap up CAA 2009 at Historic Jamestowne, site of the first permanent English settlement in North America. In 1994 archaeologists discovered the remains of James Fort, which was established in 1607. Attendees will be able to visit the ongoing excavation site, hear about the most recent findings from the archaeologists, and tour the Archaearium, a new museum that houses many of the important artifacts that are clues to lives of the earlier settlers.
Friday March 27: Post-Conference Excursions (optional)
After the conference ends, join one of the three fun and informative post-conference excursions to learn more about the local region, visit our co-hosts, or travel to the nation’s capital. All trips will require a minimum of 30 participants and be limited to a maximum of 50. (If the minimum number of participants is not reached for one of the trips, individuals will be given the option of transferring to one of the other tours or receiving a full refund. If choosing to switch to one of the other trips, participants will either receive a refund of or be required to pay the difference in the costs.)
Historic Triangle Architectural Tour: Learn more about early American architecture by visiting selected sites in the Historic Triangle region (Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown). After learning about Jamestown at the reception the evening before, join this informative tour led by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s expert architectural historians. The trip will begin at Shirley Plantation, one of the historic 18th-century plantations along the James River. Lunch will be in nearby Yorktown, site of the British surrender that would lead to the end of the American Revolution. After lunch along Yorktown’s scenic waterfront, the tour will return to Williamsburg, where participants will get behind-the-scenes tours of several of Williamsburg’s most important 18th-century buildings. Participants will learn how architectural historians “excavate” a building to understand its phases and return it to its original appearance. This tour will depart at 8 am and will end in Williamsburg around 5 pm.
Washington, D.C. Tour: For first-time visitors to the United States, or repeat ones, this tour will give participants a chance to visit the nation's capital. The tour will drop off at the Washington D.C. mall, the heart of the city. Sites around the mall include the Smithsonian Museums, the Capitol Building, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial. Several optional tours/offerings will be organized for those who wish to participate, or you may explore the city at your leisure. Most of these sites, including all of the Smithsonian museums and the monuments, are free of charge but meals will be on your own. Participants will be provided with a map and other information on the sites as well as recommendations for dining options to help plan the day. This tour will depart at 6 am and return to Williamsburg around 9 pm.
Conference Tours:
Throughout the conference, participants will able to sign up for free conference-sponsored tours of the Historic Area to learn more about Williamsburg. These tours will be led by the Foundation’s expert research staff. These unique behind-the-scenes tours will be offered during the day on Sunday, March 22 prior to the opening session, as well as each afternoon during the meeting. Information on the options and how to sign up will be posted as the conference draws closer.
*Both the opening and closing receptions are included in all of the Registration packages, except for the Single Day options