This blog follows the reconstruction of the Revolutionary War Public Armoury on the James Anderson site
Reconstruction of the Blacksmith's & Public Armoury
August 6, 2012
A “Virtual” Update
In earlier blog entries, we introduced Virtual Williamsburg and the digital reconstruction of the armoury property happening at the same time we are physically rebuilding the site. The previous posts showed the first stage of modeling, or research models in which the buildings are recreated as accurately as possible. We are now working on the second stage in which we apply textures and lighting to make the computer models look as realistic as possible.
So why create a photo-realistic digital model when the physical site is being reconstructed? As we discussed in a previous post, one important use of digital modeling is as a research tool: we have been able to assess different hypotheses suggested by the evidence prior to physically rebuilding a structure. Visualizing the buildings as well as the 18th-century terrain—which is harder to physically recreate today—has been especially valuable for understanding the relationship between the kitchen, armoury, and tin shop, all constructed side by side by side. The digital model, however, also has applications for visualizing the site even after the physical reconstruction has been completed. The virtual world can never replace the onsite experience, but spaces or particular viewpoints that might not be easily accessible in the real world can be presented virtually. For example, while visitors to the Public Armoury site can watch the blacksmiths work, they cannot get too near the hot forges for obvious safety reasons. However in the virtual world users can examine the forges more closely and even access information about their archaeological remains and learn more about the 18th-century iron-working process. Attic spaces, which were typically reached by ladders or narrow stairways in the colonial period, often cannot be accessed today because of modern building codes. In the computer model, however, virtual guests will be able to explore the storage space in the armoury attic as well as the living quarters of the enslaved workers who resided upstairs in the Anderson kitchen.
Another advantage of the virtual model is the ability to represent the same building in multiple time periods. For example, the Anderson kitchen was modified between 1776 and 1779 when it changed from a domestic kitchen to one that needed to support the more than 40 workers living in the industrial armoury complex. In 1776 it likely had small windows, typical of a domestic kitchen, but by 1779 the two-pane-wide window on the building’s north wall had been exchanged for a larger, four-pane-wide window to let in more light. Archaeological evidence has revealed that brick drains were added to the lot to control water run-off and handle increased water usage when the Public Armoury was built. During the construction, one of the drains was run under the northwest corner of the kitchen, nearly to the hearth, and on top of it a sink was constructed to allow for the disposal of liquids directly into the drainage system without the cooks having to leave the building.
The modeling process is still ongoing, but the images below provide a sneak peak of some of our progress to date. Stay tuned for further updates as we continue virtually—and physically—rebuilding the Armoury complex!
By Cynthia Decker, Assistant Modeler, and Peter Inker, Digital Architectural Historian
- Virtual Armoury
- Virtual Armoury Interior
- Virtual Armoury Attic
- Attic of Anderson's Kitchen
- Anderson's Kitchen in 1776
- Anderson's Kitchen in 1779
- Interior of the Virtual Kitchen in 1779
Thank you to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH); the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS); the estate of Mark Hicks; the Grainger Foundation; the estate of John O’Donnell; and the estate of Joan J. Woods. We are extremely grateful for their support of the Digital History Center’s 3D Visualization Lab and the Foundation’s 3D modeling initiatives!
Funded by a generous gift from Forrest E. Mars Jr., of Big Horn, Wyoming.
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Jim H. says:
Those renderings are great! Can’t wait to see the completed projects. I really like the ability to see the various areas without worrying about those incidentals such as getting burned! For those of us who like the buildings and construction, would drawings ever be available? For example, the forge design in the new Armoury seems really efficient and I’d love to see dimensioned drawings of the design so that I could perhaps replicate one on my property in the future…..
Rick Brouse says:
Being an architect….I’ll second the “like to see drawings” thing!
John Montague says:
I agree with Jim. I really enjoy the 3-D modeling and seeing how the interpretation changes over a short period of time.
Great work.
John
Bill Rainford says:
I’d love to see more details of how the forges were constructed. As a preservation carpenter and aspiring preservation mason I’d be curious how the traditional forges are put together and handle in use compared to more modern and less substantial (home-made) models I’ve worked with. I too would love to build one in my yard.
Dave S says:
I see a chimney getting started!
How exciting to see CW evolving.
I wasn’t here to see the coffee house, but have been able to watch the kitchen come out of the ground.
Thanks again for the cams.
Russell says:
I see that the webcam has been moved to the chimney construction, which will be interesting to watch, although it would be nice to have an additional webcam to be able to continue to watch the archaeology, too! (I know I’m being greedy…) Any update on what’s being found at the dig?
Meredith Poole says:
Hi Russell,
Please check this week’s blog entry!
Russell says:
I also wanted to comment that the virtual modeling is a fascinating approach to expanding interaction with CW, thanks for the update. It will be interesting to see how you present the final models & integrate the models with other content to create a novel & informative “experience”.
Ron Trabandt says:
Hi Meredith,
From a previous blog entry you mentioned the archaeology work in the back of the Armoury will be ending this month. Will there be a future report on what has been found and when those findings will be turned into an above ground restoration? Thanks for the beautiful views of the ongoing work. It will be interesting to watch the rebirth of the Tin Smith Shop based on the dedicated work of the archaeologist and the architectural historians. My wife and I will get a bird’s eye view of the work from the Orlando Jones Kitchen in late October.
Ron Trabandt says:
Hi Meredith,
From a previous blog entry you mentioned the archaeology work in the back of the Armoury will be ending this month. Will there be a future report on what has been found and when those findings will be turned into an above ground restoration? Thanks for the beautiful views of the ongoing work. It will be interesting to watch the rebirth of the Tin Smith Shop based on the dedicated work of the archaeologist and the architectural historians. My wife and I will get a bird’s eye view of the work from the Orlando Jones Kitchen in late October.
Ron
Meredith Poole says:
Hi Ron,
We will, eventually, have a report on the Armoury excavation. As you know first hand, there is a lag time as those in the archaeological lab wash, number, catalog, and analyze what we have found in the field. All of this information is part of the final report. Construction of the Armoury’s workshop and the south storage building (both located within the area presently under excavation) will begin this fall, so there will be precious little lag time between excavation and reconstruction!
Mimi says:
I recently came across this quote-”An archaeologist is the best husband any woman can have: the older she gets, the more interested he is in her.” Agatha Christie
I had never heard that one before! I’ve read a lot of Christie’s books and read some biographies, but never came across this one. Pretty funny!