Updated 5/15/2016

In Podcast #69 the Trekkers take you to King William County, named after King William of England. We start out visiting the fourth graders at Acquinton Elementary School, then we take you on a tour of the historical sites in the county.  See a church that was built almost 300 years ago (1734) and a courthouse that’s even older (1725)! Visit a reconstructed train depot. Learn about the Pumunkey Indians and discover where Chief Powhatan was buried. Find out which two rivers join to make the York River. And see why Alfonso thinks Dave looks like a totem pole. Come on, let’s go trekking!

One of the most famous residents of King William County was Lieutenant General Lewis “Chesty” Puller. He is the most decorated Marine in U.S. history and the only Marine to be awarded five Navy Crosses.  He showed great courage and heroism in World War II and the Korean War, saving many soldiers’ lives. Even when things were bad, he kept a positive attitude.  During one battle in the Korean War, he said, “We’ve been looking for the enemy for some time now. We finally found him.  We’re surrounded. That simplifies things.” He was nicknamed “Chesty” because of his big barrel chest.  There’s a bridge named after him in West Point and a statue of him at the National Museum of the Marine Corps near Quantico.

Problems watching the video?  You can view it on Vimeo and download it (218MB) 11:33

SOL Correlation:

VS.1a The student will develop skills for historical and geographical analysis, including the ability to e) make connections between past and present;

i) analyze and interpret maps to explain relationships among landforms, water features, climatic characteristics, and historical events.


VS.2b The student will demonstrate knowledge of the physical geography and native peoples, past and present, of Virginia by b) locating and describing Virginia’s Coastal Plain (Tidewater), Piedmont, Blue Ridge Mountains, Valley and Ridge, and Appalachian Plateau;

c) locating and identifying water features important to the early history of Virginia (Atlantic

Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, James River, York River, Potomac River, Rappahannock River,

and Lake Drummond and the Dismal Swamp);

d) locating three American Indian language groups (the Algonquian, the Siouan, and the

Iroquoian) on a map of Virginia;

  1. g)identifying and locating the current state-recognized tribes.


VS.4e The student will demonstrate knowledge of life in the Virginia colony by e) describing everyday life in colonial Virginia.

Coastal Plain