Colonial Williamsburg, VA  Vacation Travel Guide

From 1699 to 1780, Williams­burg was the polit­ical, social and cult­ural capital of Great Britain’s largest, weal­thiest and most populous colony. Today, the Historic Area has been restored to its 18th-century glory and nearly three million people visit it annually.

To enter Col­on­­ial Williamsburg’s Historic Area is to step back in time. The Hall of the House of Bur­gesses at the Capitol echoes with the voices of Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Mason and other Virginia leaders who debated the issues of freedom and liberty for Virginians.

Stores, shops and taverns along Duke of Gloucester Street bustle with activity. Stop in at the Pasteur and Galt Apothecary Shop and learn about the latest 18th-century health care tech­niques. At the Golden Ball Silversmith Shop, watch skilled craftspeople turn bars of silver into beautifully ornate punch strainers, goblets and other useful items.

The silver­smith is one of nearly two dozen 18th-century trades that are demonstrated at Colo­n­ial Wil­liams­­burg’s Historic Area. These trades illus­trate the daily work of many Ameri­cans during the 1700s.

At the Courthouse, you might be in­vited to be a witness, defen­dant or judge in a re-creation of a court case from the 1700s. Don’t forget to have your picture taken in the stocks or pillory!

Across the street is the Magazine, scene of the Gunpowder Incident of April 1775, in which British mar­ines re­moved the colony’s powder under orders from Governor Dun­more. This galvan­ized the colonists and threatened to launch Virginia into war.

Here, you can learn about the life of an 18th-century soldier. You might even be enlisted to join Williamsburg’s independent com­pany, given a “weapon” and drilled in the finer points of marching.

In Market Square, you’ll find booths with vendors hawking their wares. Pick up a tricornered hat for m’lord or a decorated straw bonnet for m’lady. Board a horse-drawn carriage or stage wagon and take a tour of the Historic Area.

Young vis­itors will especially enjoy the James Geddy House and Found­ry, where they learn about 18th-century family life and house­hold activities from costumed inter­preters their own age. They may even be invited to try their hand at writ­ing with a quill pen or learning an 18th-century game.

Turn the corner and you are on Palace Green, per­haps the finest neigh­borhood in 18th-century Williamsburg. At the head of Palace Green is the Governor’s Palace, recon­structed in 1934 on its original foundations.

The most popular exhibition building with Colon­ial Williams­burg visitors, the Gover­nor’s Palace was the home of seven royal gover­nors and Virginia’s first two state governors: Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson.

The Palace’s luxurious furnishings are based on an inventory taken when Royal Governor Botetourt died in October 1770. From the front hall to the supper room, the Palace makes a statement about its residents’ power and position in the colony.

After you have visited the Palace, be sure to examine the beautiful palace gardens. Take note of the broad expanse of open space that can be seen from the back of the Palace. Though it might appear that you are in a rural setting, it is an optical illusion created by a landscaping device that was popular during the 18th century.

Be sure to stop by the Wheelwright Shop in the Palace stable. See how wooden wheels and carts are assembled using 18th-century methods. At the Palace Kitchen, watch as Colonial Williamsburg’s food historians use Dutch ovens, the rotisserie and other open-hearth cooking techniques from the 1700s to prepare food.

Across Palace Green is the Thomas Everard House. Decorated in the latest 18th-century colors, it was the home of Thomas Everard, a weal­thy and respected town leader. Also housed on Palace Green is the colonial home of George Wythe, legal scholar, lawyer and mentor to Thomas Jefferson. This two-story brick home is typical of a gentry-class dwelling.

Colonial Williamsburg’s Great Hopes Plantation invites guests to become a part of the experience of most 1770s enslaved African Virginians and middling white planters living and working in rural areas. Back in town, in the backyard of the Peyton Randolph House, urban slave life is explored through participatory programs. Colonial Williamsburg presents events and exhibits that tell the stories of blacks, both free and enslaved, and art, music, religion, hardships and heroism with rare and compelling realism.

At the Peyton Randolph House on Nicholson Street, learn about the Randolphs, a leading Williams­burg family split apart during the 1770s over conflicting loyalties. Peyton Ran­dolph was Speaker of the House of Burgesses and President of the First and Second Con­tinental Con­­gress. His brother, John, was a loyalist who, along with his family, returned to England prior to the Revolution.

Watch as historic trades carpenters reconstruct Randolph’s urban plantation. The Historic Area is filled with structures built by carpenters and brick­makers using tools and methods from the 1700s.

Down the street from the car­penter’s yard is the Gaol. One of Colonial Williamsburg’s original 18th-century buildings, it housed prisoners until 1910. Crimin­als await­ing trial and debtors unable to settle their accounts were held here, as were pirates, maraud­ing Indians and runaway slaves.

As you make your way through the Historic Area, be sure to visit some of Colonial Williamsburg’s famed gardens. There are more than 90 acres of gardens and greens showing a range of 18th-century landscaping designs and a variety of uses, from purely decorative to strictly functional.

Along the way, say hello to Colonial Wil­liams­burg’s 18th-century residents. In addition to Thomas Jefferson and Martha Wash­ington, you might en­counter members of the enslaved community. More than half of Williamsburg’s community was of African descent. All are very friendly folk and eager to discuss their life in Wil­liams­­burg and events on the eve of the American Revolution.

Fall in step as Colonial Wil­liamsburg’s musical am­bas­sadors, the Fife and Drums, march down Duke of Glou­cester Street. They perform during the weekends in the spring.

What can you do after dark? Most evenings you can choose from walking tours, musical programs and other 18th-century diversions. During gambols at Chowning’s Tavern, you will learn 18th-century games while live balladeers provide period entertainment.

Programs and activities in the Historic Area vary seasonally. “This Week” is your guide to Colonial Wil­liamsburg. It provides a list of building hours, programs and other information, as well as a color-coded map of the Historic Area. It’s available at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center, Greenhow Lumber House and other Colonial Wil­liamsburg ticket outlets.

Start your journey to the past at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center. Buy your ticket, get in­formation and make reservations for Colonial Williams­burg’s Historic Area taverns and restaurants or evening programs. For ticket holders there is free parking and shuttle bus service to and from the Historic Area.