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Newsroom:
FAQs
What is Colonial Williamsburg?
The largest living history museum in the United States,
Colonial Williamsburg is a private non-profit foundation
that operates the restored 18th century capital of colonial
Virginia. Colonial Williamsburg strives to accomplish
its mission
. . . that the future may learn from the past
. . .
- by preserving and restoring 18th century Williamsburg.
- by engaging, informing, and inspiring visitors as
they learn about this historic colonial capital, the
events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples
who helped shape our new nation.
Colonial Williamsburg also operates for-profit subsidiaries
including hotels, restaurants, convention facilities,
golf courses, and sales of licensed products and reproductions.
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation receives no regular
state or federal funding.
What is the historical significance of Williamsburg?
From 1699 to 1780, Williamsburg was the capital of England's
oldest, largest, richest, and most populous colony and
the seat of power in the new nation's most influential
state.
It was in the shops, taverns, government buildings,
homes and streets of Williamsburg that George Washington,
Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Mason, and other
Virginia patriots established the ideals — liberty,
independence and personal freedom — that influenced
the founding of our nation and have inspired generations
of Americans and others around the world.
- May 30, 1765 — Patrick Henry offered to the colonial
assembly (called the House of Burgesses) his resolutions
in defiance of the Stamp Act.
- May 16, 1769 — George Washington introduced the
Virginia Resolves against the Townshend Acts - one
of the colonies' first challenges to British authority.
- May 15, 1776 — The House of Burgesses unanimously
adopted Virginia's Resolution for Independence and
called for the other colonies to declare their independence
— which they did at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia
in July.
- June 12, 1776 — George Mason produced the Virginia
Declaration of Rights, which became the model for
the federal Bill of Rights. After Thomas Jefferson
moved Virginia's government to Richmond in 1781,Williamsburg
became a quiet country town disturbed only by Union
Gen. George McClellan's 1862 Peninsula Campaign during
the Civil War.
How did the restoration of Williamsburg begin?
In 1926, the Rev. Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin, rector of Bruton
Parish Church, approached John D. Rockefeller Jr. about
restoring the sleepy village of his ministry to its
colonial past. Rockefeller proceeded cautiously at first,
investing in Goodwin's vision one property at a time.
To maintain his anonymity, Rockefeller authorized the
purchase of the first property, the Ludwell-Paradise
House, on Dec. 7, 1926 in a telegram signed "David's
father," referring to his engaging young son David,
whom Dr. Goodwin had previously met.
Rockefeller's enthusiasm soon grew to match Goodwin's.
Guided by his goal to provide an opportunity to educate
future Americans about the patriotism and purpose of
the past, Rockefeller supported and financed Williamsburg's
restoration until his death in 1960.
The restored 301 — acre Historic Area consists
of 88 original buildings and hundreds of other homes,
shops, public buildings, and additional structures that
have been reconstructed - most on their original foundations.
The reconstructed Raleigh Tavern opened as the first
public exhibition building in September 1932.
Does Colonial Williamsburg offer anything in
addition to the Historic Area?
Colonial Williamsburg operates three museums within
walking distance of the Historic Area: The DeWitt Wallace
Decorative Arts Museum, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk
Art Museum, and Bassett Hall, the Williamsburg home
of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Colonial Williamsburg's education and
preservation programs and activities include
archaeology, historical research, building
and grounds preservation, historic trades
demonstrations, living history programs,
educational outreach programs, and conservation
of art and antiques.
Is Colonial Williamsburg engaged in educational
outreach activities?
Colonial Williamsburg actively supports history education
in schools and homes through a wide variety of educational
outreach programs and activities including books, videotapes,
recordings and other media. Colonial Williamsburg presents
the stories, words, and music of 18th-century Virginians.
- Electronic field trips use state-of-the-art satellite
technology to transport students from across the country
to Colonial Williamsburg, enabling them to meet People
of the Past and, in many cases, converse with them
about the individual choices they face on the eve
of the Revolution.
- Through the Williamsburg Teacher Institute, Colonial
Williamsburg inspires hundreds of history teachers
from across the country. The Historic Area serves
as a living laboratory where teachers learn innovative
and engaging ways to teach about the past during week-long
visits to Williamsburg.
- Against the background of Williamsburg, present-day
topics are explored at a variety of annual events
such as the Williamsburg Antiques Forum and Williamsburg
Garden Symposium. The Williamsburg Institute provides
hands-on training, led by Colonial Williamsburg experts,
in topics that range from colonial cookery to decorating
in Williamsburg style.
-
www.colonialwilliamsburg.org includes information
about planning a trip to Colonial Williamsburg, as
well as Historic Area programs and activities.
- In conjunction with the College of William and
Mary, Colonial Williamsburg sponsors The Omohundro
Institute of Early American History and Culture, an
organization devoted to research and publication.
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and The College
of William and Mary also sponsor workshops, courses
and seminars on colonial culture and architecture.
How many people have visited Colonial Williamsburg?
More than 100 million visitors have toured the Historic
Area since 1932, among them many of the world's leaders
including presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman,
Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald
Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton.
More than 100 heads of state, government officials,
ministers, and celebrities also have visited Colonial
Williamsburg.
What sort of financial support does Colonial
Williamsburg receive?
As a private, not-for-profit educational institution,
Colonial Williamsburg needs and encourages tax-deductible
gifts and bequests from all who treasure the Williamsburg
experience. Gifts to Colonial Williamsburg enable the
research, documentation, and interpretive training fundamental
to all its educational activities: the presentation
of programs in Historic Area buildings, trade shops
and museums, acquisition and conservation of art, preservation
and maintenance, and production of publications and
audiovisual programs.
Thousands of philanthropic corporations, foundations,
and individuals are building a base of financial support
for Colonial Williamsburg.
What is the best way to visit Colonial Williamsburg?
The Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center is the best
place to begin a visit. The Center provides parking,
information, admission and special program tickets,
bus service, and reservations for Colonial Williamsburg's
hotels and restaurants.
Visitors should make sure they see "Williamsburg:
the Story of a Patriot." This classic film produced
in 1956 chronicles the life of fictional 18th-century
patriot John Fry. "The Patriot" has been
shown daily at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center
since it opened in March 1957, and the film has been
seen by more than 30 million people.
What will I see in Colonial Williamsburg?
Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area portrays 18th-century
Williamsburg as it appeared on the eve of the American
Revolution. Throughout the city, an engaging mix of
sights, sounds and activities helps visitors reconnect
with America's past and become active participants in
18th-century life.
Important Historic Area sites include:
- Governor's Palace, the symbol of British authority
in the colony
- Capitol, the seat of colonial power and site of
Virginia's vote for independence May 15, 1776
- Peyton Randolph site, where historic trades carpenters
are reconstructing Randolph's "urban plantation"
- Raleigh Tavern, where Virginia patriots met to
discuss independence in open defiance of the Crown
- George Wythe House, home of Thomas Jefferson's
teacher and friend
- James Geddy House and Foundry, site of an up-and-coming
family business
Historic trade demonstrations, dramatic vignettes,
interactive programs, and encounters with "People
of the Past" take place in exhibition sites and
historic trade shops throughout the Historic Area. Homes,
public buildings, and shops are furnished with objects
from Colonial Williamsburg's extensive collection of
English and American antiques and reproductions made
by Colonial Williamsburg tradespeople.
Is there anyplace to have a meal in the Historic
Area?
Colonial Williamsburg operates four dining taverns
in the Historic Area:
- Chowning's Tavern
- Christiana Campbell's Tavern
- Shields Tavern
- King's Arms Tavern
Each tavern offers unique 18th century menus served
in authentic colonial surroundings.
What about shopping?
Visitors can purchase authentic reproductions, Colonial
Williamsburg foods, and other products in nine Historic
Area shops, at the Colonial Nursery, and from merchants
in Market Square. Outside the Historic Area, Colonial
Williamsburg operates 18 retail stores that range from
the Visitor Center's Williamsburg Booksellers to the
Craft Houses, home of WILLIAMSBURG® products and
reproductions.
Are there any parks or gardens?
The Historic Area includes 90 acres of greens and gardens
that range from the formal splendor of the Governor's
Palace garden to the utilitarian kitchen garden of the
James Geddy site. The Historic Area is
protected from modern intrusions by a 3,000-acre greenbelt.
To protect the Historic Area's 18th-century ambiance,
Williamsburg's main street, Duke of Gloucester, and
adjacent streets are closed to motor vehicles daily
from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
What else can I see in Williamsburg?
Other points of interest include the Wren Building
at the College of William and Mary, built in 1695, and
Bruton Parish Church, built in 1715
How much does it cost to visit Colonial Williamsburg?
Our ticket options are listed on our Tickets Page.
What are my lodging options?
Guest accommodations are available in Colonial Williamsburg's
five hotel properties: The Williamsburg Inn, the Colonial
Houses, the Williamsburg Lodge, the Woodlands Hotel
& Suites, and the Governor's Inn. For information,
tickets, dining reservations, or hotel accommodations,
call toll-free 1-800-HISTORY or see our Visit
section.
NOTE: Dates, times, and ticket prices are subject to
change. Please call the Public Affairs department
at (757) 220-7286 before publishing to verify or for
additional information.
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Historic Triangle