Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is a fantasy that became fact. In the 1920s, Reverend W.A.R. Goodwin convinced John D. Rockefeller Jr. to fund the restoration of Virginia's former colonial capital to its eighteenth-century appearance. Over decades, 88 original buildings were restored, 500 modern buildings were demolished, and over 400 structures were reconstructed on their original sites. The result is a 301-acre time capsule where costumed interpreters portray eighteenth-century Virginians, tradespeople practice historic crafts, and visitors walk streets where Washington, Jefferson, and Patrick Henry once walked. Colonial Williamsburg pioneered living history interpretation in America and shaped how generations of Americans imagine the Revolutionary era. It's also been criticized for romanticizing the past and for decades downplaying slavery. The story of Williamsburg is both the eighteenth-century history it preserves and the twentieth-century history of how it was preserved - and what was lost.
The History
Williamsburg served as Virginia's colonial capital from 1699 to 1780, when the capital moved to Richmond. During those 81 years, the town was the political, cultural, and educational center of Britain's largest American colony. The Virginia General Assembly met in the Capitol; the royal governor resided in the Palace; the College of William and Mary educated the colony's elite. Patrick Henry delivered his 'Give me liberty' speech in the vicinity; George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison all knew these streets. After the capital moved, Williamsburg declined into a sleepy college town. Buildings decayed; the Palace burned. By the 1920s, little remained of the colonial capital except the Wren Building at the college and a few surviving structures.
The Restoration
Reverend W.A.R. Goodwin, rector of Bruton Parish Church, dreamed of restoring Williamsburg to its colonial glory. In 1926, he persuaded John D. Rockefeller Jr. to visit. Rockefeller was captivated. Over the next decade, he secretly purchased hundreds of properties and funded the largest historic restoration project in American history. Buildings were stripped of later additions, returned to their eighteenth-century appearance, or reconstructed based on archaeological and documentary evidence. The Governor's Palace, which had burned in 1781, was rebuilt from foundation traces, Jefferson's floor plan, and a copper plate discovered in England. By 1934, the restoration was open to the public.
The Interpretation
Colonial Williamsburg pioneered living history interpretation. Costumed interpreters don't just answer questions - they stay in character, speaking as eighteenth-century Virginians, demonstrating historic trades, and engaging visitors in the daily life of the colonial capital. Blacksmiths forge at working forges. Wigmakers create period hairpieces. Militia units drill on the green. Over time, interpretation has evolved. For decades, the story focused on white founders; slavery was mentioned but not emphasized. Since the 1990s, interpreters have increasingly addressed slavery, including first-person portrayals of enslaved people and programs on African American life. The uncomfortable truth - that colonial Williamsburg was built on slave labor - now shares space with the founding mythology.
The Criticism
Colonial Williamsburg has been criticized from multiple directions. Historians note that the restoration reflected 1930s assumptions about colonial life, including romanticized architecture and sanitized social relations. The demolition of 500 buildings destroyed evidence of Williamsburg's post-colonial history. The focus on elite public buildings minimized the experience of ordinary people, free and enslaved. The site's evolution reflects changing historical consciousness - the addition of slave quarters, stories of free Black artisans, and acknowledgment of Native American displacement. Colonial Williamsburg continues to grapple with how to present a more complete history while maintaining the experience visitors expect.
Visiting Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area covers 301 acres in Williamsburg, Virginia, about 50 miles southeast of Richmond. The visitor center provides orientation; shuttle buses connect to the Historic Area. Admission tickets provide access to buildings, tours, and programs; the streets themselves are open to all. Key sites include the Governor's Palace, Capitol, Raleigh Tavern, and numerous homes and shops. Evening programs include witch trials, ghost walks, and tavern experiences. The Historic Area connects to Jamestown and Yorktown via the Colonial Parkway, making a 'Historic Triangle' that spans the founding through independence. William and Mary's campus adjoins the restoration. Norfolk International Airport (ORF) and Richmond International Airport (RIC) both serve the area. Allow at least a full day; two days allow deeper exploration.
From the Air
Located at 37.27°N, 76.70°W in Williamsburg, Virginia, about 50 miles southeast of Richmond. From altitude, the Historic Area appears as a zone of colonial-era buildings and green spaces distinct from surrounding modern development. The College of William and Mary campus is at the west end; the Capitol building marks the east end of Duke of Gloucester Street. The James River is visible to the south.