Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg

 

Colonial Williamsburg is the restored 18th-century capital of Britain’s largest, wealthiest, and most populous outpost of empire in the New World. Here is interpreted the origins of the idea of America, conceived decades before the American Revolution. The Colonial Williamsburg story of a revolutionary city tells how diverse peoples, having different and sometimes conflicting ambitions, evolved into a society that valued liberty and equality. Americans cherish these values as a birthright, even when their promise remains unfulfilled.

CW is the nation’s largest living history museum, encompassing 301 acres including 500 buildings, homes, stores and taverns reconstructed and restored to their 18th-century appearances; tradesmen practicing 30 historic trades and domestic crafts; historical interpreters and character actors; and 90 acres of gardens and greens; and now featuring the live action drama, Revolutionary City™, daily from mid-March to December.

Activities and Programs

Find yourself fully in the nation's yesterdays as you dance with an 18th-century instructor, walk with curators and gardeners, take part in a witch trial, or march with the Fifes and Drums. Step over the threshold of a shop or home in the Historic Area and you’ll find someone ready to tell you the story of life in the 18th century. Costumed historical interpreters share their perspectives on work, family, politics, religion, and culture. Encounter Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and many lesser-known historical figures. (More info...)

Museums

The distinctive collections of the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum are now under one roof. Linger over singular examples of American and British antiques from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, then explore bold and imaginative pieces of colonial and contemporary folk art. (More info...)

Revolutionary City

Colonial Williamsburg’s “Revolutionary City” is a family-friendly, live, dramatic program that breaks the boundaries of traditional living history experiences. It covers the period of 1774 to 1781 through a combination of large-scale streetscape events and multiple simultaneous vignettes. The street theater program creates a spontaneous real-time feel of Williamsburg during the years of the American Revolution. Guests take part in the everyday life of the city against the backdrop of momentous world-changing events. (More info...)

Evening Programs

As night falls, enchanting evening programs begin in Colonial Williamsburg. Listen to the sweet sounds of music played on period instruments or take a walking tour by lantern light. Hear stories passed down through generations of free and enslaved blacks. Decide the guilt or innocence of a colonial criminal, or observe the anguish of a woman accused of witchcraft. Enjoy newly released independent and foreign films, live comedy, theatre, and musical performances at the Kimball Theatre in Merchants Square, or watch an 18th-century play. Whatever your choice, you'll find a program unlike anything you've experienced before. (More info...)

Spas, Golf, and Shopping

Colonial Williamsburg is also a world-class resort destination. The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg celebrates the Best of the American Experience with signature spa experiences. Fast becoming one of the nation's top golf destinations, Williamsburg boasts more than a dozen courses designed by some of the most notable architects, including Pete Dye, Rees Jones, Robert Trent Jones Sr., Arnold Palmer, Curtis Strange, John LeFoy and Nicklaus Design Associates. More than 200 retail and designer outlet stores make the Historic Triangle a shopper’s paradise! (Colonial Williamsburg Resorts)

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