Colonial Williamsburg Is for History Buffs

If you’re looking for a fun and educational place to visit this summer, without having to get on a plane, set Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia as your destination. The more than 300-acre area is often described as a living-history museum. Besides the many historic buildings, either restored or re-created, Williamsburg employees, dressing and working as residents of 18th century America, bring these structures to life. They are not mere actors, but are knowledgeable about their areas of expertise and readily answer the many questions asked by older and younger visitors.

While there’s no charge for walking around the grounds, tickets must be purchased to enter the buildings. The most impressive is the Governor’s Palace, once the official residence of the Royal Governors of the Colony of Virginia. The capital was moved from Williamsburg to Richmond in 1780, mostly for safety concerns. 

Although the main house burned down in 1781, the mansion has been restored with great attention to detail, including imported materials from Europe for restoring marble floors, carpets, and wallpaper. Armaments adorn the walls, a warning to anyone planning an insurrection that much would be done to defend the palace. 

After touring the home and listening to a presentation by one of the guides, we took time to walk around the outside gardens and visit the kitchen, where workers were busy preparing a proper feast for the governor and his family.

Because the property is so large, a shuttle bus is available to transport visitors from one end of the area to another. Many of the interesting “shops” are located along Duke of Gloucester Street. The day we visited, not all of these establishments were open, but those that were provided a glimpse into the services provided by the skilled crafts people of the era. In fact, many of the workers in these shops still practice the trades today. The silversmith, for example, recreates bowls and jewelry from the past that can be purchased. 

The milliner, a young woman, had sewn the dress and apron she was wearing. (Aprons, she explained, were often worn for fashion, not to protect clothing while cooking.) During colonial times, ready-to-wear did not exist, except for children’s outfits. Women selected the patterns and fabrics for clothes that were made and fitted.

The apothecary looks nothing like the local CVS. Ingredients for medicinals often came from plants and herbs grown in gardens. And while most of what was offered as “cures” back then, would not be approved by the FDA today, the work done by these early medical practitioners set the stage for what was to follow. 

The Colonial Williamsburg Courthouse was constructed in 1770 to 1771, in the Georgian style. The building, where disputes over property and debts were dealt with, was central to the lives of the residents. During the Civil War, the building was used as a hospital for injured Confederate soldiers. 

There are many places to stay if you plan to visit Williamsburg. We stayed at the Williamsburg Lodge, one of the Autograph Hotels operated by Marriott. The rooms are decorated in a style that fits with the colonial theme. The grounds are beautifully maintained and provide many areas for quiet walks and conversations. Full breakfasts are available each morning in the Traditions Room, while the Cupboard Grab & Go is open for snacks in between meals. There’s also a stop for the shuttle to Colonial Williamsburg. Lodge employees are efficient, helpful, polite, and well informed.

In the evenings, take time to walk around Market Square, home to many familiar chain stores as well as local merchants. For those with a sweet tooth, the Wythe Candy and Gourmet Shop offers a variety of confections that includes chocolates, fudge, truffles, lollipops, and candy apples, to name just a few.

First choice for dining – The Fat Canary, whose executive chef, Thomas Power Jr., is a Williamsburg native and a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. The restaurant has won many awards and books up fast. So make sure to reserve in advance.

With only a few days to spend in Williamsburg, we didn’t have the opportunity to visit the Art Museum or walk around the campus of William & Mary. Other nearby historical sites include Jamestown, the first permanent settlement in America, and Yorktown, where General Charles Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington. So there are many reasons to return in the future.

For more information, go to the website for Colonial Williamsburg.