Williamsburg VA
From LoveToKnow Travel
Williamsburg was an important colonial city during the 18th century. It succeeded Jamestown as Virginia’s capital city and functioned as such between 1699 and 1780 before the capital was moved to Richmond. Today, Williamsburg VA is known primarily for the restored Colonial Williamsburg area. The region is also home to a Busch Gardens Amusement Park, numerous wineries, the Williamsburg pottery studio, and a large outlet center.
Colonial Williamsburg
The restoration of Colonial Williamsburg was begun in 1926 with the inspiration of local pastor, W.A.R. Goodwin, and the financial support of industrialist John D. Rockefeller. Today, the restored area is a convincing recreation of how Williamsburg must have looked during its peak in the early to mid-18th century. Over 120 buildings have been restored or recreated, including the original Capitol Building, the Governor’s Palace, and the octagonal Magazine, which stored gun powder for the militia. The gracious, brick Bruton Parish Church has been in continuous service since it was constructed in 1715. One of its early 20th century pastors, W.A.R. Goodwin was instrumental in creating Colonial Williamsburg that we know today.
Visitors to Williamsburg VA can stay within the restored area in the elegant Williamsburg Inn, the more casual and family-friendly Williamsburg Lodge, or in individual restored homes located throughout the district. Three authentic inns serve traditional 18th century meals and traditional shops and tradesmen, such as an apothecary shop and a blacksmith, line the Duke of Gloucester Street, the restored area’s main artery.
College of William and Mary in Williamsburg VA
Williamsburg’s College of William and Mary is the second oldest institution of higher learning in the United States (after Harvard). Located adjacent to Williamsburg's restored area, William and Mary is a delightful mixture of youthful enthusiasm and venerable history. The imposing Wren Building, designed in 1695 after the work of British Architect Christopher Wren, links the college and the restored area. William and Mary has educated Presidents and statesmen, including Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Henry Clay,and John Marshall. More recently, the college has trained entertainers, Glenn Close and Jon Stewart. Today, the school is home to around 5500 undergradutate and 2000 graduate students, and is known for its small classes and small teacher to student ratio.
Jamestown Settlement
Jamestown, just outside of Williamsburg, is the site of the first permanent English settlement in North America. Established in 1607, Jamestown Island is a swampy piece of land in the middle of the James River. The original settlers, primarily English farmers and Polish woodcutters, faced a host of hardships, including weather, disease, famine, and drought. The island was used as a Confederate stronghold during the Civil War and later as a way station for runaway slaves headed for Canada. Today, the Jamestown National Historic Site encompasses 22 acres at the western end of Jamestown Island. The original three ships that brought the colonists from England have been recreated and are open to tourists. An archeological campaign, begun in 1994, has uncovered portions of the original fort, once thought lost to the James River, as well as remains of several houses from the original settlement and gravesites of settlers.
Yorktown
Yorktown, about 30 miles from Williamsburg VA, is where English General Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington in 1781, ending the American Revolution. Nine buildings survive from the Revolutionary period and have been restored as historic sites. Yorktown was also a strategic supply center during the Civil War and served as the base for General McClellan’s Army of the Potomac during that conflict. Today, visitors can tour the battlefield, restored buildings, historic Grace Episcopal Church, and the old Yorktown courthouse. The city’s riverfront has been converted into an entertainment center with shops and eateries lining the Riverwalk.
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