40 Colonial Williamsburg Facts That Everyone Should Know

Colonial Williamsburg is located in Williamsburg, Virginia.

In 1960, it was given the honor of being recognized as a National Historic Landmark District. Owing to its unique historic buildings that date back to a colonial era, it serves both as a historic area as well as an actively maintained tourist attraction.

Colonial Williamsburg includes places like the Governor's Palace, the courthouse, and other significant buildings. Read on to know more about this former colonial capital!

The History Of Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg is a small, restored part of Williamsburg, which is situated in Virginia. The restoration speaks to early American history, highlighting the fearless thinking of patriots who led to the American revolution.

• The history of Virginia is closely tied to and has had a significant impact on the history of Williamsburg.
• Virginia was a part of the Virginia Colony, which was one of the first charters that made sure that an English colony could settle in the United States of America.
• Once the capital of Virginia, Jamestown, had its parliament burned down to the ground. There was active consideration of moving the capital to another city in the Virginia Colony.
• One of the key reasons for this was also that there was a huge population of harmful mosquitos in Jamestown, so an important factor in this decision was to move to a city that offered a better chance to survive malaria.
• At the time, the area chosen was called Middle Plantation.
• Excited landowners in Middle Plantation saw this as an opportunity to attract more people to the city and thereby increase their overall chances of selling crops.
• Thus, these farmers gave up a portion of their earnings to make sure that the new capital was Middle Plantation.
• Later, Governor Francis Nicholson chose to rename the city to Williamsburg with the intention of revering England's King William III.
• The city received an official charter in 1722, which cemented the name change.
• Williamsburg is an important city because it forms a part of the historic trifecta that caused a series of influential changes in American history.
• The other two cities are Yorktown, where an important battle was fought that changed the fate of the war. The last city was Jamestown, which was the first English settlement in America.
• Colonial Williamsburg is called so because it preserves the integrity of its buildings and by that token, institutions that made sure to affect positive change in America and preserve its colonial style
• The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is responsible for ensuring a good experience for each visitor.

The Architectural Style Of Colonial Williamsburg

The buildings in Colonial Williamsburg are set up exactly as they were in the 18th century, therefore having a colonial style.

• When Francis Nicholson was building the city, he overlaid his own plans on top of the existing design.
• The original design was an imposition of a 'W' on n 'M,' historicists and other commentators have remarked that this was likely a monogram of the initials of Queen Mary and King William III.
• He renamed the main street Gloucester Street after Queen Anne's eldest son, the Duke of Gloucester.
• To the south of Gloucester Street was Francis Street, one he named after himself. And running close to it was Nicholson street, which he named after his familial name.
• In choosing the layout for Williamsburg, Nicholson respected the areas around the Bruton Parish Church, as well as William and Mary College where Thomas Jefferson came to study.
• The William and Mary College is one of the oldest institutions in America, and it contains the popular Wren Building, which is the oldest university building in all of the USA.
• Houses in Colonial Williamsburg date back to the 16th and 17th centuries, and to fully experience the beauty of this historic area, you should go there for a minimum of three days.
• With about 14,927 people in the entire city, you would not be tempted to call it a city; which presents an accurate picture of a crowded city of Colonial America.
• The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation building is a museum, and you can visit it when you please!
• You only have to pay for performances, which are reenactments of historical events. This includes events that showcase the actions of colonial leaders as well as other important events during the American Revolution.
• During the reenactments, you may also see snippets of the British attack that ensure Williamsburg's name was forever remembered as a city, as well as a storming of the governor's palace.

The Weather And Population Of Colonial Williamsburg

The weather in Colonial Williamsburg is mostly pleasant, while the overall city is not populated in a significant way.

• The weather remains mostly pleasant, and you may require just your windbreakers if you want to discover its historic beauty here!
• This is especially true if you're actually visiting in July when the highs can go as far up as 90 F (32 C).
• The lows, however, can fall to as much as 50 F (10 C) in January, so be a bit careful around the beginning of the year.
• Given the fact that the reconstructed part of Colonial Williamsburg is a representation of the real thing, it does not have many living inhabitants that somehow are not a part of the overall show that the visitors can enjoy.
• The active inhabitants of the town were removed when the reconstruction was happening in the 1930s.
• In fact, many of the new buildings that were constructed in the 19th or 20th were removed to retain the colonial style.

The Purpose Of Colonial Williamsburg

The very existence of Colonial Williamsburg is proof that we can be transported to another time. We can also learn about the colonial heritage of our ancestors.

• You can take a trip to Colonial Williamsburg if you're looking for a getaway from modern-day architecture and would love to take a tour of historic areas! You can also visit it if you're curious about the college where Thomas Jefferson completed his education.
• There are various eateries across the historic area that can provide a substantial glimpse into the unique food choices from that time.
• Some examples of colonial cooking include shepherd's pie, apple tansey, and Carolina fish muddle, each of which was prepared using separate techniques from the 18th century.
• These dishes are prepared using the same techniques as they used to be earlier so that you get the most authentic experience possible.
• You can try these unique dishes at Chowning's Tavern or at King's Arms Tavern.
• There is a visitor center near the Colonial Parkway you cannot go to with your vehicle. This is to make sure that the old buildings do not get damaged.
• You also have access to a shuttle bus service.
• In case you are curious about haunted houses and how they might have been in the 18th century, you can visit the Peyton Randolph House.
• A total of 30 people have actually died in the Peyton Randolph House since its construction in 1715, and it is still believed to be haunted today.
• In fact, there are some haunted houses in Colonial Williamsburg, with the Wythe House and the Public Gaol being just as fear-inducing as the Peyton Randolph House!