In the 1770s before the United States was a nation, most people lived on farms. But Williamsburg in Virginia Colony was a busy town with wide streets, grand public buildings, bustling shops, and a large market square—and 2,000 people! Find out how Williamsburg today gives us a fascinating window into America's past.

The story of America begins here. In Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area, you can see hundreds of restored, reconstructed, and historically furnished buildings from the Colonial and Revolutionary eras. You can meet the men and women—black, white, and Native American, enslaved and free—who built a new nation. And you can experience the enduring relevance of America’s founding documents and principles. This practical guide features Historic sites, including public buildings, private homes, and taverns Historic trades Art Museums Resorts, dining, and shopping More than 200 illustrations and maps

The first all-new edition of the official guide since 1985, Colonial Williamsburg is the first guide to focus on the Revolutionary City. It includes a comprehensive history of Williamsburg's role in the Revolution, followed by site-by-site descriptions of what happened here and why it mattered and still matters. Also featured are: Photo essays highlighting key scenes from the Revolution, Biographies of Revolutionary figures, Architectural histories, Treasures of the Art Museums, Hotels, Taverns and Restaurants, Recreation, and Shopping. More than 500 color photos.

""The Gardens of Colonial Williamsburg" features twenty gardens in Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area. Stunning photography complements the text and detailed garden plans identify the plantings in each garden. Experience the sights, colors, and textures found in Colonial Williamsburg's gardens each season of the year."--Book jacket.

Packed with practical information for touring Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area, the world's largest living history museum.

Williamsburg was one of the most important cities of eighteenth-century America. Capital of Virginia from 1699 to 1780, it was a political and economic center especially before and during the American Revolution. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., recognized its status in 1926 and led the way in restoring the town to its original splendor. Today, Colonial Williamsburg attracts millions of visitors each year to its authentically recreated eighteenth-century village. Full of historically significant, beautiful buildings, Williamsburg is a wonderful place to explore. Now you can walk the streets and view the town without even leaving your chair with The Majesty of Colonial Williamsburg . The main houses, public buildings, and taverns plus museums, crafts, and stores are represented here in more than two hundred full-color photographs. The homes are elegantly furnished in period style, which is shown here in rich detail. The book also showcases Carter s Grove, a plantation built in 1751 and located eight miles away, and two buildings from the College of William and Mary. In addition to documenting Williamsburg in pictures, the author recounts the town's history. The Majesty of Colonial Williamsburg is the eighth volume in Pelican s acclaimed Majesty architecture series. Anyone who has been to Williamsburg in person will treasure this photographic remembrance; anyone else will simply enjoy seeing this lovely, historically accurate village up close and learning more about colonial American life. Peter Beney has been a professional photographer for more than forty years. This is his third book in the Majesty series for Pelican; he has also written and photographed The Majesty of Savannah and The Majesty of Charleston.

In Creating Colonial Williamsburg, Anders Greenspan examines the restoration and re-creation of the structures and gardens of Virginia's colonial capital beginning in 1926. The restoration was undertaken by the Rockefeller family, whose aim was to promote a twentieth-century appreciation for eighteenth-century ideals. Ironically, those ideals, including democracy, individualism, and representative government, were often promoted at the expense of a more complete understanding of the town's true history. The meaning and purpose of Colonial Williamsburg has changed over time, along with America's changing social and political landscapes, making the study of this historic site a unique and meaningful entry point to understanding the shifting modern American character. In recent years, financial struggles and declining attendance forced a new interpretation of the town, extending the presentation into the period of the American Revolution, while adding new interpretive approaches such as street theater and a greater emphasis on technology. Over its eighty-year history, says Greenspan, Colonial Williamsburg has grown and matured, while still retaining its emphasis on the importance of eighteenth-century values and their application in the modern world.

Explore the grounds of Colonial Williamsburg with this unique seek-and-find alphabet book offering beautiful photographs with hidden animals on every page. Discover everything from sheep pastures and underground ice houses to walled gardens and winding hedge mazes. Included are fun facts about Colonial Williamsburg's history in an illustrated glossary and a kid-friendly map for planning your journey. Whether you use this book as a guide for an upcoming visit to Colonial Williamsburg or as a souvenir to commemorate your stay, a magical adventure awaits you and your family!

“Christmas is come, hang on the pot, Let spits turn round, and ovens be hot; Beef, pork, and poultry, now provide, To feast thy neighbours at this tide; Then wash all down with good wine and beer, And so with mirth conclude the YEAR.” So wrote an anonymous poet in the 1765 edition of the Virginia Almanack, published in Williamsburg. Drawing on eighteenth-century traditions, Colonial Williamsburg has become famous for its celebrations of the Christmas season. In Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area—and in the pages of this lavishly illustrated book—you’ll find wreaths and roping crafted from greenery, fruit, and other natural materials; boards groaning under the weight of holiday fare; cressets warming the streets and candles flickering in the windows of the town’s homes and taverns; fireworks lighting up such iconic buildings as the Capitol and the Governor’s Palace. In colonial times and today, Christmas in Williamsburg not a day but a season—and one this book lets you experience throughout the year.