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 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.

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.

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.

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

An ethnographic exploration of the presentation of history at Colonial Williamsburg. It examines the packaging of American history, and the consumerism and the manufacturing of cultural beliefs.