Williamsburg

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Williamsburg
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There is probably not one spot in the United States that is more rewarding for history buffs than Williamsburg, VA. Williamsburg, VA was founded as Middle Plantation, a fortified settlement in 1632. The high ground on the Virginia Peninsula in southeastern Virginia was an excellent strategic site between the James and York rivers. It was renamed Williamsburg after the capital of the Virginia Colony was moved there in 1698.

In 1722 the town received a royal charter and was the center of politics in Virginia. The area is best known for the events leading to the American Revelation.

The restored Historic area of the city, known as Colonial Williamsburg draws visitors from around the world. William and Mary College is the second oldest university in the United States. It was founded in 1693. The first known mental hospital in the US was also established in 1770.

The area known as the “Historic Triangle of Virginia” includes Jamestown and Yorktown with Williamsburg located in the center. This is among the most popular tourist destination in the world,   The National Parks Service maintains Colonial parkway, a 23 mile long National Scenic Byway carefully shielded from views of commercial development. Jamestown Ferry, a toll free ferry links Williamsburg and Richmond.

Many travelers come to Williamsburg by highway as airports are20 to 55 miles from town. There are good alternative non driving travel opportunities by rail and bus

The history of the area which would be Williamsburg begins with the arrival of English colonists at Jamestown in the Colony of Virginia in 1607. It was in a wooded area in the territory of the Native American group known as the Powhatan confederacy. In 1638 the community was knows as Middle Plantation because the location on the high ground was about half way across the Peninsula. Archeologists on the Bruton Heights School property have recently discovered remnants of the cross-peninsula defensive palisade that was completed in 1634.

During Bacon’s Rebellion is 1676 the statehouse which was the capitol building in Jamestown was burned and when Governor Berkeley regained control the seat of government was moved to Middle Plantation. The surroundings were safer and more pleasant environmentally. Jamestown was muggy and plagues with mosquitoes.

Colonists desired to have a school of higher education and after several years of lobbying in England a royal charter was given for a new school named the College of William and Mary in honor of the monarchs of the time. The school was founded at Middle Plantation in 1693.

The permanent capitol which was once again in Jamestown burned again in 1698 and a presentation was made by students of the school to permanently move the capitol to Middle Plantation in 1699. As village was laid out and Middle Plantation became Williamsburg in honor of King William III of England.

Alexander Spotswood arrived there as lieutenant governor in 1710 and had several ravines filled and streets leveled. He assisted in construction of a church, and a magazine for storing arms. The town of Williamsburg was granted a royal charter as a city in 1722. It is believed to be the oldest city in the Untied States.

Williamsburg is a city of firsts. The first canal in the US was built in 1771. The first psychiatric hospital was built in the city in the 1770’s as the “Pubic Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds” was established in 1770 It is known today as the Eastern State Hospital.

Following the Declaration of Independence the American Revolutionary War broke out in 1776. The capital of Virginia was moved to Richmond to preserve Williamsburg’s location from potential attack by the British.

In the 19th century Williamsburg lost provenience as the principal business activates of Williamsburg had been the government and the college. The College and Hospital grew the student until enlistments in the confederate Army reduced the student body of the college of William and Mary so much that in 1861 the college was closed for the duration of the conflict. The College building was used as a confederate barracks and later as a hospital by the confederate and later the Union forces

There were major battles in the area until May, 1862 when the city fell to the Union. Much damage was done to the community during the Union occupation which lasted until September 1865.

About 20 years later the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad was built through the area to aid passenger travel and shipping for local farmers but it had been built primarily for the through coal traffic destined for Newport News.    The college of William and Mary struggled financially during these years. Beginning in the 1890’s a concentration of relocated Americans of Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish descent came to the area drawn by attractive land prices. The became leasing merchants, tradesperson, and farmers in the community

Williamsburg remained a sleepy little town. It was less progressive than other busier communities of similar size in Virginia. It remained so until Reverend Dr. W.A.R Goodwin on Williamsburg’s Bruton parish Church wanted to save his historic church. He accomplished this by 1907 the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Episcopal Church in Virginia. He was then sent to serve a number of years in upstate New York. He returned to Williamsburg in 1923 and realized that many of the other colonial era buildings remained but were in deteriorating condition... Goodwin dreamed of a much larger restoration along the lines of what he had accomplished with his historic church. He had modes means and support and financing from number sources. He finally caught the attention of philanthropist John D Rockefeller, Jar and his wife. Their combined efforts created Colonial Williamsburg. This included a restoration of much of the downtown Williamsburg area with a 301 acre Historic Area to celebrate the patriots and the early history of America.

In the 21st century colonial Williamsburg has continued the dedication to attract modern children and offer better interpretation of the African-American experience in colonial times. Dr Goodwin’s dream lives on and the effort to maintain and improve this Virginia and United States History is a remarkable work in progress.

The tourist volume of Colonial Williamsburg has attracted many other related businesses to the area. Anheuser-Busch established a large brewery there and there are to theme parks near the brewery, Busch Gardens Europe and Water County USA.

Williamsburg is perhaps best known for historical points of interests. Colonial Williamsburg can be described a “living history” museum. Lifestyles and culture of the 18th century colonial period are enacted a brought to life. Virginia’s first capitol building, the governor’s Palace and The College of William and Mary are much visited points of interest. Bruton Parish church is the oldest continually operating church in Untied States and is honored as the project that started it all.

Colonial Williamsburg visitors are drawn to the Winery, the Botanical Garden and two major theme parks. The enormous 200 acres Williamsburg Pottery Factory shopping complex is visited by 3 mill lion people annually.    Adjacent to the Colonial area Market Square shops feature high quality artistic and ornamental items. Richmond Road has an outlet shopping center and President’s Park is a new educational attraction displaying statue heads of all US Presidents with a descriptive biographical plaque.

In the streets and venues of Colonial Williamsburg “interpreters” act out scenes of everyday life in colonial times. Such subjects as drinking customs, courtships and bundling, and merchant trade are featured. One very popular attraction involves the herd of cattle known as Milking Devons. The Devons of the area a descendants of an antique stock. By the 1970’s the breed was on its way to extinction world wide. The Colonial Williamsburg foundation set out to save them. In the 1980’s they began a program to save rare breeds. Devons were the first animals selected. The first cattle imported from Devonshire England arrived in the colonies in 1623. Records from 1700’s mention red cattle in the area. The Devons are red. They are calm, friendly and intelligent. They not only provide milk but are also good draft animals. These gentle giants are popular with the children who visit.

18th century plays are performed in the Kimball theatre. There is a large population descended from Jews who reached American shores with Columbus. Interpreters provide scenes from the Jewish liturgical year. Christmas at “Old Williamsburg” is an unforgettable experience.

Williamsburg, VA is the destination choice of a lifetime.

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