Williamsburg VA '11

 Colonial Palace

As you probably know, Colonial Williamsburg  VA is a 301-acre Historic Area upon which stand hundreds of accurately restored, reconstructed, and historically furnished buildings.  For most of the year, the colony represents life in America when its citizens were members of the British Colony. Live music tours, plays, re-enactments and more bring the era alive for the visitors.     

Palace Tour

 Capital Building Tour
While some events (concerts, musket firing lessons, carriage- rides) are fee based, most activities and tours are free.  

Our Guide in Costume

All the guides and actors are in costume; they are free to interact with the visitors and answer any questions asked of them. We took full advantage of this and learned a lot about the period and the values of the times

 Re-enactors of Palace kitchen Staff

Some of my favorite parts of the visit involved anything to do with cooking.  The photo above shows the Governor’s Palace kitchen which was housed in its own separate building.  Re-enactors explain the process of food preparation and significance of meals in Colonial life.  Did you know that a formal dinner ball at the Palace could run until 4 am, and that guests (and their servants) when they came to visit, could stay months if not years?  Busy people these kitchen staff. 

Randolf House Dinner Table

Randolf House Dining Room

The dining rooms and their displays of food (on left) were most interesting. Do you know that colonialists were given a large fresh meal late in the day?  What you did not eat at that sitting would be served to you later as an evening meal, then again as breakfast, and again as lunch the next day. Hmmmm.. I wonder if my mother ever took a tour of Williamsburg

Randolf House Tour Guide

Colonial Williamsburg has many authentically restored taverns. All serve food consistent with the era.   On the right is the Christiana Campbell Tavern.  

It was George Washington's favorite.  It was closed the day we were there, so we ate at Chownings Tavern instead.  I had Rarebit for lunch Yum. Fabulous! 

We lucked out on our visit to Williamsburg, as it turned out to be the anniversary of the eve of George Washington's invasion at Yorktown.  To commemorate the event, the Colonial village re-enacted George Washington and his troops arriving into Williamsburg in preparation for that battle.  The actors were quite knowledgeable about the campaign they were about to undertake and were more than willing to interact with the public to explain their strategies.

Revolutionary Generals ride into Williamsburg 

Revolutionary troops follow

We listened to  fiery speeches given from the courthouse steps

We had a discussion about the upcoming  battle plans

 (here with Lafayette and a South Carolina General)

Even the Native Americans were represented 

And of course I had to check out the troops’ camp life and cook site