Williamsburg Overview

Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown constitute what's known as the "Historic Triangle". This region is rich with history and is home to the first permanent English settlement of Jamestown in 1607. Beyond the initial settlement, the area served as a backdrop to the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, making this region of Virginia one of the country's most historic spots. History buffs and families looking to show their children a living history lesson will appreciate the vast efforts that have been made to preserve the history within these towns. From battlefields to charming taverns, museums to re-enactors, Colonial Williamsburg and its surroundings are the place to go to learn about the nation's beginnings.

History of Colonial Williamsburg

Williamsburg is all about history and served as Virginia's capital from 1699 to 1780. The downtown district, known as Colonial Williamsburg, encompasses a 301-acre area complete with hundreds of original buildings, shops, and homes from the colonial days. Before the English colonists settled here, the land was home to the Native Americans known as the Powhatan Confederacy. While Jamestown was settled first and was also the original Virginia capital, Williamsburg was later settled in 1638 and was initially called the Middle Plantation, named for its location of sitting centrally on the Virginia Peninsula between the James and York Rivers. After the destructive events of Bacon's Rebellion in 1676, Jamestown was destroyed by fire, and then Virginia Governor William Berkeley moved and settled at the Middle Plantation, today's Williamsburg. Colonists then founded an institute of higher education in 1694, the College of William and Mary. From its initial settlement, establishing the prestigious and historic College of William and Mary, Williamsburg remained a significant piece of history and saw the American Revolution and the American Civil War.

Williamsburg Today

Today, Williamsburg is one of Virginia's and the country's top tourist attractions for its unparalleled historic attractions set in a charming downtown district in Virginia. The entire town has been masterfully restored and recreated to make its history feel alive for its many visiting tourists. Fully dressed and in-character re-enactors paired with a variety of activities and events throughout the year, make Williamsburg a popular place to delve into the past and have an interactive history lesson for the entire family to enjoy.

Among the national treasures and attractions found here is the charming shopping downtown district scattered with festive dining halls where the recreated ambiance and character actors turn history alive for the families and visitors. George Washington, among other significant historical figures, are known to have enjoyed spending time in these taverns, which are still open today serving traditional colonial pub fare ale.

The city of Williamsburg consists of the Colonial downtown district, New Town, the College of William and Mary, as well as commercial areas. Most visitors of course come for the historically significant attractions in the Colonial District. To the east sits the beautiful College of William and Mary, which is renowned for being the second oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and to this day remains a top-rated university.

Beyond the museums, tours, and historic buildings, Williamsburg offers great shopping in the heart of the colonial district at Merchant Square as well as at the more commercial and modern New Town and at the Williamsburg Prime Outlets and the more unique Williamsburg Pottery, which is a sprawling complex of worldly gifts and gems. For more family activities, the amusement parks Busch Gardens and Water County USA are both located in Williamsburg, making this area a true family affair all around.

Visiting Jamestown

Located southwest of Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown is most famous for being the first permanent English settlement on the continent. Here, you won't find a bustling city or shopping district like that of Colonial Williamsburg, as Jamestown is now part of the Colonial National Historical Park with many historical attractions. This area features Historic Jamestowne, which is located at its original location where it was the original capital of the Virginia Colony. The Jamestown Settlement is a museum featured a recreated English fort as well as a village in honor of the Native Americans. Visitors can also board recreations of the original tall ships that carried the English explorers to the new world.

Visiting Yorktown

Head southeast from Colonial Williamsburg to visit the tiny town of Yorktown, which has only about 200 current residents. Beyond its tranquil river-side location, Yorktown is most visited for its historic role in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. It is here that many battles took place and today, the battlefields are open to the public to take self-guided tours, reliving the footsteps of the soldiers and events that took place on this exact land. The charming village sits along the York River and offers visitors a relaxing beach to play in the water along with a variety of shops and eateries located along the Riverwalk Landing.