Colonial Williamsburg, Open-air museum in Williamsburg, United States
Colonial Williamsburg is an open-air museum in Williamsburg, Virginia, recreating colonial life across 301 acres (121 hectares) with reconstructed and restored buildings, workshops, and gardens. The main thoroughfare, Duke of Gloucester Street, runs roughly one mile (1.6 kilometers) through the center, connecting the Capitol at the eastern end with the College of William & Mary to the west.
The settlement became the capital of the Virginia Colony in 1699 and remained the political center until 1780, when the government relocated to Richmond. Restoration work began in the 1920s under the patronage of John D. Rockefeller Jr., who funded the project until his death in 1960.
Costumed interpreters speak in the first person as if still living in the 1770s, discussing politics, work, and daily routines with visitors walking the streets. This approach brings to life the perspectives of different social groups, from landowners to enslaved workers, through direct conversation.
A visit takes at least half a day, though many guests spend several days to explore all buildings and programs. Comfortable shoes are important, as most pathways are unpaved and walking is extensive.
The taverns serve dishes based on 18th-century recipes reconstructed from period cookbooks and household inventories. Guests can dine in the public rooms, which are furnished according to documented examples.
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