Mythbusting: 5 Common Misconceptions About George Washington
George Washington has been a figure shrouded in myth since before Parson Weems first spun his tale about the cherry tree in 1806. We’ve become more savvy about recognizing the stories that are more...
View ArticleTavern Debate: Our Next President
Before you tune into the Republican presidential debate(s) tonight, before the pundits declare winners and losers, before the morning news shows roll the highlight reel of testy exchanges, gaffes,...
View ArticleGeorge Washington Hits the 2016 Campaign Trail
You heard that right. The Father of our Nation, the American Cincinnatus, His Excellency, George Washington is packing up and heading out to visit two key primary states—Iowa and New Hampshire. Gen....
View ArticleGuest Blog: Why You Should Watch Poldark–the 18th-century British Drama With...
Between Outlander and TURN, this has been a great year for the 18th century on television! But neither of those shows spoke to me quite as much as PBS Masterpiece’s Poldark. Here’s a breakdown of the...
View ArticleHappy National Left-Handers Day. Did You Know One of Our Founders Was a...
Since five of our last seven presidents were left-handed—Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush are the exceptions—you might expect to find some among the founders. But Ben Franklin seems to be the only one...
View ArticleDoG Street Patriot: Colonial Williamsburg’s Hidden “Golden” Treasure
Since August is National Golf Month, we thought it would be the perfect time to talk about one of Colonial Williamsburg’s hidden treasures, the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club! Located on S. England St....
View ArticleCampaign Recap: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at George Washington’s Visit to Iowa
General George Washington has completed his first leg of his campaign tour of two early primary states. Accompanying the general out on the campaign trail has been a whirlwind to say the least. As Gen....
View ArticleInside Our Military Encampment, Having Fun is an Order!
Summer isn’t over yet and we want to get the news out to parents and kids that our Military Encampment plans to end this season with a bang! For those of you who don’t know, our Military Encampment is...
View ArticleBeneath the Surface: Painting a Complete Picture of Our Historic Buildings
When a house in Colonial Williamsburg is repainted, who picks the hues? It may come as a surprise but the house itself does! If it is an original building with original painted material, then the...
View ArticleHappy Birthday, Lafayette! Here Are 5 Fascinating Facts Everyone Should Know...
To honor the 258th birthday of the Marquis de Lafayette on September 6, we asked Mark Schneider, who portrays him in Williamsburg, for some interesting tidbits about this important early supporter of...
View ArticleWhy Do You See Women Dressed as Men in Our Colonial Capital?
One of the most common questions I’m asked is, “Would a woman be allowed to be a cooper?” In fact, we know of three women who were coopers in Virginia in the 18th century, although none worked in...
View ArticleAPRIL FOOLS! Young Abraham Lincoln Joins Colonial Williamsburg
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is proud to announce the arrival of its newest Nation Builder: Young Abraham Lincoln. WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (March 31, 2016) – As part of a new initiative to...
View ArticleCome Fly an 18th-century Kite With Ben Franklin!
A decade after Merchandise Buyer Susan Hoffman first alighted on the idea, reproduction 18th-century kites have arrived in Colonial Williamsburg’s shops. As long as the weather cooperates, the kites...
View ArticleOur Founders and the Women Who Made Them
You may have heard the saying “Behind every great man, is a woman rolling her eyes.” There are dozens of other versions of this quote, and we all know that men (successful or not!) did not arrive to...
View ArticleIt Takes a Village… to Put Out a Fire
When the word “fire!” rang out in colonial America, devastation was always a possibility. Every able-bodied hand within hailing distance was needed to contain the flames. Beginning April 17, guests...
View ArticleLord Dunmore: Beneath the Kilt
Lord Dunmore is the cartoon villain of Williamsburg, the dastardly royal governor who tried to quash the Revolution, first by making off with the town’s gunpowder, then by offering freedom to slaves...
View ArticleThe Flowering and Forgotten Citizens of Williamsburg
It is one of the greatest selling points of The Revolutionary City. Along a single-mile stretch of road, guests can lose themselves amidst the sights, smells, wisdom, and action of an historic...
View ArticleMary Randolph and African Culinary Connections
In 1800 an enslaved Virginian named Gabriel Prosser plotted an insurrection in Henrico County near Richmond. His goal reportedly was to kill any white person he came across, sparing only French...
View ArticleA Labor of Love: Why I Appreciate the History of Midwives
After giving birth to my first child Deirdre, my obstetrician revealed that I almost died in the process. I hemorrhaged quite a bit and unbeknownst to me, when my firstborn decided to enter the world...
View ArticleRiders Up! Horse Racing in 18th-Century Williamsburg
George Washington lost four pounds playing the ponies as a 27-year old freshman legislator in Williamsburg in 1759. He wasn’t alone. Horse racing and gambling were favorite pastimes in colonial...
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