The Revolutionary City
Join the Revolution
Become a part of the two-day saga as the city comes alive to depict the days, months, and years leading up to and during the Revolutionary War. Meet the locals—townspeople, tradespeople, shopkeepers, political figures, women, and slaves—and learn of their hopes, struggles, and fears in these uncertain times.
Day 1: The Old Order Collapses,
1775–1776
Feel the mounting tension as some residents of Williamsburg have a change of heart about their relationship with Great Britain. The struggle of whether to remain true to the crown—or undermine the king’s authority for a chance at liberty and equality—plagues the people.
Conflict surfaces as differing opinions emerge—from those who prefer peace to those who call for an outright overthrow of the government and a declaration of war. Meet townspeople torn by friendships, family, and fear of their uncertain future—and see how they continue to live, laugh, and cope in a community divided.
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Day 2: Building a New Nation,
1779–1781
Join the community of Williamsburg as the initial sense of optimism, innovation, and infinite possibility evaporates amid the harsh realities of war. See how Virginians shape a fundamental belief in the rights and responsibilities of citizens into a republican government.
Meet those not considered “citizens” at the time—African Americans, women, and others—and learn what obstacles they actively seek to overcome. Be present as traitors are revealed, property is lost, and the demands of war set in—and learn how hope is maintained, success is gained, and a new, idealistic nation is secured.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
Meet the People
As you make your way through the city, meet the real townspeople—loyalist or patriot, enslaved or free, man or woman—who live in 18th-century Williamsburg. Get a firsthand perspective, learn a new trade, or ask them what sacrifices they have made in this tumultuous time. When face-to-face, putting yourself in their shoes may be easier than you think.
Featured
Witness the blacksmiths and armorers hard at work as they shape iron and steel into the tools, hardware, and weapons needed to fight a Revolution.
Dedication—November 2013
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Enter the years immediately before the Revolution and experience the grandeur of royal government in Virginia just before its collapse.
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Step back into 1766 with an inside glimpse into the fashionable world of the coffeehouse, where you may sample coffee, tea, or velvety chocolate.
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Step into the tumultuous year of 1776 as you explore the Capitol building of Virginia and learn of the colony’s contributions to the American Revolution.
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