Colonial Williamsburg restoration

E85167

The Colonial Williamsburg restoration is a large-scale historical preservation and reconstruction project in Williamsburg, Virginia, that transformed the town into a living museum interpreting 18th-century American colonial life.


Statements (46)
Predicate Object
instanceOf architectural restoration project
historic preservation project
living history museum project
aimsTo create a living museum environment
interpret daily life in colonial America
associatedOrganization Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
beganIn 1920s
beganWithPurchaseOf historic properties in Williamsburg
country United States of America
developedInto Colonial Williamsburg
educationalRole site for public history education
focusesOn 18th-century American colonial life
history of colonial Virginia
governedBy Colonial Williamsburg Foundation board of trustees
heritageDesignation part of the Williamsburg Historic District
includesInterpretationOf colonial-era trades and crafts
enslaved people's experiences in colonial Virginia
political life in colonial Virginia
includesPreservationOf surviving 18th-century buildings
includesReconstructionOf demolished colonial-era buildings
influenced development of living history museums in the United States
historic preservation practices in the 20th century
initialConceptBy Reverend W. A. R. Goodwin
location Williamsburg, Virginia NERFINISHED
majorFundingFrom Abby Aldrich Rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller Jr.
notableFeature costumed historical interpreters
interpretive programs on politics and society
reconstructed public buildings
restored streetscapes
working trades and craft demonstrations
relatedField historic site interpretation
public history
relatedProject Restoration of Jamestown Island
restoredStructure Bruton Parish Church
Capitol (Williamsburg, Virginia)
Governor's Palace (Williamsburg)
Raleigh Tavern
Wren Building
scale one of the largest historic restoration projects in the United States
timePeriodInterpreted American Revolutionary period
pre-Revolutionary era
tourismRole major heritage tourism destination
usesMethod architectural archaeology
documentary research
historical reconstruction

Referenced by (1)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
John D. Rockefeller Jr.
notableProject

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