Historic Williamsburg

Williamsburg, VA

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We welcome you to experience Colonial Williamsburg in a way you've never done before! This fun self guided interactive GPS tour of Colonial Williamsburg and the College of William and Mary will take you to more than 150 locations throughout Colonial Williamsburg, with nearly three hours of audio narration by voice actors to tell you everything you need to know about this historic hotspot. No more walking in front of a place and thinking, What is this, what was it for, and why is it important? Simply walk in front of a house or find it on the map or list to listen to its story! Williamsburg was founded in 1632. Originally named Middle Plantation, Royal Governor Francis Nicholson changed its name to Williamsburg in honor of King William III. The nation's second oldest College was established here in 1693, the College of William and Mary, which became America's first University in 1779 with the first law school. Williamsburg became the capital of Virginia in 1699 after the capital building in Jamestown burned down in 1698. It served as the capital of the Virginia Colony and cultural and social center of the wealthiest and largest colony until 1780, when the capital moved to Richmond. Under the leadership of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, Patrick Henry and James Madison, Williamsburg was a center of political activity in the years leading up to the American Revolution. Today you will experience Colonial Williamsburg, a living history museum that includes hundreds of houses, structures, and outbuildings. 88 are original. Outbuildings such as smokehouses, privies and kitchens have been faithfully reproduced, and the original buildings were restored to show how they would have looked during the eighteenth century. Many buildings are open as museums, while others are used to demonstrate period trades such as the wheelwright's shop, printing shop, gunsmith and wigmaker's establishment. Some buildings are also used as stores, where visitors can purchase items that were created by historic tradespeople at Colonial Williamsburg. Join us as we take you on a fun GPS guided audio experience through the streets of Colonial Williamsburg and to the College of William and Mary!