Adventures in Colonial Williamsburg

This place was a dream come true for me but even a casual fan of American history should have a good time. Before arriving I sort of knew what to expect since a former professor of mine is a board member at Colonial Williamsburg (CW for short) and I knew that the complex is continuously developing and becoming more accurate. However I did not realize just how knowledgeable the staff were on 18th Century life. History is a lifelong passion of mine and it did not take long to realize that the Colonial Williamsburg staff are true experts. The Trades people in the Historic Area are actually trained in their specialty or are in apprenticeships, they are not actors and are more than happy to share a bit of their knowledge. The historical recreationists portray their characters faithfully and yet allow just a bit of their own persona to leak through, making them approachable and engaging. All the more so when visiting in the off-season as the CW staff can take that extra bit of time to have more personal conversations with visitors since they are not swamped. I cannot imagine learning as much as I did on my trip if the expert staff had to cater to double or triple the visitors. If you plan to visit Colonial Williamsburg to do a little shopping and see some old houses, then it really does not matter when you visit. But for those of us who want to absorb as much history as possible and actually leave knowing more than when you arrived, an off-season visit will allow for all the seeing and doing you had hoped for.

After getting the appropriate pass for your length of stay make sure to get all the pamphlets at one of the ticket offices. There is always something going on and you just might find yourself running to see an historical reenactment or a seminar on period music. However take it from me, even in the off-season you cannot see everything due to the scheduling and all the engaging conversations you will have with the costumed performers and trades people. You may also spend some time admiring the furnishing in one of Colonial Williamsburg's historic taverns or watching a musician while sampling some colonial inspired food and drink. No matter how you spend your time it will be rewarding and not to worry, there will be plenty to see and do on your next visit.

A good plan of attack is to start early and make sure you know what buildings are open that day. It may be best to start with the buildings that require a tour since the early tours are usually small and provide the best opportunities for photos. The Governor's Palace, the Capitol and several of the more substantial homes like the Peyton Randolph House are visited as tours and so the earlier you arrive the smaller the group. Otherwise try to familiarize yourself with the Historic Area's layout by taking a stroll (or even better, a horse and carriage) down Duke of Gloucester Street and if you already have your ticket, you may enter any building marked with a flag.

The working trades people are a real treat to talk with and will answer all questions relating to their trade or how they came to work at CW. The shops are small and I cannot imagine getting a word in edgewise on a hot and crowded summer day, not a problem in November as visitors can loiter as long as they want. When not mobbed by tourists and not sweating to death in 18 Century clothing, the CW staff are an invaluable resource for period and general trade information. In between answering questions these men and women go right back to work creating much of the clothing, tools and equipment used in Colonial Williamsburg or sold as gifts. Besides the Trades people and historic buildings, there are activities and seminars held for just about any interest and also two very impressive museums: The Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, located on the grounds of America's first Insane Asylum.

Recently Colonial Williamsburg has introduced a continuously running program that lets the visitors get involved called Revolutionary City. Visitors can now watch and participate in reenactments of important events in Williamsburg history during the American Revolution. What I found exciting is that the Historic Area buzzes with activity right before an event is to take place: Reenactors start milling about the area, shopkeepers will start gossiping about Mrs. Washington's generosity and at performance time everyone spills out into the street just as it might have happened in real life. Another great aspect of the program is that you do not have to see the events in sequence or in their entirety to enjoy them. The professionalism of the performers and the excited looks on the faces of kids make sure that the enthusiasm is contagious. Before long you will be shouting "huzzah" right along with the reenactors.

After the shops and buildings close for the evening the Historic Area does not exactly shut down. The area is open to pedestrians at all hours and it is also the time that the night performances start. These events, ranging from ghost walks and witch trials to folk music concerts and colonial balls are popular all year so make sure to buy tickets in advance. What makes these performances so popular is that they very rarely repeat, the "Legends, Myths, Mysteries and Ghosts" tour can be done numerous times without hearing the same fascinating legend twice. These tours also allow visitors into buildings they may have missed during the day tours.

If you love history like I do, you may be ready to drop off your resume by the end of your visit. The fact that I met so many fellow New Englanders working for "The Foundation" made me realize that it was a possibility. Now would I have the same feeling if I visited during the sweltering Virginia summer, as I weaved my way through the crowds on my bad hip to get a decent photo? I imagine that it would have been more difficult to get that personal interaction with the Williamsburg staff during the peak season. But then again it is hard to say since I feel the best resource CW has is their wonderful staff, they love what they do and it shows. From the friendly southern gentleman at the Weaver shop to the cheeky ladies who sassed me at the Wig Maker, I feel that they all enjoyed our conversations just as much as I had - for these folks history is not just a hobby, it is their livelihood.