Plan your trip to Williamsburg, VA

Williamsburg, in southeastern Virginia, boasts a rich history that has shaped much of its appeal—from museums to monuments. Williamsburg is a city of foundations: The site of the first canal in the United States, the first psychiatric hospital, the oldest continually-operating church and the College of William and Mary, America’s second oldest university. Tourism in the 20th century reinvigorated what had become a sleepy town.

From 1699 to 1780, Williamsburg served as the capital of England’s largest and richest mainland North American colony. The area’s buildings have been meticulously restored and visitors are offered interpretations of life in a young America. Students of history have the opportunity to image Patrick Henry sitting down for a pint at the Raleigh Tavern, Thomas Jefferson striding down the halls of the Capitol or the Governor’s Palace, or James Monroe spending a Sunday at the Bruton Parish Church. A visit can provide new insights into the thinking and lives of those who fought the Revolutionary War and founded America.