Make your Williamsburg vacation more comfortable when you choose the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Williamsburg East (Busch Gardens), VA, right off US 60. Located just over two miles from Busch Gardens and Colonial Williamsburg, our hotel also puts you near golfing, shopping, and elegant dining opportunities on the Virginia Peninsula. If you’re on a college tour or visiting a student at William & Mary, you’ll appreciate being about a five-minute drive from campus.
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THE HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG
Prior to European settlement, the area around modern-day Williamsburg was settled by the indigenous American tribes of the Powhatan Confederacy. Williamsburg was first settled in 1638 and was originally referred to as Middle Plantation due to its location on the high ground in the middle of the Virginia Peninsula. In 1699, Middle Plantation was renamed Williamsburg in honor of King William III of England.
By the turn of the 20th century, Williamsburg was a quiet country village, and many colonial buildings, while still standing, were in disrepair. The Reverend Dr. D.A.R. Goodwin made it his goal to restore Williamsburg to its colonial spendor, seeking financial help from none other than John D. Rockefeller Jr., the heir to Standard Oil. It was due to the Rockefeller contributions that Williamsburg became what it is today: A living museum, with history preserved and on exhibit every day.