Yorktown Archives - Relax Williamsburg

American Revolution Museum

April 5, 2022

The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown tells the story of…

Continental Army Encampment

April 5, 2022

The life of a Revolutionary War soldier is vividly portrayed…

Yorktown Battlefield

April 5, 2022

Colonial National Historical Park is located in the Hampton Roads…

Watermen’s Museum

April 5, 2022

The Watermen's Museum is a museum in Yorktown, Virginia. It documents…

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.

American Revolution Museum

Continental Army Encampment

Yorktown Battlefield

Watermen’s Museum

THE HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG

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