tours of colonial america

Plan Your Trip To Colonial New England

Early american settlement and revolutionary fervor.

The history of the American colonies is thick with names from New England, including many places people can visit now: battle sites, graveyards, and homes of writers, thinkers, and heroes. In Plymouth, MA , you can see Plymouth Rock and tour a replica of the Mayflower . Boston’s Freedom Trail -- an urban walking trail -- touches churches & meeting houses where the American Revolution was ignited. Newport, RI , looks much like it did as a trading center in the 1700s. Every New England state has sites from the era before the United States came to be.

Massachusetts

Greater Boston & Cambridge Area:

The Freedom Trail in Boston, MA :  

USS Constitution – “Old Ironsides” in Charlestown, MA :  

The first view of the USS Constitution , docked at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, MA, is truly a thrill. At the USS Constitution Museum , only a few steps from the ship, galleries take visitors on a 200-year voyage into the heart of the New England colonies. See how sailors climbed masts 200 feet in the air & learn how the ship earned its nickname. During summer, the Constitution takes short cruises in Boston Harbor .

Faneuil Hall & Quincy Marketplace in Boston, MA :  

Often referred to as "the Cradle of Liberty," Faneuil Hall hosted America's first Town Meeting, where the Sons of Liberty proclaimed their dissent against royal oppression. This imposing building is open daily, hosting historical talks every 30 minutes. Next door is Quincy Market , an indoor-outdoor mall with dozens of gift shops, wonderful food stalls and restaurants, and a front seat to free street music and street theater.

Museum of African American History on Beacon Hill :  

The African Meeting House and Abiel Smith School on Beacon Hill , located in the old heart of Boston, MA's African American community, remain a showcase of black community life & history. Once a church, a school, and a meeting hall, the African Meeting House is open to the public. The Abiel Smith School , the nation's first public school for African American children, houses a first-class exhibit space and the museum store.

Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket:

Nantucket whaling museum :  .

The workings of the early (1600-1800) whaling industry is on display at the Nantucket Whaling Museum on Broad Street. Nantucket, MA became a part of the Bay Colony of Massachusetts in 1692 and very soon Nantucketers began to organize whaling expeditions in small boats to pursue the right whales that passed nearby on annual migrations. Deep-sea whaling began around 1715. It built towns and sea captains’ fortune, and inspired classics like Melville's Moby Dick . Open seasonally.

North of Boston, Merrimack Valley & Cape Ann:

Salem witch museum :  .

The Salem witch hunts and witch trials of 1692 lasted less than a year, but the terrifying phenomenon of group panic has a lasting hold on our imaginations. At the Salem Witch Museum , visitors are given a dramatic history lesson using stage sets with life-size figures, lighting and a narration. On the lighter side, Salem, MA is fun to visit in October, when dozens of light-hearted, Halloween-themed entertainments.

Minute Man National Historical Park in Lexington, Lincoln, & Concord, MA :  

On April 19, 1775, the American Revolution began at Lexington & Concord, MA with a clash of arms known as "the shot heard round the world." At Minute Man National Historical Park, visitors re-live the opening battle of the American Revolution at the battlefields and through exhibits. The park is 22 miles from Boston within the towns of Lexington, Lincoln , & Concord, MA. Plan a visit for Patriot's Day, in mid-April. The day includes a fantastic reenactment at the Lexington Green, parades of Minute Men and Redcoats, and demonstrations at North Bridge and Battle Road .

The Concord Museum :  

Concord, MA was home of the most original thinkers and writers of the American literary Renaissance. The Concord Museum is the one place where all of Concord, MA's past is brought to life through a historical collection including the famed Revere Lantern , literary treasures such as Emerson's study and Thoreau's desk , Concord-made clocks, silver & furniture, all in self-touring galleries with hands-on activities for kids.

South of Boston / Plymouth Area:

Plimoth patuxet museums in plymouth, ma :  .

Plimoth Patuxet , a living history community & museum, describes the native Wampanoag and Colonial English peoples of 17th-century Plymouth, MA . Known in colonial times as Plimoth Plantation , its four major exhibits are the Wampanoag home site, the 1627 English Village, and the Crafts Center, and the Mayflower II , a reproduction of the original Mayflower . The Wampanoag home site explores the story of one 17th-century Native American and his culture. The 1627 English Village is a re-creation of the town built by English colonists. At the Crafts Center , artisans reproduce household and farm objects of the time.

Alden Historic Site in Duxbury, MA :

John Alden and Priscilla Mullins Alden, travelers aboard the Mayflower , settled and raised their 10 children in the town of Duxbury. Their home still exists at the Alden Historic Site . Priscilla Mullins Alden is arguably the best known Pilgrim woman because of the poem “The Courtship of Miles Standish,” written by their descendant, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow . The poem’s memorable phrase, "Speak for yourself, John," placed the Aldens solidly into American lore.

Adams National Historical Park in Quincy, MA :  

The park and national monument has several sites: the birthplaces of presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams ; Peacefield , including the home to four generations of the Adams family from 1720 to 1927 ; and the Stone Library , which contains more than 14,000 volumes. This family of accomplished Americans comes to life through these exhibits.

Connecticut

Greater Hartford & Central Conn.:

Historic Wethersfield, CT :

Founded in 1634, Wethersfield is Connecticut’s "Most Auncient Towne". Its public spaces preserve houses, churches, and businesses used since the 17th century. Most of these places are beautiful, and they tell stories of the area and its people, back through the times of Native Americans, The Wethersfield Heritage Walk is a three-mile guided by exhibit kiosks and wayside panels through Main Street The Cove, and Broad Street Green. Interpretive markers tell stories of Native American Wangunks, settlers, farmers, ship builders, sea captains, slaves, soldiers, seed merchants, patriots, diplomats, and prisoners. Interesting spots in the area include the Ancient Burying Ground, with a stone dating to 1648 and lots of stonework by a stone carvers. First Church graces the center of the village. The town has many historic homes, such as the Webb Deane Stevens Museums; a museum and an art academy, and a nature center. Notable public gardens include the Webb House Colonial Revival Garden, the Heritage Herb Garden, and the Weston Rose Garden. If you love shopping and dining, there is much to choose from. The Shopkeepers Guide is a useful companion.

Mystic Country & Eastern CT:

Stonington borough – stonington :.

Stonington Borough , a tiny seaside village within the Town of Stonington, extends along a narrow peninsula into Fisher’s Island Sound. Colonial-period houses and traditional churches are packed tightly together, and many buildings on the main street house fine little antiques and jewelry shops. Restaurants are small and friendly, and they include a famous seafood restaurant overhanging the harbor, with lots of boat traffic to watch. In season, window boxes overflow with flowers and decorative flags flap everywhere. The Borough has a yacht club, boatyard, and two commercial marinas. The Borough has the last remaining commercial fleet in Connecticut, harvesting its well-known "Bomster" scallops and flounder. The town’s Portuguese fishing traditions are on display at the Blessing of the Fleet festival each summer at the Town Dock. Fine historic sites are the Old Lighthouse Museum at the very end of the peninsula, and the home of Capt. Nathaniel B. Palmer, who discoverer Antarctica in the winter of 1820-1821. Both are open to the public (seasonal hours).

Nathan Hale Homestead – Coventry :

"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country," declared Captain Nathan Hale moments before the British hanged him as a spy in 1776. Hale, a school teacher, was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Continental Army in 1775. A year later he volunteered to go behind British lines on Long Island to gather military intelligence needed by General George Washington. But the British captured Hale and executed him. He was 21. Hale was born and spent most of his life on this 400-acre farm, the Nathan Hale Homestead . Its furnishings include several Hale family possessions. Open seasonally.

Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center – Ledyard :

The high-tech Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, the world's largest Native American museum, offers experiences for young and old, from life-size dioramas that transport visitors into the past to changing exhibits and live performances of contemporary arts. Four acres of permanent exhibits depict 18,000 years of Native and natural history, while two libraries offer materials on the histories and cultures of all Native peoples of the continent. Open year-round.

Ancient Burying Ground - New London :

The "Ye Antientest" Burying Ground in New London could be an art museum from standpoint of the craftsmanship of early gravestone carvers. Each headstone is a work of art; experts can identify individual carvers. In his book on the topic, James Slater wrote, "of all Connecticut's burying grounds, this may contain the greatest variety of different carving schools. New London was an ancient port and reasonably wealthy. Stones were certainly shipped by sea from Newport and the Boston area and down the Connecticut and Thames rivers."

Custom House Maritime Museum – New London :

Built in 1833, the Custom House remains the oldest operating custom house in the nation. Robert Mills, America's first federal architect, who also executed the Washington Monument, the United States Treasury Building, and other significant government structures, designed the building. A classic Greek Revival granite building, the front doors are made from wood from the USS Constitution. In 1839, U.S. Customs played an important role in the early steps to freedom of Africans brought to New London with the slave ship Amistad. Open April through December, daily, 1-5 p.m. except Mondays; January through March, by appointment.

New Haven & Central Shoreline region:

Yale university – new haven :.

This world-class university of the American Ivy Leagues began as a proposal the 1640s by clergymen seeking to propagate in the New World an institution of advanced liberal learning, A charter was granted in 1701 and the renamed “Yale College” went on to survive the American Revolution. Today, any visitors can enjoy the university’s history, art, and magnificent architecture through a number of campus tours . Highlights are the art museums and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, home of the Gutenberg Bible.

Crypt at First Church of Christ (Center Church on the Green) - New Haven :

This burying ground, with gravestones dated from 1687 to 1812, is a true crypt, containing historic figures as well as many unnamed souls. Center Church was built in 1812-1814 over part of an early Colonial cemetery, thereby entombing and protecting the burying ground. The crypt contains the remains of 137 identified people, but hundreds more are believed to lie here. Headstones are elaborate and artistic, displaying funerary art of the 17th to 19th centuries and serving as a record for local historians. The oldest dated stone is for Sarah Rutherford Trowbridge, who died 1687. Slightly later, Sarah Whiting (1669-1726) was described on her headstone as the "faithful, virtuous and weary … painful mother of eight children."

Litchfield & Northwest CT region:

Institute for american indian studies - washington :.

Education and preservation of the American Indian cultures is the mission of the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington. Visitors are treated to Native artifacts and art, an indoor longhouse, a simulated archaeological site, trails, a replica of a 17th-century Algonkian village, and a fine gift shop. The institute's primary exhibit, As We Tell Our Stories, is divided into seven sections about Native culture: land, exchange, clay, corn living spaces, deer, manitou, and ways of war.

Rhode Island

Newport & East Bay region:

Touro Synagogue – Newport :

Touro Synagogue, founded in 1763 in Newport, is the first synagogue in America, with the second-oldest Jewish congregation in the United States. The Georgian-influenced building is situated on an angle within the property allowing worshipers standing in prayer before the Holy Ark to face east toward Jerusalem. The synagogue chamber contains 12 Ionic columns representing the tribes of ancient Israel and each made from a single tree. Five massive brass candelabra hang from the ceiling. Tours are offered; call ahead for information.

Museum of Newport History – Newport :

Newport is dense with artifacts of the Colonial period, and much of it is out in plain sight today, in the narrow streets, clapboard houses, and historic churches and wharves. At the Museum of Newport History, visitors can see James Franklin’s printing press, the figurehead from the yacht Aloha, Colonial silver, objects of daily life and more. The town’s history, beginning in the 1600s, runs the gamut from slavers, shipping magnates, and pirates to yachtsmen and Gilded Age plutocrats. The museum's operator, the Newport Historical Society, also offers lots of interesting walking tours of the town, year-round. Museum open year-round; call ahead for hours.

Trinity Church – Newport :

The beautiful and historic Trinity Church, located in Queen Anne Square, is the oldest Episcopal parish in Rhode Island. The building was completed in 1726, its design based on London churches design by Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th century. George Washington worshiped there, and the organ was tested by George Frederick Handel before being sent from England. The church contains Tiffany stained-glass windows and the only three-tiered, wine glass pulpit in America. The building was enlarged in 1764, but otherwise retains its original character with box pews.

Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House – Newport :

Built in 1697 and now the oldest house in Newport, the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House was owned by a succession of community leaders, including Martin Howard Jr., a prominent Loyalist during the American Revolution, who was hanged in effigy on in 1765 for his Tory sentiments. The house expanded over generations from its original single room on each side of a central chimney and garret on top. The house reflected the tastes and aspirations of a thriving seaport town. Each change to the building is based upon the tastes of the owner and his family, Quaker themes, and the architectural influences of a commercial and cosmopolitan center.

God's Little Acre: America’s Colonial African Cemetery – Newport :

The African slave trade and Newport share common origins. Newport, one of the most prosperous of Colonial American ports, saw unprecedented growth throughout the 18th century from the export and trade of rum, spermaceti candles, and slaves. By the beginning of the American Revolution, Newport had a large Free African community. Today, Newport is home to a historically significant burial ground that the African American community commonly called God's Little Acre. This burial area on Farewell Street has some of the oldest markers of free Africans and slaves dating back to the late 1600s.

Great Friends Meeting House – Newport :

The Great Friends Meeting House, built in 1699, was where Quakers from throughout New England gathered to pray and discuss the issues of the day, including war, slavery, and women's rights. This is the oldest surviving house of worship in Newport. Quakers dominated the political, social, and economic life of the town into the 18th century, and their plain style of living was reflected in Newport's architecture, decorative arts and early landscape.

The Colony House – Newport :

The Newport Colony House, dating from 1739, was a government meeting place and the site of celebrations, the Stamp Act riot, reading of the Declaration of Independence, and more. Many important events associated with the shaping of the United States occurred at the Colony House. In 1761, the death of George II and the ascension of George III were announced from the balcony. In 1766, citizens of Newport celebrated the repeal of the Stamp Act in the Colony House. On July 20, 1776, Major John Handy read the Declaration of Independence from the front steps. During the British occupation of Newport from 1776 to 1779, the Colony House was used as a barracks.

Providence & Warwick region:

Benefit street – providence :.

Here is a walking tour that is beneficial to both the mind and the senses. A walk along Benefit Street, carved high into a ridge along Providence's East Side overlooking downtown, is a memorable stroll among immaculately preserved Colonial, Federal, Greek Revival, and Victorian-style houses. The Providence Preservation Society distributes maps with self-guided walking tours and the Rhode Island Historical Society conducts walks in the summer.

The First Baptist Church in America - Providence :

The First Baptist Church in America was founded in 1638 in Providence by William Vincent Carpenter and Roger Williams, who had established Rhode Island's first permanent settlement at Providence in 1636. The present church building, also called the Meeting House, was built in 1774-1775. The architecture is a blend of English Georgian and the traditional New England meetinghouse. The Georgian aspects include the exterior portico and steeple, the Palladian window behind the pulpit, the fluted Tuscan columns, the groined arches in the balcony, and the split pediments over the doors. Guided tours are available Memorial Day through Labor Day, weekdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; self-guided tours may be done all year. There is also a guided tour each Sunday after the worship service. Tour booklets are available in several languages. There is a small gift shop with postcards, note cards, and books.

Brown University – Providence :

Spread across many acres of property on College Hill, part of the East Side overlooking downtown Providence, Brown University is a pleasure to visit. Travelers enjoy strolling the streets and gazing at the elegant Colonial, Federalist, and Victorian buildings of the neighborhood. The epicenter of the university is College Green, but its buildings then spread out through a neighborhood of elegant mansions. The neighborhood has lots of green spaces to sit and enjoy the passing academic world. The restaurants and shops of Thayer Street, which passes through the campus, offer lots of variety in ethnic foods, casual foods, and youthful shopping. The neighbor has an old-time, arty movie theater with a small foyer and a single screen. The university publishes a helpful map and guide for a tour of the campus.

New Hampshire

Seacoast, NH region:

Strawbery Banke Museum - Portsmouth :

Visitors to Strawbery Banke experience and imagine how people lived and worked in this typical American neighborhood from the late l7th to the mid-20th century, through restored houses, featured exhibits, historic landscapes and gardens, and interpretive programs. In 1630, Englishmen sailing up the Piscataqua River were impressed by the thick growth of wild berries along the west bank, chose that spot for settlement and named it Strawbery Banke. The site became an important colonial commercial center & Portsmouth became a trading town and the leading port north of Boston. Today, this living history museum hosts events year 'round, like hearthside dinners, historical crafts and traditions; and a wonderful Candlelight Stroll at Christmas.

John Paul Jones House – Portsmouth :

The Portsmouth Historical Society cares for a diverse collection of furniture, paintings, ceramics, costumes, and maritime artifacts at the John Paul Jones House on Middle Street, which was built in 1758 for a sea captain and merchant. (John Paul Jones, the naval hero of the American Revolution, spent time in Portsmouth in 1777 and 1781-82. He is believed to have rented a room in this house during 1777). Portsmouth was well known as a center for the furniture trade in the 18th and 19th centuries and the society displays some exceptional examples of Portsmouth craftsmanship. The collection also includes portraits, glass ceramics, China trade wares, textiles, clothing, needlework and kitchenware.

Northern Vermont:

Lake Champlain Maritime Museum – Vergennes :

Native Americans were living in the Champlain Valley 11,000 years before the arrival of Europeans; the Champlain Valley has played an important role in North American history because it is a water corridor from the St. Lawrence Valley and the heart of the North American continent. The lake has served as a highway for of communication, commerce, technology, and war. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum brings history to life through exhibits of historic boats (schooners, steamboats, and wooden boats) and shipwrecks; stories of exploration and the many peoples who have lived here; and studies of the natural history of the lake, above and below the surface, Theirs is a full-scale working Revolutionary War gunboat replica and much more.

Ethan Allen Homestead – Burlington :

Only a short drive from downtown Burlington, the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum offers hands-on history, spectacular scenery, and riverside picnic areas and walks. The Homestead provides a genuine slice of 18th century life, and an intimate look at Vermont's most colorful founder. Ethan Allen, who has become a folk hero in Vermont, was an unusually flamboyant backwoodsman-turned-statesman from Connecticut and one of the early inhabitants of Burlington. He is best known for the capture of Fort Ticonderoga at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War and his leadership of the Green Mountain Boys. The museum and house are open on a limited basis during the warm months, but the grounds are always open from sunrise to sunset.

Southern Vermont:

Bennington battle monument - bennington :.

Built in the late 1880s, this monument is a dedication to the famous Battle of Bennington that took place during the Revolutionary war in 1777. Here the American Colonists maintained a store of weapons and food, which British General Burgoyne needed to restock his troops. The monument is a 306-foot-tall stone obelisk north of VT Rte 9, about 4 miles east of the New York border. An elevator takes visitors to the observation floor for spectacular views of Bennington and three states. A diorama and several interpretive exhibits are on the ground floor. A gift shop specializes in historical items relating to the Battle of Bennington and Vermont.

South Coast, ME region:

The Museums of Old York – York :

Museums of Old York is nine historic buildings, including a Colonial tavern, an old jail, an estate filled with antiques, and a warehouse that once belonged to patriot John Hancock. Also on the site are a nature preserve, museum shop, contemporary art gallery, and restored gardens. Visitors experience more than 300 years of New England heritage and hear tales of sea captains and their families, jailers, prisoners, and others. Also on display are beautiful decorative objects and antiques, including the only complete set of 18th-century American crewelwork bed curtains known to exist. Museum buildings include the John Hancock Warehouse, Jefferds' Tavern, the Old Gaol, the Old Schoolhouse, the George Marshall Store, and others.Open June to Columbus Day, daily except Sundays. The museums host many seasonal and special events that bring history to life for adults and kids.

Acadia/Bar Harbor, ME region:

Abbe museum – bar harbor :.

The Abbe Museum opened in 1928 as a trailside museum at Sieur de Monts Spring. Its mission is to interpret the history and lives of the Wabanaki Indian tribe through exhibitions, events, archaeology field schools, and craft workshops. By the 1990s the Abbe's museum at Sieur de Monts Spring had become inadequate to house the growing collections, changing exhibitions, and research. In September, 2001, the museum moved in a new, larger space in downtown Bar Harbor. Among the permanent exhibitions is Wabanaki: People of the Dawn.

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How to Visit America's Historic Triangle

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

America's Historic Triangle, also known as Virginia's Historic Triangle, is located in southeastern Virginia between Richmond and Norfolk. Comprised of Jamestown, Williamsburg , and Yorktown , the Triangle is linked by the scenic Colonial Parkway. Visitors to America's Historic Triangle are able to explore the birthplace of the United States through living history museums, cultural presentations, special events and more.

Jamestown - Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the United States, provides insight into the history and diverse cultures of America's earliest permanent colonists:

• Jamestown Settlement, a museum with indoor exhibits and outdoor living history programs, explores the English, Powhatan Indian and African cultures of Jamestown.
• Historic Jamestowne, situated in Colonial National Historical Park, is the site of America's first permanent English settlement and the location of ongoing archeological projects and discoveries.

Colonial Williamsburg - This 301-acre historic area is the largest living history museum in the United States:

• Colonial Williamsburg sites include 88 original buildings, hundreds of reconstructed sites and 90-acres of gardens and greens, offering visitors a chance to experience the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of Virginia on the eve of the American Revolution.

Yorktown - Located on the banks of the York River, Yorktown was established in 1691 as a port and holds a significant place in history for its contribution to American independence during the 1781 Siege of Yorktown:

• The Yorktown Victory Center examines the American struggle for independence during the Revolutionary era through themed exhibits and living-history programs.
• Yorktown Battlefield, located in Colonial National Historical Park , is the site of the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War.

Jamestown Settlement

Jamestown Settlement explores the history of Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English colony established in America with the arrival of 104 colonists on May 13, 1607. A museum consisting of an indoor theater and exhibits, outdoor living history programs, a 190-seat café, and gift shop, Jamestown Settlement offers a journey through the first 100 years at Jamestown and provides insight into its diverse European, Powhatan Indian, and African cultures.

• Theater and Gallery - An introductory film is shown daily at regular intervals in the Robins Foundation Theater. Gallery exhibits explore the nation’s 17th-century beginnings in Virginia and examine the impact of Jamestown settlement.
• Outdoor Living History - Historical interpreters demonstrate 17th-century technology and activities at living history replicas of a Powhatan Indian village, the three ships that carried the first Jamestown colonists from England (Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery) and a fort that represents the first home of the colonists. A discovery area along the river provides information about economic activities on the waterways.​

Historic Jamestowne

APVA Preservation Virginia/Historic Jamestowne

Historic Jamestowne, situated in Colonial National Historical Park, is the site of America's first permanent English settlement and the location of ongoing archeological projects and discoveries. Designated areas of Historic Jamestowne include: Old Towne, the area of the triangular Jamestown Fort; New Towne, the area the settlers developed once the fort was no longer needed; The Glasshouse, a re-created version of the original 1608 Glasshouse; Loop Drive, a one way five-mile loop road that follows the higher ground of the island and an alternate three-mile loop.

Exhibits explore the Virginia Company period of Jamestown and offer a new perspective about the first English settlers. Things to see and do at Historic Jamestowne include:

• Explore exhibits and enjoy a multi-media orientation film in the Visitor Center immersion theater
• Tour the Archaearium, an exhibition facility, which showcases archaeological findings from the James Fort site including 400-year-old objects that once belonged to Jamestown colonists.
• Watch archaeologists at work at the 1607 James Fort excavation site
• Tour the reconstructed 17th-century Jamestown Memorial Church
• Interact with costumed glassblowers at the Glasshouse and browse the display of hand-blown glass items available for purchase in the gift shop.
• Enjoy a park ranger lead a walking tour or take a self-guided walk or driving tour around the Loop Drive to explore the natural surroundings and wildlife, including bald eagles, osprey, heron, deer and more.

Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg , the largest living history museum in the United States, portrays 18th-century Williamsburg from 1774 to 1781. Colonial Williamsburg offers a visit to the past in the thriving capital of England's oldest, largest and wealthiest colony, and later, a power center in the new nation.

Encompassing 301 acres, the restored Historic Area includes 88 original buildings, 225-period rooms, 500 reconstructed buildings (many on the original foundations,) a vast archaeological collection, thousands of American and English antiques and more. The Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center, the best place to begin your visit, provides parking, information, admission and program tickets, bus service, an on-site hotel and restaurant reservations.

Important Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area Sites include:

• The Governor's Palace - a symbol of British authority
• The Capitol - seat of colonial power and site of Virginia's vote for independence May 15, 1776
• Peyton Randolph site - where historic trades carpenters are reconstructing an urban plantation
• Raleigh Tavern - where Virginia patriots defied the Crown and met to discuss independence
• George Wythe House - home of Jefferson's teacher and friend
• James Geddy House - site of family life and several family businesses
• Duke of Gloucester Street - Colonial Williamsburg's principal street

Throughout the Historic Area, dramatic vignettes, interactive programs, and historical interpreters bring the 18th century to life, including:

• Historic Trades Demonstrations
• Historic Foodways
• African American Experience
• Animals - Rare Breeds Program

Museums within walking distance of the Historic Area:

• DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum
• Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum
• The Public Hospital
• Bassett Hall, home of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller Jr.

Yorktown Victory Center

Jamestown - Yorktown Foundation

The Yorktown Victory Center is a museum that examines the American struggle for independence from the beginning of colonial dissent, through the American Revolution and the founding of a new nation. A snack and beverage vending area with patio seating and a gift shop are on-site. Exhibit Areas at the Yorktown Victory Center include:

• Gallery Exhibits - Gallery and open-air exhibits explore the events leading up to the War, the Declaration of Independence, the effect of the Revolution on the lives of a representative group of people and more.
• Outdoor Living History - Historical interpreters demonstrate daily life during the last year before and the ten years following the war in a re-created Continental Army encampment and a 1780s farm.

Yorktown Battlefield

Yorktown Battlefield is the site of one of the most important battles in United States history. On October 19, 1781, a British army under the command of General Charles Lord Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces led by General George Washington and General Comte de Rochambeau, effectively leading to the end of the American Revolutionary War.

The best place to begin a visit to Yorktown Battlefield is the Yorktown Visitor Center, where park brochures, maps, and information about daily events are available. A short orientation film, The Siege at Yorktown, is shown every 30 minutes and museum exhibits explore details of the Siege. At the museum shop, books, reproduction items, and audio tours are available for purchase.

Things to do at Yorktown Battlefield include:

• Explore the area on your own on a self-guided tour
• Take a self-guided audio tour
• Take part in one of the Ranger Guided Programs, which include 30 minute Siege Line Walking Tours, 45-minute tours of the town of York and 25-minute Non-firing Artillery Demonstrations. From mid-June to mid-August, the Young Soldiers Program offers kids the opportunity to learn about the life of a Revolutionary War soldier with a costumed interpreter.​

The Colonial Parkway - Locations of America's Historic Triangle Sites

The Colonial Parkway is a 23 mile (37.0 km) scenic route that connects the historic sites of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. In terms of colonial history, sites along the Colonial Parkway span the 174 years of the arrival of Jamestown settlers in 1607 to the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War in 1781.

Joining Historic Jamestowne at the western terminus and Yorktown Battlefield at the eastern terminus, the Colonial Parkway is part of Colonial National Historical Park. With a speed limit of 45 miles per hour, the three-lane Colonial Parkway offers picturesque views of the surrounding landscape for a leisurely tour of America's Historic Triangle.

Locations of Historic Sites

• Historic Jamestowne Entrance Station - Located at the Colonial Parkway's western end about 7.5 miles from Colonial Williamsburg.
• Jamestown Settlement - Located adjacent to Historic Jamestowne on Route 31 South (Jamestown Road) about a mile from Historic Jamestowne.
• Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center - Located midway between Richmond and Norfolk: From I-64, take exit 238 onto VA-143 East (Camp Peary/Colonial Williamsburg) and look for the green and white signs for the Visitor Center. After VA-143 becomes VA-132, bear left onto VA-132Y toward the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center at 101A Visitor Center Drive. A 500-foot pedestrian bridge connects the Visitor Center with a path that leads to the Historic Area.
• Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center - Located at the eastern end of the Colonial Parkway, approximately 15 miles east of the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center.
• Yorktown Victory Center - Located on Route 1020, at the edge of Yorktown about two miles from the Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center.

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Our tours are a great way to experience the beauty, charm, and history of Virginia’s Colonial Capitol. You will enjoy a leisurely walk of the Colonial Capitol, its architecture and people will come alive with one of our knowledgeable and experienced guides. The history of Williamsburg is the history of our country. The walking tours offer three centuries of extraordinary history and an endless collection of local stories.

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Williamsburg Walking Tours offers themed group tours of historic Williamsburg, Virginia – including historic tours, Civil War tours, African American history tours, and seasonally offered Christmas tours. 

We have decades of experience and an endless collection of local stories spanning three centuries of the history of this historic town

Advance Tickets Required

Most tours depart from 201 West Duke of Gloucester Street, at the corner of Bruton Parish Church and the Palace Green. The Civil War History Tour departs from The Capitol Building at 499 E. Duke of Gloucester Street.

You can reach us through the Colonial Williamsburg bus system, by foot from many hotels, and by car.

THESE ARE OUTDOOR WALKING TOURS. WE DO NOT GO INSIDE THE HOUSES.

WALK ABOUT HISTORY

The walking tours offer three centuries of extraordinary history and an endless collection of local stories that our knowledgeable guide brings to life.

CIVIL WAR HISTORY

The Battle of Williamsburg was a particularly difficult one in the Confederate Army’s Peninsula Campaign from Fort Monroe to Richmond.

Rates & Tour Info »

CHRISTMAS PAST/PRESENT

Stroll through the colonial streets of Williamsburg and learn how Christmas was celebrated from the 18th century to today.

AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY

Our African American tour is the only tour of its kind in the city. Our guides will tell you stories that you won’t hear anywhere else.

TESTIMONIALS

Date of experience: June 2023

Map/Directions

Most tours depart from 201 West Duke of Gloucester Street, at the corner of Bruton Parish Church and the Palace Green. The Civil War History Tour departs from The Capitol Building at 499 E. Duke of Gloucester Street. You can reach us through the Colonial Williamsburg bus system, by foot from many hotels, and by car.

Advance Tickets ARE Required

Most tours depart from 201 West Duke of Gloucester Street, at the corner of Bruton Parish Church and the Palace Green.  The Civil War History Tour departs from The Capitol Building at 499 E. Duke of Gloucester Street.

You can reach us through the Colonial Williamsburg bus system, by foot from many hotels and by car.

Have questions that aren’t answered on the site? Call us at (757) 634-2452 , and we will do our best to answer any questions you might have!

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Colonial Williamsburg Tour: Self-Guided Walk

Tour Details

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Welcome to the colonial williamsburg tour.

Don’t just learn about American history… live it! On the Colonial Williamsburg tour, America’s Colonial past comes to life through beautifully restored architecture and authentic reenactors. Stroll down these historic streets while this tour tells you everything you need to know about Williamsburg, early America, colonial life, and more.

Williamsburg has a long and complex history that predates the creation of the United States by almost 150 years! Dig into the town’s origins, the dramatic struggles which unfolded here during the revolution, and the people who put Williamsburg on the map.

Plus, get insights into the painstaking restoration of Williamsburg, and find out how John Rockefeller was involved in all of it. If you’re looking for a comprehensive exploration of this fascinating town, this tour has you covered.

About the Tour

Your tour through Colonial Williamsburg begins at the visitor center just north of the town center. As you walk south, you’ll learn not only about the earliest residents of Williamsburg but also about the Native Americans who called this place home when the first European settlers arrived.

The first major landmark you’ll arrive at will be the Peyton Randolph House, a gorgeous home dating back to 1715. Its former owner was actually a key revolutionary figure, though you might not have heard about him in school!

Next, you’ll learn about the importance simple instruments had during battles. If you’re lucky, you may also catch a performance of Colonial Williamsburg’s very own fife and drum band as they march through town!

Continuing onwards, you’ll hear about the origins of the Colonial Williamsburg museum project, including how America’s first billionaire, John D. Rockefeller, bankrolled the whole thing! He was apparently a bit of a history buff.

After that, you’ll see the Public Gaol, a grim prison that once held all manner of unsavory sorts. But would you believe it also held Blackbeard’s pirate crew while they waited to be executed?

Then it’s on to the old Capitol Building, where Virginia declared independence from Britain… four days before the Declaration of Independence was signed!

Speaking of independence, you’ll find the Raleigh Tavern next. During the 1700s, this tavern’s unassuming facade hid secret revolutionary meetings within.

Next, you’ll come to the Williamsburg Magazine, an old munitions storehouse. Here, you’ll learn the dramatic tale of a standoff between British troops and Williamsburg residents on the eve of the revolution. Then get a good look at the Bruton Parish Episcopal Church. It actually predates the town itself, and is the whole reason for the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg!

After that, you’ll make your way to the historic campus of the William & Mary School, the nation’s second-oldest university. Here, you’ll find one of Williamsburg’s oldest and most impressive buildings, and learn a little about the college’s controversial history.

Then you’ll one two of the town’s most historic structures: the George Wythe House. This was home to a signer of the Declaration of Independence who was also a staunch abolitionist! 

As you make your way to the Play House Stage, a recreation of one of the country’s oldest theatres, you’ll hear a few spooky stories about ghost sightings that have taken place throughout Williamsburg–not especially surprising considering how much history li ves here!

Finally, you’ll reach the Governor’s Palace, where Virginia’s Royal Governor ruled over the people of this state… until he was forced to flee in the dead of night. The tour concludes here.

Value for Money

Our self-guided walking tour includes all the important sightseeing points in the area and costs 70% less than the day ticket sold at the visitor center.

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Colonial Williamsburg Map

Where To Start?

Tour Start Point: Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center, 101 Visitor Center Dr, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA

How Does It Work?

• Once you book a tour, you’ll get a text/email with instructions.
• Download the app (while in good wifi/signal) and use your unique password to access your tours. If there are multiple versions or entrances for your tour, be sure to download all audio guides.
• To begin touring, go to the starting point and launch the app.
• The audio starts automatically once you reach the starting point. Stick to the tour route and speed limit for the best experience.
• Please note that no one will meet you at the starting point.

What You'll See

Colonial williamsburg visitor center.

The tour of this beautifully preserved slice of Colonial America begins at the Visitor Center, where you can get your first taste of the nation's largest living museum.

Pocahontas & the Powhatan

Delve into the intricacies of Powhatan society, where a hierarchical structure and a confederacy of tribes thrived under the leadership of the Powhatan chief.

Slavery in Williamsburg

Learn about the significant role enslaved people played in shaping the city's growth and the ongoing debates surrounding historical reenactments that aim to shed light on this painful history.

Peyton Randolph House

Pause to appreciate the beautiful Peyton Randolph House, once home to Peyton Randolph, an important figure in Revolutionary America.

A Haunting in the Randolph House

Visitors to the Randolph House have reported ghostly encounters, including voices and unexplained physical contact. Some speculate that Peyton Randolph's spirit may still reside within the house.

Origins of Colonial Williamsburg

Reverend Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin and John Rockefeller Jr. joined forces to preserve and restore the historic buildings of Williamsburg, leading to the creation of the Colonial Williamsburg living museum.

Four-Legged Reenactors

Witness four-legged reenactors in Colonial Williamsburg as Leicester longwool sheep roam the town. These historical animals contribute to the authentic experience, with their wool being sheared and used to create period-appropriate goods.

Living History

Experience living history in Colonial Williamsburg as restored houses serve as homes for reenactors and employees, offering a glimpse into the past with modern comforts.

Colonial Williamsburg Magazine

Then you'll come to the Colonial Williamsburg Magazine, the site of a tense standoff between American patriots and British soldiers trying to steal all the gunpowder from the town before it could fall into rebel hands

Fifes And Drums

Immerse yourself in the vibrant sounds of fifes and drums in Colonial Williamsburg, where the historic music brings the spirit of the past to life.

Public Gaol

Discover the haunting Public Gaol, a brick building where criminals and pirates, like Blackbeard, were imprisoned and faced a grim fate.

Capitol Building

Cruise through Capitol Building for its remarkable architecture and captivating tales of fire and restoration in Williamsburg's historical district.

Secretary’s Office

Step inside the Secretary’s Office, the oldest public records office in the nation, preserving crucial documents that have helped recreate Colonial Williamsburg and provide insights into life during that era.

R. Charlton's Coffeehouse

Experience the lively atmosphere of R. Charlton’s Coffeehouse, where history comes alive. Take a tour on select days and immerse yourself in intriguing tales and the rich heritage of Colonial Williamsburg.

Raleigh Tavern

Embark on a captivating journey into history at Raleigh Tavern, where you can get a crash course on how Virginians challenged British rule, paving the way for independence

Duke of Gloucester Street

Walk through history on this iconic street, once the main artery of Williamsburg, lined with historic buildings and shops offering period-appropriate goods.

Ludwell-Paradise House

A cornerstone of Colonial Williamsburg, holds centuries of history. It was the first house restored in the historic district and belonged to the prominent Ludwell family, known for their political influence and community contributions.

Once a site of dramatic confrontation, visit the old courthouse where important cases were tried and the Declaration of Independence was read to the citizens.

Colonial Williamsburg Courthouse

Uncover the harsh realities of colonial justice at the pillory and learn about severe punishments, including humiliation and brutal measures for crimes, reflecting a different era's standards.

Market Square

Learn about the lively history of Market Square, where locals gathered for festivities and merchants sold a variety of goods during colonial times. Step into the vibrant atmosphere that still resonates today.

Bruton Parish Episcopal Church

Immerse yourself in history at Bruton Parish Episcopal Church, an iconic landmark that predates Williamsburg, with its storied past and stunning architecture.

Bowden-Armistead House

Discover the intriguing history of the Bowden-Armistead House, a symbol of wealth and a witness to the complexities of the Civil War.

College of William & Mary

Embark on a journey through time at the prestigious College of William & Mary, a venerable institution founded by English monarchs in 1693, where influential figures like Jefferson, Munroe, and Tyler honed their intellects.

The Brafferton

A building with a dual identity—once a place of education and cultural transformation for Indigenous students during colonial times, now a center of administration for William & Mary.

The Wren Building

Marvel at the timeless grandeur of the Wren Building, a living testament to resilience and restoration, standing proudly as the oldest collegiate structure in the United States.

President's House

Learn about the oldest official residence for a college president in the nation, with a rich past that includes a tumultuous encounter with British General.

Ghostly Haunted Stories

Take a peek into realm of the supernatural, where tales of spectral figures and eerie encounters linger in the night, adding a touch of mystery to this historic town

George Wythe House

Unveil the intriguing story of George Wythe, a progressive thinker and signer of the Declaration of Independence, whose firm belief in equality and abolitionism challenged the norms of his time.

Play House Stage

Behold the America's first theatre, where William Levingston's ambitious theatrical venture was met with challenges in the small town, yet revived through the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg

Governor’s Palace

A testament to the opulent reign of Williamsburg's Royal Governors, where pivotal moments in American history unfolded

Preview The Tour

  how long does it take to walk through colonial williamsburg.

Typically it will take about 2 days to fully experience Colonial Williamsburg. However, you can still walk through the city in only a day if you’re okay with skipping a few attractions. But if you plan on taking Colonial Williamsburg tours, make sure that you factor in how long they take. Action Tour Guide’s self-guided tour takes about 1 to 2 hours.

  How much does it cost to get into Colonial Williamsburg?

You can walk around Colonial Williamsburg for free! However, we recommend buying either a ticket or a pass in order to see trade sites, museums, and important historical buildings like the Governor’s Palace, and purchasing Action Tour Guide’s Self-Guided Colonial Williamsburg Tour to be led straight to the city’s top destinations.

  Is Colonial Williamsburg open all year?

Colonial Williamsburg is open every day of the year! Most of the historical sites and trades are only open from 9 to 5, but the historic city also hosts evening programs like concerts and trial recreations that go on into the night.

  What is the best time of the year to visit Colonial Williamsburg?

Colonial Williamsburg offers an engaging glimpse into Colonial America’s past all year long. But if we had to choose a time to visit, we’d pick mid to late October. The average highs this time of year are in the low-70s. It’s the perfect temperature for walking around the city! At night, the average temperature is in the 50s, which is cool but not too cold. But what really makes this time of the year special is the foliage. In order to see leaves with peak color, check foliage predictions in advance as peak often varies from year to year.

  Did George Washington live in Williamsburg?

The United States’ first president never permanently lived in Williamsburg, but he did visit! Washington started to frequently visit the city after becoming a member of the House of Burgesses.

  Where did George Washington stay in Williamsburg?

Washington stayed in various rooms in Williamsburg. One of his most important visits was when he stayed at George Wythe’s House near the end of the Revolutionary War.

  What is the oldest building in Colonial Williamsburg?

The Wren Building is the oldest structure in Williamsburg. When you take Colonial Williamsburg tours like this one, you’ll quickly learn that most of this historic place is from the 1700s. But the Wren Building traces its history back to 1695.

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1-800-378-1571 |  Your Connection to Williamsburg

"African American Heritage" - Adult Tour

Destinations:, williamsburg, jamestown, newport news, hampton, charles city county and richmond.

Call us today at 800.378.1571 or request information .

Day 1 - Jamestown

Meet your colonial connections tour manager at historic jamestowne.

1:00pm-2:45pm

Guided tour of Historic Jamestowne focusing on the arrival of Africans to Virginia in 1619 and the Royal African Company responsible for supplying slaves to Jamestown

A National Park Service site, Historic Jamestowne offers a wealth of activities for exploring the first permanent English settlement in North America. Overlooking the scenic James River, Historic Jamestowne boasts the only remaining 17th-century above ground structure – the church tower - and reconstructed 17th-century Jamestown Memorial Church. See the original site of the 1607 James Fort and more than 1,000 artifacts at the Archaearium, a museum of Archaeology.

3:00pm-5:00pm

Guided tour of Jamestown Settlement focusing on the Africans from the Kongo/Angola region of West Central Africa, their cultural origins, their interactions with the English in Virginia and the 17th-century Virginia culture they helped to create

At Jamestown Settlement, comprehensive gallery exhibits describe world events and social and economic conditions that led to the English colonization of America and the formation of the Virginia Company that sponsored Jamestown with a goal of earning its investors a profit. Learn about the land and lifestyle of Algonquian-speaking tribes in coastal Virginia under the powerful leader Powhatan and about the culture of the first documented Africans in Virginia. Outdoor living-history areas bring the 17th-century to life – the re-created Powhatan Indian Village, re-created James Fort, Riverfront Discovery Area, and full-size replicas of the Susan Constant, Discovery and Godspeed - the three ships that brought settlers to Virginia in 1607.

Check-in to your Williamsburg hotel (includes round-trip baggage handling)

Choose from limited to full-service properties with exterior or interior corridors, indoor or outdoor pools, with deluxe continental breakfast or full breakfast buffet, priced from budget and moderate to deluxe.

Dinner and optional shopping (on own)

Dining and shopping available at Merchants Square, High Street, New Town, Premium Outlets and Yankee Candle Village.

Return to the hotel.  Colonial Connections Tour Manager departs.

Day 2 - williamsburg, deluxe continental breakfast at your williamsburg hotel, depart for colonial williamsburg with your colonial connections tour manager.

9:00am-1:00pm

Guided tour of Colonial Williamsburg, the Revolutionary City, including Great Hopes Plantation

Explore the nation's largest living history museum. From 1699 to 1780, Williamsburg was the political and cultural center of Britain's largest colony in the New World. In the shops, taverns, government buildings, homes and streets,  George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Mason and other Virginia Patriots debated the ideas of liberty, independence, and personal freedoms  that led to the founding of American democracy and inspired generations of Americans and others from around the world.

In 1979, Colonial Williamsburg became a pioneer in the presentation of 18th-century African-American history. Thirty years later, the story of Williamsburg’s free and enslaved African-American residents remains an integral part of programming throughout the Historic Area. During your visit, you’ll have an opportunity to interact with free and enslaved Virginians as they debate and discuss the events leading up to American independence. At Great Hopes Plantation, you’ll learn through a hands-on experience how most Virginians lived more than 200 years ago.

Lunch provided in a Colonial Tavern

Taverns were not only an integral part of colonial life in America, but were also a necessity. The modes of travel and transportation of the day mandated the location of a tavern every few miles on the main thoroughfares. Each of the operating taverns located in Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area is inspired by a different style of colonial-era cooking.

2:15pm-5:00pm

Continue self-guided tours of Colonial Williamsburg, the Revolutionary City

Return to your hotel to relax before dinner, dinner provided at pierce’s pitt bbq.

Since 1971 people have enjoyed going to Pierce’s Pitt for delicious, hickory-smoked, Tennessee style Bar-B-Que made with “Doc” Pierce’s original Bar-B-Que sauce. It all started when Julius C. (Doc) Pierce set out from Flat Creek, Tennessee for Virginia with his family and their prized bar-b-que sauce recipe. He settled in Williamsburg and opened Pierce’s Pitt and the rest, as they say, is history! Now whenever there’s good times, good laughs and good eatin’ Pierce’s is often part of it.

“African-American Music” at Great Hopes Plantation

Appreciate and understand the music, songs, and dances of the 18th-century African-American community which borrowed from the many cultures of Africa and Europe. In the 18th-century African-American community, there were opportunities for everyone to participate, whether it was singing, dancing or playing an instrument. Keep the rhythms, sing the songs and dance the dances adapted from the West African people during colonial America.

Day 3 - Newport News, Hampton

Depart for newport news with your colonial connections tour manager.

9:00pm-10:00pm

Visit the Virginia War Museum

American military history unfolds at the Virginia War Museum. Outstanding collections of personal artifacts, weapons, vehicles, uniforms, posters and much more, trace the development of the U.S. military from colonial times through the present. The “Marches Toward Freedom” gallery explores the roles of African-Americans in the military since 1775. One such soldier was James Bowser, a free black who fought in the Revolutionary War. Future generations of his family would continue his tradition of military service and many would remain in the Coastal Virginia region. Photographs and personal artifacts from members of the famous Tuskegee Airmen are also featured in the gallery.

10:30am-11:00am

Visit the James A. Fields House

James A. Fields (1844-1903) was a born a slave in Hanover County, VA. In 1862, he and his brother escaped slavery and found refuge at Fort Monroe in Hampton. His restored home is historically significant for its long association with the development of the social and civic life of the African-American community in Newport News. In 1908, four doctors pooled their savings and asked the Fields family for use of the top floor to start a hospital. From these modest beginnings, Whitaker Memorial Hospital was born. Other than the city jail’s infirmary, this institution represented the only outlet for hospitalization of blacks and provided two years of generous service to the black community.

11:15pm-12:15pm

Visit the Newsome House Museum & Cultural Center

The Newsome House Museum & Cultural Center is the restored 1899 residence of the African-American attorney J. Thomas Newsome and his wife Mary Winfield Newsome. Mr. Newsome was a respected attorney, journalist, churchman and civic leader, and prospered as part of the postwar Civil War south's new urban African-American middle class. His elegant Queen Anne residence served as the hub of the local black community from which he led the fight for social justice within Virginia.

12:45-2:00pm

Lunch at the Peninsula Town Center (on own)

The Peninsula Town Center reinvents an enclosed mall as an open-air destination. Enjoy a diverse mix of restaurants and retailers.

2:15-3:15pm

Guided tour of Fort Monroe and the Casemate Museum

The largest stone fort ever built in the United States Fort Monroe National Monument spans the American story through the 21st century: American Indian presence, Captain John Smith’s journeys, a safe haven for freedom seekers during the Civil War, and a bastion of defense for the Chesapeake Bay. The Casemate Museum located within the historic fort's stone walls chronicles the history of the fort and the Coast Artillery Corps. During the Civil War, Fort Monroe was a Union-held bastion in the center of a Confederate state and helped shelter thousands of slave refugees earning it the nickname Freedom’s Fortress. See the cell where Confederate President Jefferson Davis was imprisoned.

3:30pm-5:00pm

Visit Hampton University Museum and Campus including a stop at the Emancipation Oak

Founded in 1868, the museum is the oldest African-American museum in the United States and one of the oldest museums in the state of Virginia. The collection features more than 9,000 objects including African-American fine arts, traditional and African, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Island, and Asian art, and objects relating to the history of Hampton University.

Emancipation Oak is a historic tree located on the campus of Hampton University. In September 1861, the peaceful shade of the young oak served as the first classroom for newly freed African American men and women eager for an education. In 1863, the Virginia Peninsula’s black community gathered under the oak to hear the first Southern reading of President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation leading to its nickname as the Emancipation Oak.

Depart for Williamsburg

Dinner provided at golden corral.

Golden Corral® family-style restaurants offer the biggest buffet and grill available anywhere. Their famous buffet contains an array of food choices including hot meat options, pasta, pizza, fresh vegetables, salad bar, a selection of carved meats and fresh baked goods and tempting desserts.

“Papa Said, Mama Said” at Colonial Williamsburg

Experience a moving program in which 18th century free and enslaved blacks reflect on lessons learned through stories told by the elders. This is an interactive program that explores the significance of oral African tradition, Guests participate in the experience featuring recollections of stories that teach moral lessons that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Return to the hotel. Colonial Connections Tour Manager departs.

Day 4 - charles city county, richmond, deluxe continental breakfast at your williamsburg hotel. colonial connections tour manager rejoins group to facilitate check-out and baggage handling., depart for charles city county.

9:00am-10:15am

Visit Shirley Plantation (guided house tour, self-guided grounds tour)

Shirley tells the story of the Hill-Carter family, eye witnesses to 11 generations of American history. To this day, the 11th generation continues to own, operate, and work this grand southern plantation. Shirley Plantation is Virginia’s first plantation (1613) and one of the first economic engines of the New World. Enslaved labor played a very important role at Shirley Plantation and slaves were essential to the plantation system. They tended the field, harvested the crops, maintained the house, cooked the meals, and provided the majority of skilled labor including carpentry, masonry and blacksmithing. Today, Shirley continues to be a working plantation, a private family home, a growing business, a National Historic Landmark and a direct link between the past and the present.

Depart for Richmond

11:15am-3:00pm

Visit the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia

Enjoy lunch on your own in the Jackson Ward neighborhood and visit the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site.

Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia

Founded in 1981 by Carroll Anderson Sr., the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia collects and exhibits artifacts and objects that serve to illustrate the history of Black peoples, with an emphasis on Virginians. Located in the heart of historic Jackson Ward at 00 Clay Street, the museum has a collection of nearly 5,000 artifacts and documents, art and photography.

Maggie L. Walker National Historical Site

The Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site commemorates the life of a progressive and talented African American woman. Despite many adversities, she achieved success in the world of business and finance as the first woman in the United States to charter and serve as president of a bank. The site includes her residence of thirty years and a visitor center detailing her life and the Jackson Ward community in which she lived and worked. The house is restored to its 1930's appearance with original Walker family pieces.

3:00pm-3:30pm

Riding tour of the Arthur Ashe, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statue and Virginia Civil Rights Memorial

Depart for home. colonial connections tour manager departs..

Special events are scheduled throughout the year in addition to Black History Month in February.

Your Connection to Williamsburg

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American Colonial and Revolutionary History Road Trip

Touring Boston, Philadelphia, and Virginia with kids!

Looking for a ready-made American history road trip itinerary ? We’ve got it! This itinerary starts in Boston, MA and ends in Williamsburg, Virginia, and hit highlights of American colonial and Revolutionary history. Civil War history can be added, as well!

Start your trip in historic Boston . Walk the Freedom Trail , visit Faneuil Hall, and see Old Ironsides. Older kids will love seeing Paul Revere’s house and the historic cemetery.

Where to stay: be part of history when sleeping in the Custom House building, which is now operated by Marriott Vacation Club.

Drive down the Eastern Seaboard to Philadelphia to continue your Revolutionary history. In Philly, see where America began in Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Tour the Constitution Center, see the Liberty Bell, and visit the site of Ben Franklin’s home and offices.

Where to stay: Hotel Monaco Philly is located directly across the street from Independence Hall. Need we say more? 

Head out of Philly and stop at Valley Forge, PA . Spend half a day on the self-guided auto tour of Washington’s winter camp, including his officer’s quarters and many bunkhouses of enlisted men. In the afternoon, drive either to Gettysburg, PA to learn about the Civil War battle (plan to stay two days), or take the long road trip down to Williamsburg, VA.

Spend three days touring Colonial Revolutionary City in Williamsburg, VA . Take the time to visit the various shops and tradesmen, eat in the pubs, and book an evening tour or two. Definitely walk from the Visitor’s Center to Great Hopes Plantation, and play RevQuest if you have older kids or teens.

Where to stay: Williamsburg Woodlands is within walking and shuttle distance of Revolutionary City, plus includes a splash play area, mini golf, and a pool. 

Devote one full day to touring Jamestown, VA . Located adjacent to Williamsburg, this original site of the Jamestown Settlement has two parts: the original national historic site, where kids can see ongoing excavation in progress, and the recreated historic settlement and fort. Take time to tour the museum as well!

If there’s time, round out your historic road trip with a visit to Washington DC to see the actual Declaration of Independence and the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner.

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Road to Revolution  is a rotating exhibition series highlighting National Archives records that document major milestones and critical historical context to the American Revolution, the Revolutionary War, and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Annotated Map of the British Colonies in North America with the Roads, Distances, Limits and Extent of the Settlements, ca. 1775. Records of Boundary and Claims Commissions and Arbitrations

Augmenting the well-known sequence of events in the two years preceding July 4, 1776, are displays that focus on the diverse experiences and perspectives for members of the Founding generation whose stories are less well known—including Native Americans, free and enslaved African Americans, and women. 

Collectively  Road to Revolution  reveals that the journey from colonial resistance and rebellion to American revolution and independence is not composed of a single narrative but a story of many intersecting (and diverging) paths in the universal pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. 

Roots of Rebellion

June 21 - August 28, 2024

The origins of the American Revolution can be traced to another conflict–the Seven Years' War. Colonial resistance emerged in response to new imperial policies related to western lands and eastern taxes (and trade) as Parliament grappled to administer its vastly expanded empire.

First Continental Congress

August 29 - October 30, 2024

The First Continental Congress convened to discuss united resistance to the Coercive Acts and issued a Declaration of Rights and the Articles of Association. Recognizing that unity would be essential to forcing a repeal of the so-called "Intolerable Acts," the Continental Association formed local committees to put economic pressure on Parliament–and on their neighbors–to submit to patriotic boycotts.

Native Americans and the American Revolution

October 31, 2024 - January 29, 2025

The American Revolution aligned and divided Native American communities just as it did British North American colonists. The stories presented reveal that whether Native Americans sided with the Rebels, Redcoats, neither, or both, the actions of tribes and their leaders were primarily motivated by a desire to preserve their land and autonomy.

Additional Online Resources:

• America's Founding Documents
• Founders Online
• Milestone Documents
• The Text Message:  American Revolution
• Military Records Research: The American Revolution

Exhibit Credits:

Road to Revolution  is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation, through the generous support of Comcast Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, and Procter & Gamble.