The Raleigh Tavern, the Capitol, and the Governor's Palace have all been rebuilt, as have the Courthouse, the George Wythe House, the Peyton Randolph House, the Magazine, and the independently owned and operating Bruton Parish Church (all originals). There are also over 200 other buildings on the Historic Park. In addition to the listed buildings, there are many more that are not included in the National Register of Historic Places listings but which are nonetheless important parts of the history of Virginia.
The list below describes some of the most interesting buildings in Colonial Williamsburg. For more information about what you can see in the city, please refer to its individual listing article.
Raleigh Tavern
The Raleigh Tavern was the first house built by William Byrd II after he inherited his father's land. It is a two-story brick building with an attic room that looks down on the courtyard of the mansion. The tavern opened in 1690 and closed in 1730 when it was replaced by a new building. The old one was then used as a storehouse until it was destroyed by fire in 1747. Today, parts of the foundation of the original building can be seen behind the museum in the form of a small wall with several windows.
Capitol
The Capitol is a national monument and a landmark of American architecture.
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There are 39 structures in all. Many of the thirty-nine buildings that make up the Shelburne Museum—houses, barns, a lighthouse, a schoolhouse, a jailhouse, a general store, and, of course, the steamboat Ticonderoga—are outstanding, intact examples of historic New England and New York architecture that were relocated to Shelburne to become part of the Museum. The other building is a replica of an eighteenth-century Massachusetts house.
The museum's collection of American furniture, decorative arts, and maritime art is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. It includes paintings, photographs, sculptures, and crafts from the early days of the United States through the late nineteenth century. Particularly notable is the work of Winslow Homer, an American artist who was born in 1836 and died in 1916. He is best known for his scenes of New England life, including ships at sea, fishermen on shore, and nautical accidents.
Shelburne Museum is located in Shelburne, Vermont (an hour and a half drive from Montreal). Open daily in April until October, and weekends only in March and November; closed on federal holidays.
Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors over 65, $7 for children 6–17, and free for children 5 and under.
A special exhibition supplement fee is added to each ticket price.
Telephone: 1-800-847-4207
More than 500 original (restored) and recreated structures may be found within the confines of Colonial Williamsburg. The following are the most significant original structures: (1) Public Magazine, Market Square. This building was constructed in 1770 as a storehouse and prison for prisoners from nearby Williams Creek. It was used by the government of Virginia as a military magazine until it was destroyed by fire in 1831. The site of the prison is now occupied by the Museum of African American History and Culture. (2) Governor's Palace. This magnificent Georgian-style structure was built between 1770 and 1780 to serve as George Washington's residence while he was president of the Continental Congress or commander-in-chief of the Army during the Revolutionary War. In 1789, after Washington became the first president of the new federal government, he moved into another mansion on this site.
The current governor's mansion was built in 1872 to replace the previous one which had been destroyed by fire. It has been called America's largest house, with more than 20,000 square feet (2,000 m²) of living space. In addition, there are nine other houses on the National Register of Historic Places within the city limits of Colonial Williamsburg.
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