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 18th Century Cell at Public
Hospital by deecat
It's just a one-story brick structure with a bay window and dormers that almost looks like a doll's house; however, it made a big impression on me. Why? I was fascinated by the story of Mary Stith. For the times, she was remarkable. She wrote her will in 1813, and left most of her belongings to her African-American servants. A quote from her will says a great deal:"All the coloured people in my family being born my slaves, but now liberated, I think it my duty not to leave them destitute nor to leave them unrecompensed for past services rendered to me. As in the cause of humanity I can do but little for so many, and that little my conscience requires me to do, therefore I subject the whole of my estate to the payment of my just debts, and to the provision which I herein make for them."
What this means is that she left three buildings and the ground on which they stood; she also left clothing, furniture, and cash. Today, special programs and performances are presented in her shop.
The Golden Ball (Silversmith) I really enjoyed seeing the silversmith create beautiful object by hand. They actually do the casting and forging of silver here! They sell jewelry and silver hollow ware. We purchased jewelry.
Shoemaker's Shop It was great to see a tradesman make shoes using the tools and techniques of the 18th-century. He actually hand sews the soles and uppers.
But, my all-time favorite place was The Public Hospital. It was the first public institution that took care of the mentally ill.
The Public Hospital was the last major public building in Colonial Williamsburg to be reconstructed. There is a re-created cell with a pallet on the floor, chains on the wall, and bars on the window (18th century); they also have a reproduction of a comfortably furnished apartment from the mid-nineteenth century.
There's also a great exhibit that graphically traces the different theories about mental illness and the methods used for treating it. They even had sound effects which made it seem so real.
By 1883 there were over 400 patients and it was obvious that they had decided to care for the mentally ill but did not have much of a plan. In 1885, a fire completely destroyed the Public Hospital Building (reconstructed by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in 1985).
The DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Gallery is entered through the lower lobby of the Public Hospital.
The photo shows the interior of a patient's cell during the late 18th century. Leave a Comment
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 Guide We Received at
Visitor's Center by deecat
This is confusing, but Colonial Williamsburg is located in the center of the modern city of Williamsburg. It is defined by its 173-acre Historic Area. Now, within the boundaries of the Historic Area, everthing appears as it did in the 18th-century. Duke of Gloucester Street is a mile long main street that bisects this area. Interestingly, tunneling under this main street is the Colonial Parkway, a scenic road that links Colonial Williamsburg to nearby Jamestown and Yorktown.
I enjoyed the Visitor's Center, and the best advice I can give you is to urge you to begin your visit at this center. There are over 1200 free parking spaces here. You cannot drive in Colonial Williamsburg, so parking here is smart.
The center is a place to buy admission tickets, make needed reservations for restaurants and overnight accommodations, special programs, and evening events.
The best buy for tickets is the Patriot's Pass which we purchased. It is good for one year from the date of purchase and gives you unlimited admission to all Colonial Williamsburg exhibits plus Carter's Grove. In addition, it's where you are able to view an extremely helpful film called Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot which lasts for 35 minutes and tells the story of the American revolution in Viriginia to life.
You will be given a guidebook, a map, and a short orientation. It's good to know that your admission ticket covers use of the bus system.
I personally found that this first stop at the Visitor's Center was quite helpful and oh, so valuable. Leave a Comment
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 James Geddy House by deecat
After James died, his sons, David and William carried on the trade. But, Anne Geddy, the widow, sold this property to her son, James, Jr, who set up shop as a silversmith, goldsmith, and watch repairer. When you visit today, you can see the domestic and commercial activities of the family of James Geddy, Jr. interpreted. In the foundry behind the house, you can see skilled craftsmen cast objects of beauty out of bronze, pewter, silver, and brass.
I enjoyed the architecture of the house the most because it was unusual for Williamsburg. It's a two-story, L-shaped house (the uncommon part) that was probably that way to adapt to fit the corner lot.
It was restored twice: once in 1930 and again in 1967. The entrance porch was replaced and the chimneys were rebuilt above the roof ridge. I read that the ground gutter used at the Geddy House appears often in 18th-century construction throughout tidewater Virginia.
The James geddy Foundry was reconstructed in the yard to the rear of the house.
The Geddy family operated for nearly 50 years, and artifacts of many of the articles that they made were found in the 1968 excavations of the Geddy site! I find all of this quite fascinating. Leave a Comment
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 Apollo Room in Raleigh Tavern by deecat
This tavern was named after Sir Walter Raleigh who himself tried to colonize Virginia in 1585! His sculptured bust stood above the door of the tavern where there often were balls (dances) held because the colonial Virginians just loved to dance. The likes of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington either ate here or attended functions here.
You could buy theater tickets and merchandise here at the Tavern. Unfortunately, slaves were auctioned from its steps.
The Raleigh Tavern's famed Apollo Room was where a group of College of William and Mary students founded Phi Beta Kappa in 1779. In 1859 the Raleigh Tavern was, it was said, "willfully burnt down"! The Raleigh was not rebuilt.
When restoration of Williamsburg began, there were two modern brick stores on the site where the raleigh Tavern had stood. Excavations began in 1928 and they unearthed the foundations and artifacts from the Tavern.
In addition, using drawings from Lossing's book, A Pictorial Field-Book of the American Revolution as well as insurance policy sketches, they were able to precisely reconstruct the original Tavern.
Interestingly, Raleigh Tavern was the first exhibition building reconstructed, and that took place in 1932.
I enjoyed seeing the Raleigh Tavern and was enthralled to see the Apollo Room where Phi Beta Kappa was founded.
The photo shows that particular room.
Today, you can purchase cookies, bread, and other baked produce at the Raleigh Tavern Bake Shop ^b in the Raleigh Tavern Kitchen Leave a Comment
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 Wren Building at the
College of William &
Mary by deecat
Sadly, it was destroyed by fire three tiems. The Wren Building was the first major building restored by John D. Rockefeller, Jr..
It's proper name is the College Building. The first building's design was a "fire trap". They used the original foundations when it was rebuilt. The basement was raised, more steps were added, and was two and one-half stories high..
This building also burned, gutting the building!
When the restorations began in 1930, steel beams were added. It was the first major Williamsburg structure to be restored by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Today, students of the College of william and Mary still attend classes in the WRen Building; it's chapel is the site of many weddings. The first floor of the wRen Building is maintained as a Colonial Williamsburg exhibition, so be sure to see it!
But, what we loved most about the College of William and Mary was the theatre department which was doing the play Chicago while we were there.
We purchased tickets and saw this delightful play way before it was the smash success on broadway and at the movies. Leave a Comment
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 Pasteur & Gault
Apothecary Shop by deecat
Their partnership began about 1775 and lasted until 1778 because Pasteur retired from medicine.
The one you see today is a reconstructed shop, and it stands where the original once did. It's stocked and furnished very much as it was then. On display in the shop are delft drug jars, original pharmaceutical equipment, medications, and ingredients listed in period dispensatories. They also have reproduction splints, braces, and dental tools.
Then, medicines were stored as raw materials in drawers or cupboards. Villagers could purchase these compounds; they would bring their own contaner to hold the ingredients to take home.
During the Revolution, Galt was a military surgeon, and he also served as director of the state apothecary until 1789. He served as a visiting physician to the Public Hospital and was appointed to its court of directors; he seerved in both capacities until he died in 1808.
I found this shop just fascinating. I have a wild imagination and could create all kinds of "situations" in my mind's eye!
The Pasteur & Galt Apothecary Shop fascinated me because of all the original and reproductions that were on display. It made me realize how far we have come in medicine since then. Leave a Comment
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 by Yaqui
For the reservation desk for lodging and dinning please call 1-800-Taverns or 757-229-2141
It was cool, comfortable and friendly:-) Leave a Comment
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 Secretary's office by bugalugs
Next door is another building where you can purchase tickets to tour Colonial Williamsburg. Leave a Comment
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 Information Plaque by bugalugs
This includes the use of the shuttle bus which takes you from the Visitor's Centre into the Colonial part. You can however, walk across a bridge from the Visitor's Centre which leads along a path through a park area and takes approximately 10 minutes.
If you pay for your day pass you can watch a film at the Visitor's Centre on Colonial Williamsburg.
Restrooms, wheelchair hire, phones, water fountains and cold drinks are all available here. Leave a Comment
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 Bronze Map by bugalugs
In the buildings for which you have to have a ticket you will see exhibits and how it was like for people living on Colonial times all dressed in the clothes of the period.
This photo is taken outside the visitors centre showing a bronze map of the area. The Visitors Centre is off Colonial Parkway, directions to the centre all well signposted. Leave a Comment
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- Holiday Inn Patriot Old Williamsburg
3032 Richmond Road Route 60, Williamsburg, VA - Hampton Inn and Suites Williamsburg - Richmond Road
1880 Richmond Road, Williamsburg, VA - Super 8 Williamsburg Colonial Area
1233 Richmond Road, Williamsburg, VA - Travelodge Williamsburg
2225 Richmond Rd (formerly Captain John Smith Inn), Williamsburg, VA - Hampton Inn & Suites Williamsburg Historic District, Va Hotel
911 Capitol Landing Road, Williamsburg, VA - Days Inn Downtown Colonial Area
902 Richmond Road/I-64, Williamsburg, VA - Budget Inn Williamsburg
800 Capitol Landing Road, Williamsburg, VA - Crowne Plaza Hotel Williamsburg
6945 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, VA - Marriott's Manor Club at Ford's Colony Williamsburg
101 St. Andrews Drive, Williamsburg, VA - Residence Inn By Marriott Williamsburg
1648 Richmond Road, Williamsburg, VA - Rodeway Inn & Suites
7224 Marrimac Trail, Williamsburg, VA - Quality Inn at Kingsmill
480 McLaws Circle, Williamsburg, VA - Westgate Historical Williamsburg Resort
1324 Richmond Road (Formerly Heritage Inn), Williamsburg, VA - Americas Best Value Inn-Williamsburg
5437 Richmond Road Route 60, Williamsburg, VA - Springhill Suites By Marriott Williamsburg
1644 Richmond Road, Williamsburg, VA
Local Merchants in Williamsburg
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