Sunday, Jan. 4 was National Trivia Day, so we here at Making History thought it would be appropriate for the first Fun Fact of 2015 to contain a bit of trivia. How many can you guess correctly?
I love trivia. I love going out to a restaurant with some friends to partake in Trivia Night, although it doesn’t happen as often as I’d like. It’s just fun!
To celebrate National Trivia Day, I collected a group of five questions about Williamsburg. Once you think you’ve got them, scroll down for the answers.
- True or false: Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia during the American Revolution.
- How many original buildings are there in the Revolutionary City?
- Who was the first governor of Virginia?
- Who was the first Virginia signer of the Declaration of Independence?
- What year did Rev. Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin finally see his dream of Colonial Williamsburg become a reality?
- Trick question! Both are correct. Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia from 1699 until 1780. The American Revolution was fought between 1775 and 1783, though it spanned a longer time period when factoring in tensions and the aftermath of fighting.
- We have 88 original buildings. Click here for a complete list.
- Patrick Henry! Mr. Henry served a total of five terms as governor, though not all consecutive.
- That would be George Wythe. He was an early supporter of the Revolution and wanted to fight, despite his age at the time.
- 1926. It took several years and some rejections, but he persevered. And the rest is history.
How’d you do? Let us know in the comments, and if you have some trivia questions of your own, post those as well!
Audrey DeAngelis says
All of these are trick questions. “Original buildings” is a misleading term for the variety of structures in that list. Without specifying whether the difference between commonwealth, royal colony, and proprietary colony, the “first governor” could be said to be Edward Maria Wingfield, Sir Francis Wyatt, or Patrick Henry. And without more parameters, the realization of Goodwin’s dream could also be said to have been in 1934 when the Foundation opened the Palace, Capitol and Raleigh Tavern, or prior to that with the beginning of excavations. And, again, Wythe… These questions are vague.
Mary says
Some people are just too smart for their own good…A.K.A. “It takes one to know one.”
Emily Doherty says
Actually, George Wythe was the last Virginia delegate to sign the declaration because he could not be present, but because he was held in such great esteem the other delegates left a space for him to sign at the top.
Oh … I missed one; I think another trip to Colonial Williamsburg is order so as to “learn my history” better.
Come on by!
Got all of them except the last one, which I only knew was in mid to late 1920″s.
I think it counts, David!
I did not remember that exact date for the last one. All I remembered was it was in the 1920’s. As often as we visit and hear the history, I should remember it!
Janet, I say as long as you know the decade, you got it!
Kristy Engel says
Several of them are kind of trick questions! LOL You didn’t say if you wanted the first colonial govenor or the state govenor, and while Wythe’s name is first he actualy signed last. Tricky tricky tricky…I got them all anyway…I better have. 😉
kristy says
Governor…I CAN spell. Lol
;]