This morning, I walked through my beautiful English garden, down the street past the Cooper’s shop, past the Magazine and Courthouse of our colonial city, past the Governor’s Palace, and down the path to drop my kids off at the elementary school. Yes, I live in the Revolutionary City—a museum, historical institution, and a place where history comes to life every day!
If you have been here, you know how magical it is. If you haven’t been here, it’s time to plan a trip. Every day, you get a glimpse into the world navigated by the people who built this great nation. George Washington rides his horse past my house regularly. The sounds of cannons and muskets echo in the distance. I can smell the smoke from the fire in the blacksmith shop across the street. And most of the time, I can experience all of this while doing Pilates in my living room.
I don’t tell you this to burst your bubble. And I don’t want you to take away from this that Colonial Williamsburg is just a facade. Rather, I want you to realize that I have the best of both worlds… and both centuries. Let’s be realistic. I am a huge proponent of the advancement of modern technology. I can’t be without my iPhone. Netflix is the best thing ever. In fact, I am probably watching it while you walk by my house on your ghost tour. But in my mind, that’s what makes it perfect. It is a museum to you and it is a home to me.
The Foundation rents a number of buildings to its employees—a fantastic perk of the job. And yes, we have electricity and indoor plumbing. We actually have three full bathrooms in our house. No, we don’t have all colonial decor and furniture! In fact, I feel comfortable saying we likely have the largest collection of Legos and Hot Wheels in the entire Historic Area. Basically, we have a very modern home in a very colonial town. Oh, and our home also boasts five fireplaces!
We have security guards, landscapers, maintenance teams. Yes, it is weird. But weird isn’t bad! It’s just… well, different. Our doors have giant keys and there are always a hundred tourists in front of my house. But the adventures we have are priceless. My best friends are my neighbors and CW employees. We spend most of our evenings playing games or watching movies. We prank each other. We walk each others dogs and pick up things at the store for each other. Our community is closer than family.
While I don’t work for the Foundation, my significant other is an interpreter who spends most of his day in a tavern. We have four children—ages 12, 6, 5, and 2— and we’ve lived here for our youngest’s entire life. Most days of the week, youwill find us all outside just in time to see the Fifes & Drums marching. The three younger kids have no idea that they are marching as part of the programming. They think they just come by as a way to say “hi” to them. One of our neighbors is a supervisor of the Corps, so the kids stand on the porch and yell hello at him. They know he can’t yell back, but they also know that that fancy little march through he just had the corps do in front of our house was his way of saying hi back.
My 5 year old can often be seen running through the streets dressed as Captain America. He thinks if everyone else we know can wear a costume all day, so can he! And he fits right in. When Patrick Henry walks by on his way to address a crowd, he tips his hat and says “Captain.” FYI - Captain America responds with a salute.
James Madison is a close friend of ours. (The actor, not the dead president. Don’t be ridiculous.) Our 6 year old has made a game of learning how to insult him in very 18th-century ways. Mr. Madison was teaching him how to write “you stink” with quill and ink very recently.
This past summer, our 12 year old decided to become a junior interpreter. She learned a lot about balancing life in costume with life out of costume and the expectations of guests. More importantly, she learned more about 18th-century dancing and the life of children in the 1700s. All of this is to say, we have our modern conveniences, but that just facilitates our opportunity for learning. Sometimes, the kids couldn’t care less about 18th-century history. Sometimes, they have a million questions. So we go see our friend Adam down at the stables to ask questions about our horses. We go see Abby and Sarah at the Millinery when we have costume questions. Needless to say, our neighbors are pretty incredible.
I realize I haven’t even mentioned the holidays yet. Good grief… where do I even begin? Last weekend, we had our first ever Halloween program, Haunting on DoG Street. It was incredible! Thousands of little trick-or-treaters, colonial zombies, pirates, skeleton horses were all right outside my door. It was by far the best All Hallows’ Eve my family has ever known. (That’s my little Ninja Turtle in the bottom right corner).
Now… it’s time to prep for Christmas. As residents, we have the option of decorating our homes ourselves and also have the choice to participate in contests. We get handbooks, lists of approved materials, and even an opportunity to take classes on wreath making. At first, our kids didn’t really care about the colonial aspect of this at all. In fact, they wanted an Avengers theme. Let’s just say we compromised and making Avengers wreaths out of strictly 18th-century materials is no easy task! Trust me. The next year, they chose Harry Potter. And making Captain America’s shield wreath out of silk ribbon and cotton felt like a walk in the park compared to sticking feathers in oranges and making them levitate in the middle of a wreath like a flying golden snitch! I can say from experience that if you want your children to care about 18th century agriculture and materials, tell them they have to find plants and things to match the house colors of Hogwarts.
This year’s theme, which we always kept quiet until the day we hang the decorations, already makes me want to cry, but our lovely tradespeople are being very helpful, so I remain optimistic. Please, stay tuned for pictures!
For now, I hope I have given you a bit of insight into the wibbly wobbly timey wimey life we lead here. It may not be an ordinary one but it’s extraordinary in so many ways.
GUEST BLOGGER: KATHERINE MORRIS AINSLIE
Katherine is the Externship Program Coordinator for the William & Mary Law School. She has four children - Alexandra (12), Senet (6), Thaine (5), and Flynn (2). Katherine and her significant other, Alex Morse, are avid board gamers and boast an impressive and ever-growing collection of games. Beyond having their weekly board game parties, Katherine loves hosting visitors and throwing big parties including their famous annual Kentucky Derby party. She also enjoys British costume dramas, obnoxiously bright colors and patterns, cooking, & consuming large quantities of Aromas coffee.
Sharon Harris says
This article was so beautiful and humorous at the same time, bringing a smile and also tears of joy to my face ! I’ve always wanted to live in Colonial Williamsburg and appreciate the lovely glimpse you gave us into your world and the world of your family ! I’m so happy for you and yours and I only hope I can live the same dream as yours someday !
My son and I loved this article. Your children are living my son’s dream. After reading an article about how awful it was to live in a living museum, I found this fantastic. We are locals of sorts and really do enjoy the Revolustionary City. We will look for the wreath! Captain American rocks! Thank you so much for sharing your life with us.
Great post! I really enjoyed reading what it’s like to live in Colonial Williamsburg! So interesting, and I have to be honest…makes me pretty jealous! What a lovely family!
I visit Williamsburg a few times a year and always wanted “someone” to blog about their experience of living in Colonial Williamsburg. You have a way with words and letting readers see what it is like to “live the dream”; you really should do a more frequent blog that outlays the daily life … what may seem routine for you, would be delightful to those of us who “wish” for what you are getting to live and do daily. Thank you for letting us glimpse into your Colonial World; I am MORE than enchanted.
Konrad says
Love the Pitt House!
Great layout / floor plan.
I lived at the Sign of the Rhinoceros.
It was awesome.
Julie says
Very nice post! I enjoyed this a lot 🙂
Ann Stinely says
If my sister Jane and I are correct, my family lived in that same house 50 years ago – and we have many fond memories also.
Yes, Ann, I remember when you lived there. And the Desampers after y’all. I lived in Waters Storehouse.
A better story could not be written than the one you’ve done. Our family misses Williamsburg so much. We are in Texas now. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to live in Colonial Williamsburg. Being from the area myself I am familiar with the scenes of Williamsburg you’ve shown. Enjoy the Christmas season! Kudos on the Dr. Who reference.
Kate says
I am so envious! I love Colonial Williamsburg and always stay in one of the historic houses during a visit…I never realized you could do it on a more permanent basis! What an absolute dream come true! The view out my my window certainly doesn’t compare.
I loved your story. I would love to here more stories from others who live in the colonial homes. What a great addition to the blog. It is my dream to move to Williamsburg someday and work and live the life. Share more with those of us who hope to have your experience some day.
Janelle says
Wonderful blog! Loved the Doctor Who reference at the end! =)
Gmom Phyl says
Delightful blog! We lived in the Historic Area in the 1970’s, and it was a treat for my children as well as us. Are you sitting on the steps of the Pitt Dixon House??
Jane Hanson says
Lovely article, Katherine! Your family joins several generations of kids growing up in the historic area which I think must be quite a special thing! This keeps the town, truly a living museum and I hope it shall always continue to be.
Kate says
What a great article . I love passing your home in the carriage and love to see it bustling with life. Your decorations have been one of my favorites in the past years. I am excited to see your awesome creativity come to life again. I must tell you your Harry Potter house was a huge hit with my guests in the Carrie last year. Kudos!
Marjorie says
I am in awe of your ability to take the reader back in time to experience 18th century life. Maybe not all of the harsh realiities, but a touch of the vibrancy that life held back then. I will plan to visit CW and see your family and hug your parents.
Dena Channell says
I so enjoyed reading this blog. My cousin and I made a trip a few years back and Colonial Williamsburg was on our agenda. We were able to experience the Christmas events and festivities and see the pipers and drummers along with the fireworks. That was one of my most favorite trips I have been on in my life. It was truly amazing the way you feel like you are a part of the 18th century as you walk the streets and visit the shops and the people in CW. I absolutely loved it and hope to be able to visit again.
Stephanie Hayter says
Thanks for sharing your story. I love, love, love CW and have visited many times, most recently in September. Your children are very lucky to grow up in such a unique environment and I am sure they will have many, many memories that will last a lifetime.
Judy Marquart says
Thank you so much for such a wonderful blog … just reading it made me feel like I was there and seeing things as they happened and being able to be surrounded every day by history. I’ve been coming to CW since 1969 and love it dearly … just wish I could get there more often than I’m able to; but when I do get there, I love every minute of being there. Your description of things should very well let visitors know how things are there and that they are missing a very educational time. And it’s fun learning all this “stuff”!! Thanks again for your wonderful “blog”!!
Michael says
An excellent walk through your life in the colonial area. Must say I am a bit envious, and you even fit in a doctor who reference too. A+ Ma’am, well done.
Although we live up here in Michigan, we manage to visit 2-3 times a year and look forward to moving down there soon. One of the treats of our visits has become the chance to see Alex work and see you and your children doing wonderfully “normal” 21st century family things around the village. What a grand thing to be able to be surrounded by history “of old” and making your own history. By just living your lives you add another element of interpretation with laughing, playing, growing children. May you continue to enjoy such an exciting “homelife” for a long time.
Susan Jones says
Loved reading your blog. I envy your children. Have a blessed day
How wonderful!
Sandy says
So enjoyed your view of life both past n present