A stylish female figure can be seen in many photographs documenting the architectural team who undertook the restoration of Williamsburg’s historic district. She often stands out as the one lone woman amidst the group of men….
Becoming Mrs. Washington: Martha the Mom
Before she was Mrs. Washington, Martha was Mrs. Custis. It’s well known that Martha and George Washington were not blessed with any children of their own during their 40-year marriage (theories abound…we’ll get to that another time). Martha did have four children, though, during her first marriage to Daniel Parke Custis.
This period of Martha’s life has fascinated me and has become the center of my study and program development for the spring season. I suppose I have good reason: my husband and I just welcomed our first child….
The Story of Lena Richard, the Talented Chef Who Put Travis House on the Map
Lena Richard. Courtesy Newcomb Archives and Vorhoff Library Special Collections, Newcomb College Institute, Tulane University.
Today the Travis House contains offices and sits in its original location at the corner of Francis and Henry. But once upon a time, it was a Colonial Williamsburg restaurant at the foot of Palace Green, and it was where a talented chef with an entrepreneurial knack built a national reputation for her take on Southern cuisine….
Throwback Thursday, March 30, 1957: The Story of a Patriot Debuts… and Shares Top Billing with a Cafeteria
On this day, March 30, back in 1957, Colonial Williamsburg unveiled its new “Information Center,” with adjacent Motor House and Cafeteria-the state of the art for mid-20th century tourist facilities….
Colonial Williamsburg Mourns the Passing of David Rockefeller
Colonial Williamsburg mourns the passing of philanthropist, businessman and lifelong Foundation supporter David Rockefeller….
Much More Than a Secretary: The Story of Elizabeth Hayes
If you’re inclined to buy the old adage that “behind every great man is a great woman,” then you should know the name Elizabeth Hayes. For 18 years she was the personal secretary to Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin, the “father of Colonial Williamsburg”—and like so many other women who toiled out of the limelight, her contributions to making the dream of Colonial Williamsburg a reality deserve more attention. And we have the records to prove it….
“A Subject on Which I Have Not Thought Much”: Jefferson’s Note on Educating Young Women
On March 14, 1818, 74-year old Thomas Jefferson put quill to paper to answer a query from Nathaniel Burwell: his thoughts on how to give a young woman “a liberal and accomplished education.”…
After Winning the War, Winnie and Ike Visited the ‘Burg
On this day—March 8—in 1946, just months after the end of the Second World War, two unmistakable figures stepped off the train together just behind the Governor’s Palace….
Engraved in History, on This Day in 1770: The Boston Massacre
On this day in history, in 1770, the Boston Massacre, a major milestone on the road to revolution, took place. The first published report in Williamsburg came three weeks later, with rumors in William Rind’s Virginia Gazette of a “fray” resulting in British soldiers being driven out of town by angry inhabitants. By the next issue, new details painted a more somber picture, and the incident was already being referred to as a “massacre.”
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The True Story Behind an American Icon, the Liberty Bell
You can know what a community values by its bells. In Williamsburg we have bells at the Capitol, at Bruton Parish Church, and at the Market House. This year the First Baptist Church renewed the Let Freedom Ring Challenge, inviting people from all walks of life to take a turn at the cord and ring their historic bell, to inspire us to keep working towards freedom and equality for all. With that in mind, we present this excerpt from “Why the Turkey Didn’t Fly,” relating the surprising story of the Liberty Bell’s origin and evolution as a symbol for our aspirations as a people….
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