We arrived, and noticed several cars in the lot. Parking was plentiful. We have a lifetime National…read moreParks Pass so we did not pay for parking. We read the sign about the Glass House, and saw the path to it and demonstrations. We weren't hopeful about the demos. We walked the path to the original glass house, with Pot Kiln, Annealing Furnace/Fritting Furnace, and Working Furnace behind glass. The walk there was flat and easy to walk. We continued on and saw a Plaque about this replica Glass House in front of us: "erected on May 8, 1976, by the Glass Packaging Institute to commemorate America's first industry." A National Parks volunteer and glass artisans were working today. We enjoyed listening to the volunteer answering questions, and watching the artisans making glass objects that would be finished and sold in a display area on the side. All sales go towards this park exhibit. We're glad we stopped here. It was remarkable!

A wonderful, warm and fascinating place to see an operating glass house…read moreThe Jamestowne Glasshouse is located near the original Jamestown settlement in Virginia. It has good signage and a dedicated parking lot. Once parked you have to traverse a walkway to the building. It is a short path to the building. There are doors on every corner. The entrance closest to the walkway is well marked and is the best one to enter as it brings you to the shop that has the beautiful finished works of the artisans working by the large oven behind it in the center of the barn. This place offers a fascinating glimpse into one of America's first industries. Established in 1608 by English colonists, the glassblowing operation was an early attempt at creating a profitable export for the struggling settlement. Today, visitors can watch skilled artisans recreate this historic craft using traditional techniques in a working studio. The artisans shape molten glass into bottles, vases, and ornaments, just as early settlers did over 400 years ago. Watching glassblowers work their craft is mesmerizing, and the connection to history adds depth to the experience. The artists were in period costume, extremely knowledgeable, and worked continuously making objects the entire time that I visited. Once completed the pieces were placed in smaller annealing ovens closer to the display shop. Once you're done stop by the shop and pick up something to remind you of your visit. I did. If you're visiting Historic Jamestown, the Glasshouse is a must-see stop that blends history, craftsmanship, and artistry.

This place is pretty amazing even if you're not a history buff. Kids enjoyed the place. There's…read moreunmark parking available. Picnic tables available for a luncheon. They have a visitor center for all your questions. They offer ghost tours as well! If you're in the area definitely stop by and check it out!

Built in the 1600's. At one time the largest private dwelling in colonial America. One of 3 large…read moreplantations. 17 fireplaces, 33 bedrooms! Burned down in 1916. This house has been through a lot over the past centuries. A nice stop to see an interesting architectural feat. Stop by the visitor's center for admission and information about this mansions previous grandeur and storied history.

One of the eighty-eight originals structures in Colonial Williamsburg. The tavern was used for…read moreeating meals, different types of entertainment as well as educational talks. Of course it also served as a place to bed down for the night. The circa 1750 home was both the home and business of Henry Wetherburn, his family & slaves. It was one of the most successful taverns in town and catered to the wealthiest clientele. There are outbuildings in the rear which are also original. It is open for guided tours on selected days, but does not operate as a colonial tavern. Recommend!

Such a cool place. I mean, who's ever heard of a Sunken Garden before!? Great place to meet…read morefriends for a game of soccer or frisbee. My kids LOVED coming here on a visit so they could work their way into a game with students. It's also just beautiful, surrounded by boxwood and stately brick buildings.

At the heart of the College of William and Mary's old campus lies this gorgeous lawn. A remaining…read moreproject from the work relief programs from the Great Depression it lies several feet lower than the campus around it. Free for anyone to visit it is intended for students and community members to come and relax. It exists to beautify the campus and remind those who visit of the strength our country had coming out of the Great Depression, it serves both of these purposes well. Having visited earlier this week I could not imagine giving the Gardens any lower of a rating. It ties the campus together and is an integral part of the William and Mary that exists today.

Today's performance of ACCIDENTAL PROPOSAL was at 11AM, and was only one scheduled. We got here…read morelate, so we sat in the back. The four actors were very good, which resulted in much laughter from the audience during the performance and applause at the end. Outside the area we read the sign, which indicated this was the site of the first theatre. "William Levingston, merchant of New Kent County, built the first theatre in English America on this site, c. 1716. For three decades companies entertained audiences at the "Play House" with latest successes from the London Stage. In 1745 the City of Williamsburg converted the frame structure into a municipal hall. The building was razed c. 1770 after construction of the Courthouse on Market Square."

We visited Jamestown Settlement on Aug 14, 2025. It had free parking, which was a plus. From where…read morewe parked, we crossed the zebra crossing and walked through Quadricentennial Plaza to get to the museum. Erected in 2007 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, the Quadricentennial Plaza's dual files of state flags was remarkable. When looking from the north side - facing the trio masts with the United States flag in the middle - the state flags were arranged in order of ratification starting from the right file with the flag of Delaware, moving state by state to the south side, then making a U-turn and continue on in the other file (with the flag of Michigan), and arriving back to the north side with the final state flag (Hawaii). A plague at the base of each mast briefly described the state's founding. A photo is included showing that of the Tar Heel state. Jamestown Settlement should not be confused with Historic Jamestowne (spelled with an extra "e"). The former is a museum located in Williamsburg while the latter is an archeological site located in Jamestown. When we arrived at Jamestown Settlement at 11:20am, the sky was cloudy; by 2:25pm, it was sunny and clear. The museum had a wide facade. When seen from an aerial view, it is shaped like an obtuse angle. Even through we went during the summer vacation, it wasn't crowded that day. If you're not interested in attending the museum, there plenty of benches to hang out by the lawn area. The first thing we did after purchasing the tickets was to watch a movie. We went to the rotunda (amazing ceiling view), and followed the directions to Gallery Theater where we saw "1607: A Nation Takes Root". This docudrama traces the founding of Jamestown from the point of view of the colonists, the Powhatans and the Africans, with the colonists being the main protagonists (no-brainer). If I had known that the film was already available on YouTube, I'd have skipped it altogether. After the film was over, we proceeded down Great Hall to the Galleries. There were three entrances to the Galleries. We took the first one cloest to the rotunda, called the "Before Jamestown" section. Before Jamestown, life was peaceful for the Africans and the Powhatans as shown by their life-sized dioramas. Then came the stars of the Galleries: British colonists. The layout and decor for their exhibits evoked a colonial marketplace. It included a partial model of a ship. The "1607" doorway to the right of "The Virginia Company of London" exhibit led to more exhibits. More Powhatans, including one devoted to Pocahontas. In addition, there were exhibits about women's contributions during the early years of Jamestown. "From Africa to Virginia" was a particularly interesting treat. In front of visitors were artifacts and written displays, behind them was a long, large screen showing clips of Africans' encounter with the colonists and the subsequent development of the slave trade. Next were additional colonist exhibits. They weren't as impressive as what came next: recreated homes from that time period (early to mid 1600s). Some of them were colonist dwellings and some slave dwellings. Hard to tell which was which as they all looked similar. At one of the homes, a video clip - played periodically on an exterior wall - showed a slave describing what life was like back then. He seemed happy, like Song of the South's Uncle Remus happy. Across from that home was a doorway leading to Great Hall. By the doorway were written displays encouraging visitors to "Turn Legacy Into Action". To the left of the doorway was an exit that led outside to the gazebo and an area called the Mall. The Mall had a walkway surrounding a larger lawn. At the end of the lawn towards the gazebo was the Commemoration Tower. Review continues in the attached image. More photos and videos can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@1Somber. Look for the playlist "2025-3: Jamestown Settlement Museum".

We had time before check in so my family came to the museum. We only had time for the inside, but…read moreit was well worth it. The museum is large but well organized. They have really cool artifacts, and they space items out so you can really appreciate them. The temporary exhibit about Ming China was really neat. We ran out of time to see the outdoor exhibits, but we would come back to see that part.

Even though Peyton Randolph is a historical unknown to the average person, it doesn't mean that he…read morewas a lightweight by any means. Speaker of the House of Burgesses, Attorney General of Virginia and 1st President of the Continental Congress. That last one to me is the biggie. Would things have turned out differently for the colonies if Peyton doesn't die in Philadelphia while having dinner with Jefferson in 1775 versus John Hancock taking over after his death? By that's for another time. If you visit CW one of the must see stops is his house which is located at the corner of East Nicholson and North England Street (the Yelp map marker is wrong - the house is on the other side of East Nicholson). While the main house is one of the original 88, the breezeway-kitchen-assorted outbuildings are all reproductions. One of the larger historically inaccurate things that CW sort of fixed was when they moved the windmill that spent 50-ish years on the property over to Great Hopes Plantation. No evidence has ever been found that a windmill was on the property and the thing had been inoperable well over a decade by the time it got moved. Of course CW bungled that one as well by also closing Great Hopes to any kind of active interpretation not long after the move. So while the windmill in essence got a nice paint job, it still doesn't work and is marooned in CW Siberia with potential plans to convert that area to parking or some kind of future entertainment space. But that's also for another time. Over the years CW has changed how touring is done at the house. In the past, a few years ago, the house was only open on certain days or only for a 1/2 day with the staff then moving over to the Wythe House for the other 1/2. Thankfully that changed and of late the Randolph House has been open more or less daily. With that said, they still do timed tours which start (??) twice an hour. Sometimes you begin at the side entrance on the street corner but when the crowd is larger you are sometimes herded into the breezeway that separates the house from the kitchen until it's go time. Aside from the house tour that you would expect at CW, recently they have further emphasized the slavery angle at the house. Randolph was a very wealthy individual and he and his wife owned in excess of 100 slaves during his lifetime. That story gets told more as you get to the outbuildings at the end of the tour. The other thing that the house is known anecdotally is that supposedly it's very haunted. That's not covered on the official house tour unless someone asks but every ghost tour company in Williamsburg, including when CW offers them, makes a stop here. I think that has something to do with people dying here during the Civil War when the house gets used as a hospital for a brief time. Like the Everard House or the Wythe House, any time you can tour one of the 300+ year old CW originals it's a must do.

The Peyton Randolph Home is one of the 88 original structures on CW property and was home to the…read moreprominent Williamsburg resident Peyton Randolph. He served as president of the first Continental Congress. He resided in the home 1721-1775. The large two story house is unique for its seven paneled rooms which was a sign of wealth. It's size is deceiving from the front. Each room has been decorated in period time, however there are few items that are authentic to the Randolph's. The rear of the property has outbuildings. The home is open for guided tours on selected days. This is my favorite guided tour in Colonial Williamsburg.

The Everard property is home to three of the original 88 buildings at CW (house - kitchen -…read moresmokehouse). Note that I referenced buildings, because sometimes you will see people reference 88 homes but most of the originals at CW are not homes, but instead are outbuildings. Like my fellow CW loving friend JD pointed out in his superb review, the story of Thomas Everard is a one that for the times in which he lived was no more unlikely than it would be today. Basically he did two things right. 1. He married well. 2. He really hustled his entire life. Not to say that the wealthier contemporaries of the day in town such as Geddy, Wythe, Carter or Randolph didn't hustle, but with some of them there was the presence of inherited wealth and of already having a path set for them whereas with Everard did it all himself. www.history.org/features/orphan/ On the 20+ minute tour we took the volunteers were very knowledgeable about not only Mr. Everard's life but the history of the house. In short form, he had been living there until his death in 1781 after which time the house changes hands multiple times until the CW foundation buys it. The last occupants were two older sisters who had left a lot of the original fabric of the house in tact. They were still using the original detached kitchen as their kitchen. Certain changes took place like removing a 2nd floor porch, a small fenced in front yard/porch and a brick office building next to the house. Also the name of the house by this time was The Audrey House. If you're going to see the house it is not one that is open daily. We were told that the house is only staffed by volunteers and it's Tu-Th-Fr in season and Tu & Fr shoulder season with it being closed in winter. While small, the volunteers we had were great and it is always interesting to know that you're standing in a 300+ year old house that was actually inhabited by the guy who it's named after. Well worth a stop. Brick Office building to the right of the house. https://s3.amazonaws.com/omeka-net/3854/archive/files/2963ed1326d8460a879df207d9cccddb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAI3ATG3OSQLO5HGKA&Expires=1555545600&Signature=Sc103cDX7WzG8rUmj5jHPDdC2h0%3D House is the 1st on the left from 1928. https://s3.amazonaws.com/omeka-net/3854/archive/files/518d5e43d920e124c8044899eb560053.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAI3ATG3OSQLO5HGKA&Expires=1555545600&Signature=EUke%2FzGxad%2BPZsRYsyTM8AxA0K8%3D Pre-restoration https://s3.amazonaws.com/omeka-net/3854/archive/files/2a5dd81989f2a9cd3a8dc4f994b12586.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAI3ATG3OSQLO5HGKA&Expires=1555545600&Signature=hSHs%2B2B2soFcdYV1BhstObOai9A%3D Some other pix of the house www.dailypress.com/features/history/dp-the-restored-thomas-everard-house-colonial-williamsburg-20180228-photogallery.html

The Thomas Everard House reflects the name of the most prominent owner during the 18th century. Its…read moresometimes referred to as the Brush-Everard House. Everard's background is one of a rags to riches. The home is one of the 88 originals on Colonial Williamsburg property. Tours are available for ticketed visitors on selected days. John Brush built the modest story and a half home of split weatherboard in 1718 for himself. He created what is known as a center passage plan in the home that would be later improved upon by Everard. Brush was the Keeper of the Magazine, his profession was of gunsmith and armourer. Brush passed in 1727. The story of Thomas Everard begins in London where he hailed and was an orphan child at Christ Hospital that's still in operation today. The young boy of 10 learned bookkeeping skills that would prove to be the primary reason for his success later in life. Everard moved to Williamsburg Virgina and apprenticed for 7 years. He received his own clerkship for York County Court that he held until he passed in 1781. Everard was also Secretary of the Colony of Virgina. Everard's position and wealth in the community grew after his marriage into the prominent family of Diana Robinson. In the day he was considered a wealthy man with salves and over 1,500 acres of property. Thomas was also a Patriot and public servant. He helped select those that would attend the Continental Congress. Its true as much today as it was then regarding location. The residence just off the Palace Green and beside the Governors Palace was magnificent. The structure was expanded & embellished to reflect Everard's high standing in the civic community around 1770. The home is best known for its elaborate staircase, turned balusters and sweeping handrails. Other decor of imported paint and carpeting. The house as you see it today reflects Everard's 18th century taste for impressing his his guest. The fancy green paint above the parlor fireplace and wall is period after research was completed using paint samples. Wallpaper samples were also used in order to be as correct as possible when the home was restored in the 1940's. The furnishings are both period and actual 18th century pieces of Everard/Brush day. The enlarged home and grounds presents beautifully. There are also original outbuildings including a kitchen and slave quarters in the rear. These can be viewed on the tour. It's interesting to note that the original brick pavers that Everard/Brush would have walked on were excavated in the front of the structure and are seen today. The Everard home had never been a priority of mine to tour, as well as it was never open on days touring. The location beside the Playbooth Theater may have you overlook it, but try not to. The cool story of the man and the unique structure are important to Williamsburg's founding history.

How many times have you heard of a barrel, bucket, or cask being made by hand. Well it's just not…read moredone much anymore, but at CW the spirit of doing it the 18th Century way is kept alive. Located off the side street of Nicholoson across the street from the cabinetmaker. There are no demonstrations given, they are doing real work, with real orders. There are no formal tours, but the Cooper will stop what he is doing and show you some work that they are currently doing. They work done by the Cooper is Cooperage. The word itself for the trade of bucket/barrel making derives from the Middle Dutch, or Middle Low German meaning Kopper, or copper from kupe cask, in turn from Latin cupa tun. The gentlemen James I talked with had over 35+!yrs experience at the art of Barrel, bucket, cask and other items making. He was super friendly and led our group through the process woods used etc. Is this a lost art, close to it. Very few shops in the world produce hand made work. The local Craft Beer maker Hardywood took delivery of some CW barrels recently. As in all of the CW trades I have a lot of respect for the skill it takes to continue this old world tradition of making things by hand.

Well, I figured for review #1000 I needed to pick somewhere special and for me that is the cooper's…read moreshop at Colonial Williamsburg. While my reviews for CW will attest to the fact that I'm very down on how the place is run as a whole, I am 100% fascinated by what goes on at this shop. The art (and to me it is an art) of cooperage has more or less not changed in centuries and to me something about that is uniquely awesome because while cardboard boxes and metal containers have replaced wooden casks, if you for example need a cask made, the old school way of making it is still the best way. The one fallacy that you hear is that some people refer to coopers as barrel makers but that's not the full story as a barrel is only one size of cask. If you're lucky enough to visit at a time when James is in he'll be more than happy to talk with you about a barrel, a rundlet or a hogshead just like the difference between wet coopering and dry coopering plus a whole lot more than I can remember. Getting back to James, he's been coopering at CW since the early 70's and before that he got his start in England in a shop that dated back to 1742. He's the real deal in every way about the process and is always extremely generous with his time to answer no doubt the same question a thousand times a day or even questions where in his head he's probably rolling his eyes yet his answer is always gracious. My favorite quote of his which I've heard him say two or three times when asked what he or any of the coopers do is that they make circles. That I suppose while true, is a huge understatement of how difficult the trade actually is. (Only a small handful of people have completed a cooper apprenticeship at CW over the last forty plus years.) For me personally what it boils down to is that watching what the coopers do here is history in its most pure form. You have a trade being done the same way it was done three hundred years ago being taught by people who learned from the prior generation who learned from the prior generation, etc. Those experiences are what make coming to CW worthwhile and they're at the core of what makes the cooper's shop at CW 100% authentic.