Why does Williamsburg matter to American history?

Williamsburg, Virginia, embodies the richness of America’s past: the triumphs and the tragedies, the history-making events, and the everyday moments. As Virginia’s colonial capitol for 81 years, it was a center of political, social, and revolutionary change, where lofty ideas about liberty conflicted with the reality of slavery.

For decades, Colonial Williamsburg has worked to uncover the complete story of the city’s revolutionary community, helping millions of visitors learn from the past.

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 educational institution and the largest U.S. history museum in the world.