Colonial Williamsburg

From back cover: "Long one of America's showcases, Colonial Williamsburg is a living testament to our national heritage. Boasting 173 acres and more than 500 period buildings (including 88 original 18th century houses), it is without peer in the world of restoration. The jewel in the crown of a struggling new nation, Williamsburg was all but forgotten by 19th century America, and might well have drifted into obscurity had it not been for the vision of a country parson and his millionaire benefactor. Together they attempted what had never been tried before--the resurrection of an entire colonial city. Now, 60 years after its founding, comes the most detailed, comprehensive book on Colonial Williamsburg ever produced. In a broad-ranging and insightful text by Philip Kopper, we follow the history of this magnificent restoration from colonial days right up to the present. In the 18th century, as a capital of the mighty Virginia Colony and sometime home to such patriots as George Washington, Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson, it was at the very heart of the Revolutionary goings-on. But soon this 'cradle of liberty' fell into eclipse-an eclipse that would last until the Reverend W.A.R. Goodwin arrived on the scene in 1902. Possessed of a boundless imagination and immense powers of persuasion, he enlisted the support of John D. Rockefeller Jr. to help carry out his dream of restoring 20th century Williamsburg to its 18th C. appearance. Largely as a result of these two extraordinary men, Williamsburg was again thrust into the forefront of events-this time as the precursor of the historic preservation movement. Today, Colonial Williamsburg remains a pioneer in its field, continuing to grow and expand to present an ever more faithful portrait of life in our ancestors' time. More than 300 dazzling photographs, most of them taken by Langdon Clay especially for this book, capture the spirit the seasonal beauty of the town. Here are the gardens and townscapes, the special events such as Christmas celebrations and autumn fair days, the period furnishings, architectural exteriors and interiors and a sampling of the superb holdings of Colonial Williamsburg's town art museums...Also shown here are a host of 18th century characters and interpreters, including blacksmiths, silversmiths and other skilled artisans playing their trades. Fascinating archival material rounds out the story, offering entertaining glimpses into both colonial life and the early days of restoration."