Colonial Williamsburg Tour: Self-Guided Walk

Welcome to the Colonial Williamsburg Tour

Don’t just learn about American history… live it! On the Colonial Williamsburg tour, America’s Colonial past comes to life through beautifully restored architecture and authentic reenactors. Stroll down these historic streets while this tour tells you everything you need to know about Williamsburg, early America, colonial life, and more.

Williamsburg has a long and complex history that predates the creation of the United States by almost 150 years! Dig into the town’s origins, the dramatic struggles which unfolded here during the revolution, and the people who put Williamsburg on the map.

Plus, get insights into the painstaking restoration of Williamsburg, and find out how John Rockefeller was involved in all of it. If you’re looking for a comprehensive exploration of this fascinating town, this tour has you covered.

About the Tour

Your tour through Colonial Williamsburg begins at the visitor center just north of the town center. As you walk south, you’ll learn not only about the earliest residents of Williamsburg but also about the Native Americans who called this place home when the first European settlers arrived.

The first major landmark you’ll arrive at will be the Peyton Randolph House, a gorgeous home dating back to 1715. Its former owner was actually a key revolutionary figure, though you might not have heard about him in school!

Next, you’ll learn about the importance simple instruments had during battles. If you’re lucky, you may also catch a performance of Colonial Williamsburg’s very own fife and drum band as they march through town!

Continuing onwards, you’ll hear about the origins of the Colonial Williamsburg museum project, including how America’s first billionaire, John D. Rockefeller, bankrolled the whole thing! He was apparently a bit of a history buff.

After that, you’ll see the Public Gaol, a grim prison that once held all manner of unsavory sorts. But would you believe it also held Blackbeard’s pirate crew while they waited to be executed?

Then it’s on to the old Capitol Building, where Virginia declared independence from Britain… four days before the Declaration of Independence was signed!

Speaking of independence, you’ll find the Raleigh Tavern next. During the 1700s, this tavern’s unassuming facade hid secret revolutionary meetings within.

Next, you’ll come to the Williamsburg Magazine, an old munitions storehouse. Here, you’ll learn the dramatic tale of a standoff between British troops and Williamsburg residents on the eve of the revolution. Then get a good look at the Bruton Parish Episcopal Church. It actually predates the town itself, and is the whole reason for the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg!

After that, you’ll make your way to the historic campus of the William & Mary School, the nation’s second-oldest university. Here, you’ll find one of Williamsburg’s oldest and most impressive buildings, and learn a little about the college’s controversial history.

Then you’ll one two of the town’s most historic structures: the George Wythe House. This was home to a signer of the Declaration of Independence who was also a staunch abolitionist! 

As you make your way to the Play House Stage, a recreation of one of the country’s oldest theatres, you’ll hear a few spooky stories about ghost sightings that have taken place throughout Williamsburg–not especially surprising considering how much history lives here!

Finally, you’ll reach the Governor’s Palace, where Virginia’s Royal Governor ruled over the people of this state… until he was forced to flee in the dead of night. The tour concludes here.

Value for Money

Our self-guided walking tour includes all the important sightseeing points in the area and costs 70% less than the day ticket sold at the visitor center.

Note: July Fourth is a celebration of American history, and no place brings that history to life quite like Colonial Williamsburg – an authentic 18th-century town where re-enactors transport visitors back to the nation’s earliest days. Start your morning listening to Thomas Jefferson read the Declaration of Independence from the Capitol building’s West Balcony, then take the Freedom’s Paradox tour to investigate the contradiction of American liberation and slavery.

At 8pm, join the crowds at Palace Green for Lights of Freedom. The concert features American marching music, a patriotic sing-a-long, and selections from George Frideric Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks – a pitch-perfect accompaniment when actual fireworks go off at 9:30pm. Palace Green and Market Square are the best spots to see the kaleidoscopic spectacle.

Planning tip: Admission is free but book a ticket in advance.

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