Attractions Colonial Williamsburg
Out of the Way Attractions: Five Things You Might Not Have Tried at Colonial Williamsburg
Nearly everyone has heard of Colonial Williamsburg. Costumed interpreters, carriage rides and Revolutionary War musket drills spring to mind directly with the name. But Colonial Williamsburg is a big place, and there’s much more to see after you’ve enjoyed the cannon demonstration and checked out some historic trades. Here are just a few things you might not think to look for.
1. “Breeding Rare Chickens”
Colonial Williamsburg’s extensive Rare Breeds Program includes four varieties of chickens. They are: Dorking Chickens, Dominique Chickens, Hamburg Chickens, and English Game Fowl. Interestingly, Dominique Chickens were one of the first breeds developed in the United States. English Game Fowl, as their name suggests, were originally bred for cock fighting, and tend to display unusual strength, agility and aggression; however they are also prized for their high-quality meat and eggs.
2. “Courtroom Drama”
Various evening programs reenact or recreate Colonial courts of law. You might even be able to join the jury! For example, “The Virginia Witch” presents a famous witchcraft trial, and “Courage or Cowardice” is taken from a 1779 court of inquiry concerning a Virginia officer who took his men and left his post in the face of a British attack.
3. “The Ins and Outs of Eating”
The Historic Foodways program offers all kinds of interesting presentations concerning food preparation in colonial times. They research and recreate historic foods and techniques, operating the Governor’s Palace Kitchens and the Payton Randolph Kitchens. “From Hog to Ham” is a regularly scheduled program on butchery and curing. They also offer programs on brewing and chocolate-making.
4. “Serious Business”
Visitors can engage in a more “traditional” museum experience by visiting the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum. Extensive collections include a wide range of objects from Colonial to current. Some of the items represented there include paintings and sculpture, furniture, outdoor folk art, textiles, pottery currency and musical instruments. Would-be visitors can browse and search a small sample of the collections on Colonial Williamsburg’s website by selecting EMUSEUM ONLINE. The John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library is also open to the public, and is only a few blocks’ walk from the historic area. Their collection includes more than 50,000 rare manuscripts and is a wealth of architectural and archeological documents related to the Foundation’s historic buildings. The library’s knowledgeable public services staff can help you make good use of the collections, indexes, databases and other library materials. Researchers can even contact the library to schedule a personal orientation in advance.
5. “Colonial Starbucks?”
In 2009, Colonial Williamsburg reconstructed R. Charlton’s Coffee House on its original 18th century site. Right across from the Capitol, it drew the political protesters of the day, just like any coffee shop in a college town does now! A significant political protest of the Stamp Act took place on the building’s front steps. Visitors can stop in and meet “Mr. and Mrs. Charlton” and try a sample of authentically-made coffee, chocolate or tea.
These are only a few of thousands of odd and interesting places and programs at Colonial Williamsburg. Check them out on your next visit!
