Majesty of Williamsburg Tapa blanda - 1997

Photography and text by Peter Beney in association with The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

In Colonial Williamsburg, a step into the Historic Area means a step back in time. Visitors enter the world of eighteenth-century colonial America, brought to life by reenactors authentically portraying the residents of the period. Explore beautifully recreated and restored buildings, including the Governor's Palace, residence of Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry; the Raleigh Tavern, where the Continental Congress was formed and George Washington dined; and the Capitol, where the walls rang with Patrick Henry's "Treason" speech and the 1776 Resolution for Independence was adopted.

For 200 years, many of the historical buildings languished in disrepair. In 1926, the Reverend Dr. W. A. R. Goodwin and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr., began work to restore Williamsburg, the colonial capital of Virginia and the birthplace of the American Revolution. Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest and oldest living history museum in the world, a fully restored town complete with costumed interpreters, craftsmen, and tradespeople, as well as period transportation and livestock.

Through photographs and text, enter the world that forged the identity of these United States of America.