Lace up your walking shoes! In this episode, we take you on a guided walking tour through the Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area, a fully operational 301-acre living history museum that transports you back to the 18th century. This 2.2-mile (3.5 km) loop covers the "heavy hitters" of early American history, local culture, and colonial architecture, and will take you approximately 2 to 3 hours to complete.
Tour Highlights:
* Merchants Square & The College of William & Mary: We kick off our tour at the intersection of North Henry Street and Duke of Gloucester Street ("DoG Street"). To the west, you will see the Wren Building (founded in 1693), which is the oldest college building in the U.S. and where Thomas Jefferson once attended classes.
* Bruton Parish Church: Built in 1715, this active Episcopal church was the house of worship for legendary figures like George Washington, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson.
* Palace Green & Governor’s Palace: Take a stroll up the grand lawn to see the Governor's Palace, the lavish former home of seven royal governors and the first two state governors of Virginia [7]. Be sure to check out the hedge maze and formal gardens located around back [7].
* Market Square & The Magazine: As you head east on DoG Street, you'll pass the Courthouse—known for its 18th-century legal reenactments—and The Magazine, an octagonal brick building formerly used for storing arms and gunpowder [7, 8].
* The Capitol Building: Anchoring the eastern end of town is this massive H-shaped building where early American democracy took shape and the House of Burgesses once met [8].
* Francis Street & The Taverns: Enjoy a quieter, residential vibe as we walk past the Public Gaol (jail) and Christiana Campbell’s Tavern, which was George Washington’s favorite spot for seafood [9]. We also point out the Peyton Randolph House, famous for being one of the most haunted buildings in the South [9].
* The Art Museums: Head through the Public Hospital building to visit the world-class, underground galleries of the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum [10].
Where to Refuel:
After completing the loop back at Merchants Square, grab a legendary sandwich and "house dressing" from The Cheese Shop, or enjoy a craft beer and ginger ale in the garden behind Chowning’s Tavern
Pro-Tip for Listeners:
While you can freely walk the streets and gardens of Colonial Williamsburg, you must purchase a Colonial Williamsburg admission.
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Sources & Links:
* A Walking Loop Through Colonial Williamsburg history
* [Williamsburg – Travel guide at Wikivoyage](https://en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?title=Williamsburg&oldid=5118491)
* [Williamsburg, Virginia - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Williamsburg,_Virginia&oldid=1340070465)
Note: This show was created with the use of AI.
Copyrighted 2026. Licensed for use under Creative Commons Share Alike Attribution.
