Guide Book to Williamsburg Old and New

Williamsburg was once the heartbeat of colonial America, the capital where Thomas Jefferson served in the House of Burgesses and Patrick Henry delivered his fiery call for liberty. When this guidebook was written in the early 1940s, the town's remarkable restoration was still fresh, a massive undertaking funded by John D. Rockefeller Jr. that had brought crumbling 18th-century buildings back to life. William Clinton Ewing, writing as both historian and devoted guide, walks readers through brick lanes and tavern yards, revealing the stories embedded in every Georgian doorway and colonial church. This isn't a dry catalog of dates and facts. It's an invitation to wander Duke of Gloucester Street with a knowledgeable friend, to understand why Revolutionary leaders gathered here and how artisans built the handsome homes that still line the town's streets. For visitors planning a trip, history buffs, or anyone fascinated by the improbable survival of America's colonial past, this book captures Williamsburg at a pivotal moment, just after the restoration revealed its former glory to a modern world.