The Capitol at Colonial Williamsburg — a gateway to Revolution

Patrick Henry was on a roll.

“Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell, and George the Third …”

Shouts of “Treason!” interrupted the brilliant firebrand, as he addressed the Virginia House of Burgesses in Williamsburg.

“… may profit by their example,” he concluded.

It may or may not have been what he’d originally planned to say.

It was May 29, 1765, when Henry delivered his “Caesar-Brutus” speech against the Stamp Act, in Virginia’s Capitol building.  The event was an early milestone on the long and treacherous path that transformed British subjects into American citizens.

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Eleven years later, on May 15, 1776, in the same building, Virginia’s elected representatives instructed the colony’s delegation to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia to call for a vote on American independence from Britain.  Six weeks later, the 13 colonies declared themselves free and independent states.

But the building saw more than talk of Revolution.  The second Capitol in Virginia’s second capital hosted lighter moments like dances and dinners as well.

Virginia’s original colonial capital was Jamestown, where the House of Burgesses first convened in 1619.

In 1698, fire destroyed the Jamestown Statehouse — and not for the first time.  The Burgesses decided to move the colony’s government to Middle Plantation, soon to be renamed Williamsburg.

Williamsburg’s first Capitol was built during 1701-05.  The brick building featured a distinctive open central arcade or “piazza”.  It hosted the Burgesses, as well as the Governor’s Council and the General Court, until fire destroyed it in 1747.

The Palladian second Capitol at Williamsburg was built during 1751-53 on the foundations of the first.  This was the structure where the Burgesses met in the decades that led up to the American Revolution.

The building was last used as a capitol on December 24, 1779.  Richmond became the fledgling state’s capital soon after.

The abandoned capitol’s west wing was torn down for its bricks in 1793; the east burned in 1832.  In 1881, the last above-ground traces of its historic halls were removed from the lot.

One of the most significant buildings in American history was gone.

A little more than 50 years later, in 1934, Colonial Williamsburg opened a reconstruction of the first Capitol.

Today, the replica is open for tours during which you can learn about Virginia’s contribution to the American Revolution.  Knowledgeable guides in 18th-century attire will take you through the building, tell you its stories, and answer your questions.

A highlight of the tour is the hall of the House of Burgesses, where legislators like Patrick Henry, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson met, debated, and moved toward Revolution.

You can also attend evening programs like musical concerts inside the Capitol.  Among my favorites are the trial re-enactments like Cry Witch, which take place in the General Court room and immerse visitors in colonial life.

Every time I visit the Capitol, it’s a humbling reminder of the sacrifices the Founders made for our freedom today.

As you walk through its meticulously restored rooms, you can almost hear the speeches and debates that shaped a nation echoing across the centuries.

It’s a reminder of the courage, vision, and determination that made America’s independence possible.  It’s a standing tribute to the brave patriots who dared dream of liberty and dared make that dream a reality.  It’s a place where history touches your spirit.

Leslie Carbone

After my misspent youth as a wage worker, I’m having so much more fun as a blogger, helping other discerning travellers plan fun and fascinating journeys.  Read more …