For America’s 250th birthday, the Washington Examiner is taking you to Virginia’s Historic Triangle, where the story of our nation began. From the Jamestown settlement, the first permanent English colony in America; to the Yorktown battlefield, where the fight for independence was won; to Colonial Williamsburg, where America’s founding principles were debated and shaped; step back in time to explore the places and events that forged our nation.
WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia — As America celebrates its 250th birthday, Colonial Williamsburg is giving visitors a chance to experience the places and people that helped shape the nation.
More than two centuries ago, the Duke of Gloucester Street was at the center of some of the most important debates in U.S. history. People can walk the same streets as Virginia’s founders, step inside the Capitol where lawmakers debated the colony’s future, and gather for daily readings of the Declaration of Independence.
Visitors can also watch traditional craftspeople at work, including brickmakers who produce the handmade bricks used to restore and maintain Williamsburg’s historic buildings. Using centuries-old techniques, they help preserve the colonial capital while giving guests a firsthand look at the craftsmanship that built early America.
As Independence Day approached in Colonial Williamsburg, actors brought George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and other founders to life as they reenacted the days leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
“We must make certain that this general Declaration of Independence represents the grievances not only of our own nation, Virginia, but of all the American nations. And that is why they have chosen a select committee of the finest minds in America to write this document,” Patrick Henry, portrayed by Nathaniel Lasley, declares to a gathering crowd. “Our great Thomas Jefferson, our own countrymen, will be the primary author of this general Declaration of Independence.”
Lucia, who portrays Bartholomew Dandridge — George Washington’s brother-in-law — says understanding both the triumphs and challenges of America’s founding is essential to appreciating the nation’s history.
“I think it’s really important to understand where we come from, the good stuff, the challenging stuff,” Lucia told the Washington Examiner. “I think it’s in telling all of the stories that we start to come to a place of greater understanding and compassion for each other. So I think it is wonderful to kind of celebrate the independence of this place.”
Throughout Williamsburg and across Virginia’s Historic Triangle, history comes alive as visitors experience the ideas and events that led to American independence.
“Any American should come and visit this area,” Linda Williams, an interpretive park ranger with the National Park Service, said. “You can visit Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in all the Americas. You can visit Colonial Williamsburg — that took over being the capital of Virginia from Jamestown — and then you can come to Yorktown, 23 miles away from Jamestown, and this is where 174 years after Jamestown, Washington defeated Cornwallis here at Yorktown to win America’s independence.”
Today, those stories come to life for visitors from around the world, offering a glimpse into the people, places, principles, and craftsmanship that laid the foundation for the United States.