Visit : Revolutionary City

---

Colonial Williamsburg brings you “Revolutionary City,” a dynamic two-hour event that reflects Williamsburg’s role in one of America’s defining historical periods. Each day, the east end of the Historic Area comes alive as you become a part of the town’s activities. Witness the collapse of the royal government and revolutionary citizens at war.

What is Revolutionary City?

Colonial Williamsburg’s “Revolutionary City” is a family-friendly, live, dramatic program that breaks the boundaries of traditional living history experiences. It covers the period of 1774 to 1781 through a combination of large-scale streetscape events and multiple simultaneous vignettes. The program creates a spontaneous real-time feel of Williamsburg during the years of the American Revolution. Guests take part in the everyday life of the city against the backdrop of momentous world-changing events.

What will guests see?

Guests may encounter Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, or Patrick Henry and will likely meet lesser-known figures, such as Alexander Hoy, a poor man who enlisted in the army and was captured at Charleston; Eve and a group of enslaved African Americans debating whether to find their own freedom by escaping to the British; and, Gowan Pamphlet, a black Baptist preacher who talks about his hopes for the future when all citizens are equal and there is no official state religion.

When is the program and how often does it run?

“Revolutionary City” takes place primarily outdoors for about two hours daily in a managed-access section of Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area. From June 16 to August 31, "Revolutionary City" is presented from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30pm. During the rest of the year, it is scheduled between 2:30-4:30 p.m (excluding certain holiday periods).

Each day of programming represents a distinct revolutionary time period. Collapse of Royal Government focuses on Virginia’s transformation from servant of a distant monarch to an independent republic. Citizens at War illustrates the challenges of a new self-governing society against the backdrop of war. Nation Builders introduces the individuals whose inspired ideals and visions are embodied in the promises of the Declaration of Independence.

Should I see “Nation Builders,” “Collapse of the Royal Government” and “Citizens at War” in sequence?

Revolutionary City programs stand alone in their unique storytelling and dramatic presentation. Select from the diverse combination of scenes and programming to weave together your own experience, making “Revolutionary City” an event to be enjoyed time and time again.

Where is it?

Located in the east end of Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area, “Revolutionary City” will be presented primarily in and around the buildings on Duke of Gloucester Street in a four-block area bounded by the Capitol on the east, Botetourt Street on the west, and Francis and Nicholson streets on the south and north.

What is managed access?

“Revolutionary City” is outdoor theater. Just as you expect an environment free of distractions when you attend any theatrical presentation, we want to create an environment that provides a rich and engaging experience between the actor-interpreters and the guests. Managed access simply means that, for two hours, a designated portion of the Historic Area is dedicated to “Revolutionary City” so that street activities and the interaction of the actor-interpreters and guests present an authentic 18th-century experience.

How do I get in?

A Colonial Williamsburg general admission ticket, a Good Neighbor pass, or a College of William and Mary student ID will serve as your passport to experience “Revolutionary City”. Also, admission is included in the Revolutionary City Adventure Package offered by the official hotels of Colonial Williamsburg.

Where do I buy tickets?

Purchase tickets for entrance to Revolutionary City, trade shops, historic buildings, and special performances at the following locations: the Visitor Center, the Ticket Office on North Henry Street (across from Merchants Square), the Lumber House Ticket Office (next to Greenhow Store on Duke of Gloucester Street), and Tickets, Treasures & Books (adjacent to the Capitol). Some programs and times are subject to change; please check Colonial Williamsburg This Week upon arrival.

What’s going on elsewhere in the Historic Area during “Revolutionary City"?

Outside “Revolutionary City” boundaries, Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area continues to operate during the presentation hours, providing exhibition site and trade shop experiences, along with a range of shopping, dining, and other activities for guests. Programs throughout the Historic Area reference and reinforce the events depicted in “Revolutionary City.” Activities at all historic sites emphasize citizen participation at the heart of democracy, as it is in the heart of America today.

Why is “Revolutionary City” important?

The significant events that played out in Williamsburg were directly related to the establishment of the American republic and essential to the creation of our form of government. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is committed to connecting 21st-century guests to the American Revolution in meaningful ways and, in doing so, contributing to sustaining the American experiment. Our programs are based on historical research and accuracy. Momentous events of the colonial period happened in the very place where guests walk today. Streets will come alive as the townspeople and guests participate in the dramatic events that led to independence, the creation of a new kind of society, and the winning of the war. This is the story of our struggle to become a nation—from subjects to citizens. “Revolutionary City” is a uniquely American story, presented where it actually happened. We look forward to sharing it with the nation and the world.