"williamsburg, virginia" Williamsburg by doug48

the area around present day williamsburg was originally inhabited by the powhatan native ameriican tribe. in 1632 european settlers estabished a fortified settlement called middle plantation about eight miles northeast of jamestown. in 1698 the capital of virginia moved from jamestown to middle plantation. shortly after the move middle plantation was renamed williamsburg after king william III. in the 1690's the college of william and mary was established in williamsburg and many important colonial government buildings were built in the town. the decline of williamsburg began in 1780 when the capital of virginia moved to richmond. williamsburg was attacked by the union during the peninsula campaign and williamsburg was occupied by the union in may 1862. during the union occupation a number of buildings in williamsburg were burned and looted. after the civil war the economy of williamsburg declined and many of it's historic buildings fell into disrepair. in the 1920's minister dr. w.a.r. goodwin of bruton parish church sought funding for the repair and reconstruction of the williamsburg colonial district. john d. rockerfeller funded the project and many historic buildings were rebuilt in the 1930's. today colonial williamsburg is virginia's most visited tourist attraction. for those interested in american history and colonial architecture colonial williamsburg is a must see site when in virginia.