Discover early American history with The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Today, Colonial Williamsburg is pleased to announce the launch of 11 new stories on Google Arts & Culture. This collection builds on our joint commitment to share immersive stories about early America with a global audience, making the country’s rich history more accessible than ever.
This new release is a testament to the power of digital innovation in connecting audiences with the narratives that shaped our nation. Highlights from the stories include:
- Virtual guided tours: For the first time, you can take a virtual guided tour of several sites in Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area. Favorites include the George Wythe House, the original 18th-century home of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence; the Williamsburg Bray School, where hundreds of enslaved and free Black children received an education between 1760 and 1774; and Colonial Williamsburg’s Courthouse, an original 18th-century center for law, business and community life.
- Historical stories: Travel alongside 18th-century traveler Adam Cuninghame on his sea voyage from England to Virginia, learn about the history of the 20th-century Bruton Heights School and learn how Colonial Williamsburg’s research library preserves these and many other stories.
- Object stories: Uncover the fascinating stories behind an early piece of American silverwork, discover how early Americans kept time and get up close to artworks by 20th-century artist Eddie Arning.
- Large-scale curation from our Collections: Leveraging Google Arts & Culture’s large scale data program, we’re making our vast collections of art, artifacts and historical objects more accessible, including an 18th-century map published on the eve of the American Revolution; an early engraving of Tomochichi, chief of the Yamacraw Indians; and a circa-1742 needlework sampler that may be Virginia’s oldest surviving example.
Uncover narratives in Colonial Williamsburg’s vast library collections by examining primary sources like Scotsman Adam Cuninghame’s 18th-century travel journal
Experience new virtual access to historic sites like Colonial Williamsburg’s 18th-century Courthouse
View the colorful, expressive works of 20th-century American artist Eddie Arning
Discover art museum treasures such as this 17th-century caudle cup
Ahead of America’s 250th birthday next year, these new stories offer an opportunity to reflect on the complexities and triumphs of our nation's founding and evolution. We hope to inspire deeper understanding, critical thinking and a renewed appreciation for America’s past by making this factual, research-based history accessible to a global audience.
