Red bus to the Palace Stop. Blue bus to the Museum Stop. That’s how easy it is to get to three museums included in the price of the Colonial Williamsburg entrance ticket. We arrived at the Public Hospital a few minutes before it opened. That gave us time to admire the huge magnolia tree on the lawn at the corner of Francis and South Henry Streets. I had seen magnolias in bloom before with their big showing white blooms and deep dark green leaves. In the fall the trees are covered with huge clusters of red berries attached to a cone-like pod. It was almost as beautiful as the white blooms.

Inside the Public Hospital of 1773 we had to put our carry-bags and water bottles in a locker. Then we were permitted entry into the hospital museum and after that we could take the elevator to a lower level where we walked a wide corridor with gift shop to the side toward the museum café and the elevators that would take us to the other two museums (Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum).

This was the first public institution for the mentally ill built in colonial America. Known in 1773 by the politically incorrect name of "Hospital for Lunaticks", it went through several revisions of use during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. It also burned down and has just recently been reconstructed. We saw two rooms that represented the way patients were housed in 1773 and 1845. The earlier version was more like a prison cell, the later version looked to be more humane. While we looked in the cells we listened to the words of patients who might have lived there. There were displays of implements used to treat the patients. One looked like a coffin with wire mesh sides used to confine particularly violent ones.

One of the most rewarding experiences a tourist can have at Colonial Williamsburg is conversation. Throughout the village costumed interpretive guides are stationed.

Some are the tour guides who show you through a building. At the Raleigh Tavern a young Black maid showed us to our rooms and told us about the work required of her and who the guests were. Downstairs two actor guides gave a running dialogue about life in Williamsburg when the Revolutionary War had American and British armies encamped nearby. They welcomed conversation and questions from the tourists.

Another type of interpretive guide could be found in the shops and trade buildings. I had long conversations with a tailor, cap maker, bookbinder, silversmith, apothecary clerk, and weaver/spinner. These guides continue to give you information and "gossip" as long as you remain interested. They were all quite good at staying in character. One man at the gunsmith shop even told me that I might need to take the cover off that "strange image capturing devise" that I was pointing at him!

A third type of guide took on an actual personality of a historical person. We didn’t get to see him, but we were told that the man playing Thomas Jefferson was excellent. We did have the opportunity to meet Dr. Robert Carter. He dropped into the Kings Arms Tavern while we were having lunch. He wanted to know what colony or territory we were from and if we brought any news from beyond Virginia.

Other shop clerks and tavern waiters dress the part, but they do not mentally live in the 18th century. Some of the craft areas let us actually see work being done. We watched the blacksmith, the metal foundry silversmith, and a spinner producing hard at work. All these fine people made our visit much more enjoyable and gave us a better understanding of the era.

The first thing we thought about when planning this trip, was the opportunity to see the architecture of the era and the sites where history took place. Colonial Williamsburg has a wealth of carefully researched, restored, and rebuilt buildings that capture the pre-revolutionary era of Virginia. The planners not only saved for us the historic Capitol and Governor’s Palace, they lavished over the details of shops, taverns, residences, public buildings and simple things like a well or a dovecot. Not only buildings were restored, but also gardens and some of the most beautiful trees have been preserved. At the east end of Duke of Gloucester Street tourists can observe an archeological dig taking place at the site of a coffeehouse.

The Governor’s Palace and its dependencies are strikingly beautiful. The entry hall would be impressive enough with its marble tiled floors and rich paneling. But you can’t help but be overwhelmed by the collection of muskets, pistols, and swords covering the walls. To the left is the estate manager’s office/butler’s pantry where they kept among other things a crystal service for 60. To the right of the entry is a parlor and family dining room. Upstairs are large bedchambers and the ladies parlor. From the entry hall going north is the ballroom and a garden view formal entertaining room. Baroque and Rococo details are found in the chandeliers, wallpaper, sconces, picture frames and hardware touches. This contrasts to the style of buildings throughout the rest of the village. The dependencies housed the kitchens, laundry and other service areas. Reflecting the English influence are the formal gardens and boxwood maze to the rear of the house.

The Capitol building housed the House of Burgesses, Council and Court prior to the Revolutionary War. In this building in 1776 Virginia’s legislators adopted a resolution declaring Independence from England. The first colony in the south to do so, this helped unite the 13 colonies to sign the July 4th Declaration of Independence. This building also was a victim of fire, refurbishing and then neglect and another fire. The H shaped structure is a reconstruction.

Taverns were a big business in Williamsburg. They housed and fed the legislators and visitors. Many were located close to the Capitol. Some have been restored for use as eating establishments. Raleigh Tavern has been restored to tour. They look good from the outside, but the sleeping accommodations are overcrowded and none too private. It makes one yearn for a Motel 6.

Shops are found throughout the village. They meet the needs of the day such as tailors, apothecary, saddle maker, printer, milliner, silver/pewter foundry, bakeshop, and general merchandize. Some of these are open purely for demonstration but others give you the opportunity to shop colonial.

Residences such as the Peyton Randolph house also are found throughout the village. Often these are in tandem with a shop.

Other public buildings such as the Courthouse, Bruton Parish Church, magazine, and Public Gaol round out the needs and activities of the community.

While here in April we decided to go see one of the plays in Colonial Williamsburg. We saw the Guardian, set in the 1700s. I thought my daughter would be bored but in fact she loved it. Every single seat was sold out. If I lived in VA, I would be in this town and seeing more of these 18th century plays.

What can I say - Revolutionary City is fantastic. I felt as if we were truly part of it. When marched along side George Washington, and listened to the Randolph women argue. I heard Patrick Henry speak. I wish all school children could see this place...no one would fail social studies.