Governor's Palace (Williamsburg, Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor's Palace |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | English Baroque (original) Colonial Revival (Reconstruction) |
| Location | Williamsburg, Virginia |
| Country | United States of America |
| Construction started | 1706 (original) 1931 (reconstruction) |
| Destroyed | December 22, 1781 |
| Owner | Colonial Williamsburg |
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Governor's Palace
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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| Location | Williamsburg, Virginia |
| Built | 1931-34 |
| Part of | Williamsburg Historic District (ID66000925) |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
The Governor's Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia, was once the fancy home of Virginia's royal governors. These governors were like the king's representatives in the Colony of Virginia. Later, two important American leaders, Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson, also lived here. They were governors after America became independent.
The capital of Virginia moved to Richmond in 1780. Because of this, the governor's home moved too. The main palace building sadly burned down in 1781. However, some smaller buildings nearby lasted longer. In the 1930s, the Governor's Palace was rebuilt exactly where it used to be. Today, it is one of the biggest buildings at Colonial Williamsburg. The other large building is the Capitol.
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History of the Governor's Palace
Williamsburg became the new capital of the Virginia colony in 1699. It stayed the capital until 1780. For most of this time, the Governor's Palace was the official home for the royal governor.
Building the Palace
The idea for the palace came from Lt. Governor Edward Nott. The House of Burgesses, which was like Virginia's colonial government, agreed to pay for it in 1706. Construction started that same year.
In 1710, Lt. Governor Alexander Spotswood was the first official to live there. He acted as governor because the main governor, George Hamilton, 1st Earl of Orkney, never actually visited Virginia. Spotswood kept working on the palace until about 1720–1722. He added the front courtyard, beautiful gardens, and many decorations.
Later, from 1751 to 1752, Lt. Gov. Robert Dinwiddie had the palace repaired and updated. During this time, a large ballroom was added to the back of the building.
Who Lived Here?
Seven royal governors lived in the original palace. They included:
- Alexander Spotswood
- Francis Fauquier
- Lord Botetourt
- Hugh Drysdale
- William Gooch
- Robert Dinwiddie
- John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore
One colonial mayor, John Amson, also lived there from 1750 to 1751.
After the American Revolution, two important American governors made the palace their home:
- Patrick Henry, from 1776 to 1779
- Thomas Jefferson, from 1779 to 1780
Why It Was Destroyed
Around 1779, Governor Thomas Jefferson wanted to change the palace's look. He liked a style called neoclassical. His plan was to add temple-like porches to the front and back.
However, in 1780, Jefferson suggested moving Virginia's capital to Richmond. This was for safety during the American Revolution. The new governor's home in Richmond was smaller and simpler. It is now called the Governor's Mansion.
On December 22, 1781, the main palace building was destroyed by a fire. At that time, it was being used as a hospital for American soldiers. These soldiers were wounded after the nearby Siege of Yorktown. Some smaller brick buildings survived the fire. But they were torn down during the American Civil War. Their bricks were used for other buildings by soldiers.
Bringing the Palace Back
In the early 1900s, the palace was carefully rebuilt. This happened thanks to Reverend Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr.. Rockefeller's family gave a lot of money for the project.
The reconstruction was very accurate. Builders used many clues from the past.
- Archaeologists dug up the site. They found the original foundations and cellar. They also found pieces of the building that fell during the fire.
- Jefferson's drawings for his planned renovation survived. These showed what the inside of the palace looked like.
- In 1929, a special copper plate was found in England. It was called the Bodleian Plate. This plate showed what the outside of the palace looked like around 1740. It also showed the Capitol and the Wren Building.
- Old records from the Virginia General Assembly also helped.
The rebuilt house, its smaller buildings, and the gardens opened to visitors on April 23, 1934.
In 1981, the Governor's Palace was updated again. Its inside and furniture were changed. This was to make it even more historically accurate. New information, including records from Badminton House in the UK, helped with these changes.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio del Gobernador (Virginia) para niños
