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The Reverend and the Millionaire: Colonial Williamsburg Restoration
4.6
8 Ratings
Williamsburg
Explore Colonial Williamsburg’s revival on a one-hour tour. Learn about Dr. Goodwin and Rockefeller’s vision. Engage in lively discussions. Book now!
Explore Colonial Williamsburg’s revival on a one-hour tour. Learn about Dr. Goodwin and Rockefeller’s vision. Engage in lively discussions. Book now!
Duration:
1 hour
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Bruton Parish Episcopal Church - Tour guide introduces guests to W.A.R. Goodwin and his arrival in Williamsburg, describing the city’s appearance at that time.
- George Wythe House - Tour guide discusses Goodwin’s vision of restoring Williamsburg to its Colonial-era grandeur, highlighting what was present on Palace Green in 1927 and noting the…
- Bruton Parish Episcopal Church - Tour guide introduces guests to W.A.R. Goodwin and his arrival in Williamsburg, describing the city’s appearance at that time.
- George Wythe House - Tour guide discusses Goodwin’s vision of restoring Williamsburg to its Colonial-era grandeur, highlighting what was present on Palace Green in 1927 and noting the financial resources required for this endeavor.
- West Duke of Gloucester Street - Tour guide explains the collaboration between Goodwin and John D. Rockefeller, Jr., identifying original buildings and those that were reconstructed. The guide also covers the techniques used to determine the original locations of buildings. (This route may vary for each tour based on Colonial Williamsburg’s maintenance schedule, activities, and weather conditions.)
- Raleigh Tavern - Discussion about this building being the first exhibition site opened to the public.
What's Included
- Souvenir button
- All fees and/or taxes
- Souvenir button
- All fees and/or taxes
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Join this one-hour walking tour to explore how a once-quiet southern town was transformed back to its colonial glory, thanks to the vision of Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin and the support of Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
The tour will cover the restoration journey of Colonial Williamsburg, from its inception to ongoing restoration efforts. Guests are encouraged to…
Join this one-hour walking tour to explore how a once-quiet southern town was transformed back to its colonial glory, thanks to the vision of Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin and the support of Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
The tour will cover the restoration journey of Colonial Williamsburg, from its inception to ongoing restoration efforts. Guests are encouraged to ask questions and engage in discussions to gain a deeper understanding of Williamsburg’s significance to Dr. Goodwin, Mr. Rockefeller, and future generations.
Please note: Tours may not be available on certain days due to staff involvement in other events. Visit our website for more details.
*Shades of Our Past is not affiliated with Colonial Williamsburg; therefore, this tour does not include entry or admission to Colonial Williamsburg-owned buildings. As the tour takes place on the streets of Colonial Williamsburg, it is subject to weather conditions. Please be prepared for all types of weather.
Location
Bruton Parish Episcopal Church
West Duke of Gloucester Street
The sandwich board will be placed in the street in front of the church.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(8 Ratings)
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1 star
Proudmary90
Sep 30, 2025
Lovely tour in a very pleasant environment - Very enjoyable tour. Our guides, Heather, was very friendly and informative. She gave us plenty of time for questions. We learned so much about a topic we weren’t even aware of until yesterday. Loved it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Madamhooch
Jun 15, 2024
Excellent, detailed tour! - For anyone interested in the how and why of the original restoration of Colonial Williamsburg, this is the tour to take. Very detailed and informative, the tour starts at Bruton Parish Church, lasts about an hour and ends at the Raleigh Tavern. Our guide Heather was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed the stories of the early days of the restoration with Reverend Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Highly recommend the tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M4050nrsandraa
Apr 4, 2024
Fantastic Tour - Recommend it - The tour was absolutely amazing. Our tour guide Heather Pfeifer was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable and made the tour very interesting. I learned much about the restoration of Williamsburg. I full recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
487pamp
Mar 8, 2024
An Entertaining, Educational and Fun Time for All! - I recently took the tour, The Reverend and the Millionaire, and found it to be a most enjoyable experience. Our tour leader was engaging, knowledgeable and fun!! The tour provided a behind-the-scenes view into the late 19th-century and early 20th-century preservation of Virginia's old capital city of Williamsburg and the founding of what is now Colonial Williamsburg. Though our guide shared images of the town and its buildings before restoration which were fascinating, this is really a tour about people, connections and a man with a vision. We learned about Reverend Goodwin's dream of restoring the town, his efforts to find a benefactor and how he enticed millionaire John D. Rockefeller Jr. to embrace his dream. Our tour leader shared many funny and poignant anecdotes that brought to life these men, various townspeople and others involved in this great restoration endeavor. Our leader also encouraged dialog and questions among the group, so it felt like a group of friends learning together. I highly recommend this tour. It was a very memorable afternoon.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bellaluna45
Mar 1, 2024
Highly Recommend! - An engaging and informative walking tour! Our guide, Heather, was very knowledgeable, and it was evident that she enjoys what she does. The tour began on the Palace Green and introduced us to some of the individuals who were instrumental in the initial efforts to preserve this portion of local colonial history which leads to the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg. You will be introduced to the key figures in the restoration, the historical significance to sites and why they were reconstructed or restored. I loved that Heather brought photos along to show what some of the sites looked like before they were restored and that she discussed how changes are still made today as new documentation comes to light. Do wear comfortable shoes as it is a walking tour, but I found that Heather went at a comfortable pace and stopped at significant places along the way. Don’t be afraid to ask questions as that’s how everyone learns, and those questions can lead to even more discoveries! Well done, Heather and the Shades of Our Past team! I’ll definitely return for your other tours!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Thomaswv7558ve
Feb 28, 2024
Interesting but not inspiring. - The reverend and the millionaire is the story of the movement to save Colonial Williamsburg as a historical landmark. With so much amazing history, Williamsburg is worth preserving. The speaker was knowledgeable and was able to share pictures of some sleepy little southern burg that was transformed into the amazing historical site it is today. That being said the tour was interesting, but not inspiring. I have come to expect stories of our nations founding and found the founding of a living history park to be small and unimportant.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karenbl9306gi
Feb 27, 2024
Old meets new - First, this is a walking tour. Be prepared! The guide walked fast.
She was well prepared and loud enough to be heard in the back. I got a little confused with all the dates but loved the old photos she shared. I learned new information even though I've been coming to Williamsburg for years. Glad I went.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maribjo
Feb 27, 2024
Visionary walk down DOG Street - This educational and entertaining tour effectively recounts how the cash-poor Reverend Doctor W.A.R. Goodwin shared his inspiring vision of Colonial Williamsburg with millionaire John D. Rockefeller, Jr., who financed its restoration.
Just getting to walk down the restored main street of the former Colonial Capital of Virginia with an excellent tour guide and congenial group is fun. The kids will even want to put down their cell phones! It would help to enlarge the “before” and “after” photos.
The tour contains many thrilling facts about how the Revolution began, and there is enough name-dropping, from Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry to Henry Ford and FDR, to pack a wallop for anyone who takes the tour. Curious, history-minded folks will be truly inspired. Come visit a living, working, historic town filled with people as varied as Benjamin Franklin and Steven Lafayette, a tavern server. You might even run into a handsome, jaunty General George Washington, as he lounges in front of Raleigh’s Tavern. We did!!
Unlike a theme park with fictional characters like Mickey Mouse, you’ll be exposed to real people who are portraying historical citizens of Colonial Williamsburg, from regular folks to Presidents. The characters you encounter will be ready, willing, and able to answer your questions on all levels. If you bump into the Marquis de Lafayette, for example, and ask him if his sword is sharp, he’s likely to pull it out to show you
Review provided by Tripadvisor
