The Restoration

Front view of Market Square Tavern (formerly the Raleigh Hotel), north elevation, before its restoration in 1931-1932. The Market Square Tavern is one of the original 88 buildings in the Historic Area. Frank Nivison Photography Collection. This image appears in the book, "Restoring Williamsburg". -- Visual Resources Collections. For more information about this collection go to: https://rocklib.omeka.net/collections/show/29

Looking north from Francis Street the Courthouse (extreme left of frame) and the octagonal roof of the Powder Magazine can be seen amidst assorted nineteenth and twentienth century buildings and automobiles in the late 1920s before the Restoration of Colonial Williamsburg. This image appears in the book "Restoring Williamsburg". -- Visual Resources Collections.

The foundations of the Capitol, 1928. This image appears in the book, "Restoring Williamsburg". Frank Nivison Photography Collection. -- Visual Resources Collections. For more information about this collection go to: https://rocklib.omeka.net/collections/show/29

The Ludwell-Paradise House was restored in 1931 and is one of the 88 original buildings in the Historic Area. Abby Aldrich Rockefeller's folk art collection was first displayed inside the house in 1935 as seen in this photograph from the Frank Nivison Photography Collection. This image appears in the book, "Restoring Williamsburg". -- Visual Resources Collections. For more information about this collection go to: https://rocklib.omeka.net/collections/show/29

Roofing of tunnel for the Colonial Parkway through Market Square in the Historic Area during construction by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941. The Courthouse, one of the original 88 buildings, can be seen to the right. Frank Nivison Photography Collection. This image appears in the book, "Restoring Williamsburg". -- Visual Resources Collections. For more information about this collection go to: https://rocklib.omeka.net/collections/show/29

Roofing of tunnel for the Colonial Parkway through Duke of Gloucester Street and the Historic Area during construction by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941. Frank Nivison Photography Collection. This image appears in the book, "Restoring Williamsburg". -- Visual Resources Collections. For more information about this collection go to: https://rocklib.omeka.net/collections/show/29

The Scrivener house, c. 1900, which was torn down in 1906 before the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg. The building was rebuilt in 1941. Frank Nivison Photography Collection. -- Visual Resources Collections. This image appears in the book, "Restoring Williamsburg". For more information about this image go to: https://rocklib.omeka.net/collections/show/29.

The Prentis Store before The Restoration, 1928. The Prentis Store, built 1739-1740, is one of 88 original buildings in the Historic Area and the oldest surviving store in Williamsburg. Frank Nivison Photography Collection. Visual Resources Collections. This image appears in the book, "Restoring Williamsburg". For more information about this image go to: https://rocklib.omeka.net/collections/show/29.

Wetherburn's Tavern, 1928. Wetherburn's is one of the 88 original buildings in the Historic Area. Frank Nivison Photography Collection. -- Visual Resources Collections. For more information about this collection go to: https://rocklib.omeka.net/collections/show/29

A fire gutted the interior of the Courthouse in 1911. It took only months to make repairs and install columns out front. The Courthouse is one of 88 original buildings in the Historic Area. Frank Nivison Photography Collection -- Visual Resources Collections. For more information about this collection go to: https://rocklib.omeka.net/collections/show/29

The Raleigh Tavern site before its restoration in 1929. The L.W. Lane, Jr. store and the store to its left occupy the original spot of the tavern that burned down in 1859. The Raleigh Tavern was the first building chosen to be reconstructed in The Restoration of Colonial Williamsburg. Frank Nivison Collection. This image appears in the book, "Restoring Williamsburg". -- Visual Resources Collections. For more image about this collection go to: https://rocklib.omeka.net/collections/show/29

The Charlton House, 1928. Thomas Layton Photography Collection. This image appears in the book, "Restoring Williamsburg". -- Visual Resources Collections.

The John Crump House, 1892. A year after this photograph was taken the building was declared a fire hazard and town down. In was rebuilt in 1941. This image appears in the book, "Restoring Williamsburg".

President Franklin D. Roosevelt rides in a line of automobiles through the rear gates of the Governor's Palace, October 20, 1934. President Roosevelt was the first official VIP to tour The Restoration and gave a short speech in which he called Duke of Gloucester Street the “most historic avenue in all America.”

View of Williamsburg before The Restoration: 407 Duke of Gloucester Street, Block 23, Building #2. The sign reads, "Owens Motor Co. General Repairing, Cars Stored, Washed, and Greased." Next door to the left is the "Antique Gift Shop" These buildings stood approximately where The Trellis Restaurant is located on Merchants Square today. Todd & Brown Photography Collection. -- Visual Resources Collections.

View of Williamsburg before The Restoration: 113 N. Henry Street, Block 22, Building #14. This was part of property owned by the Casey family. The building was located behind R.T. Casey & Sons General Merchandise which stood on the current site of the William & Mary Bookstore in Merchants Square. Todd & Brown Photography Collection. -- Visual Resources Collections.

View of Williamsburg before The Restoration: Block 22, building #9. This building was part of the Casey property and stood directly behind R.T. Casey & Sons General Merchandise which is on the corner to the right fronting Duke of Gloucester Street. There are circus posters in the front windows. These building stood on the current site of the William & Mary Bookstore in Merchants Square. Todd & Brown Photography Collection. -- Visual Resources Collections.

View of Williamsburg before The Restoration: Block 22, building #9. Signs in the window advertise "Hunt's Circus," visiting Williamsburg Wednesday, Sept. 26, 1928. This building stood on the current site of the William & Mary Bookstore in Merchants Square. Todd & Brown Photography Collection. -- Visual Resources Collections.

View of Williamsburg before The Restoration: Block 15, Building #28. 400 Duke of Gloucester Street. Casey-Owens Property, Owen's Tire Co., 1930s. This building stood on the current site of The Craft House on Merchants Square. Todd & Brown Photography Collection. -- Visual Resources Collections.

Governor's Palace excavations, August 1930. View looking northeast over the foundations on the East side. Thomas Layton Photography Collection. --Visual Resources Collections.

View of The Business Block (Merchants Square) during The Restoration, ca. 1931. The Imperial Theatre shows movies including "Lasca", "Susan Lenox", "Possessed," and "Personal Maid". Next door to the theatre is "The Royal Cafe". This building was demolished during The Restoration and now the home to the Kimball Theatre. Frank Nivison Photography Collection -- Visual Resources Collections.

Archaeological artifacts excavated at the Governor's Palace site on display in a classroom at Williamsburg High School before its demolition in 1932. Frank Nivison Photography Collection. -- Visual Resources Collections. For more information about this collection go to: https://rocklib.omeka.net/collections/show/29

Governor's Palace kitchen: interior view with an interpreter using a churn, 1935. F.S. Lincoln Photography Collection. -- Visual Resources Collections. For more information about this collection go to: https://rocklib.omeka.net/collections/show/7

Side front view of the Raleigh Tavern, 1935. F.S. Lincoln Photography Collection. -- Visual Resources Collections. For more information about this collection go to: https://rocklib.omeka.net/collections/show/7

Fireplace in the common dining room of the Raleigh Tavern, 1935. F.S. Lincoln Photography Collection. -- Visual Resources Collections. For more information about this collection go to: https://rocklib.omeka.net/collections/show/7