Interior furnishings and decor reflect curators' views in the 1930s as to how Williamsburg's historic interiors may have looked in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, with the advance of new research findings over the years, the interiors of the Governor’s Palace have changed to reflect a more authentic and accurate view of the building’s likely contents and room arrangements.
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Interior furnishings and decor reflect curators' views in the 1930s as to what Williamsburg's historic interiors may have looked like in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, with new research findings evolving over the years, the Raleigh Tavern's interior furnishings have changed to reflect a more authentic and accurate view of each room's likely contents and arrangements.
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The caption reads: "In this outbuilding of the home of the Royal Governor food was cooked over an open fire, to be carried into the house by servants. The building was reconstructed with the Palace and is open to the public."]]>
The Raleigh Tavern was the frequent scene of both jollity and consequence. Dinners and dances rivaled in elegance those at the Palace and burgesses reconvened at the tavern when they were dissolved by royal governors prior to the Revolution. Burned to the ground in 1859, the tavern was reconstructed from published illustrations, insurance policies, and archaeology that uncovered most of the original foundations.

In anticipation of guests' needs, a bottle case or cellaret (accession # 1930-58) is featured to the left of the fireplace. Cellarets functioned as portable wine cellars for holding wine and bottled spirits at mealtimes. Above the fireplace hangs a painting entitled Imaginary Landscape (accession #1931.101.3), a gift of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. Interior furnishings and decor reflect curators' views in the 1930s as to what Williamsburg's historic interiors may have looked like in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, with new research findings evolving over the years, the Raleigh Tavern's interior furnishings have changed to reflect a more authentic and accurate view of each room's likely contents and arrangements.
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The Raleigh Tavern was the frequent scene of both jollity and consequence. Burned to the ground in 1859, the tavern was reconstructed from published illustrations, insurance policies, and archaeology that uncovered most of the original foundations.

Interior furnishings and decor reflect curators' views in the 1930s as to how Williamsburg's historic interiors may have looked in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, with new research advances over the years, the Raleigh Tavern's interiors have changed and evolved to reflect a more authentic and accurate view of each room's likely contents and arrangements.]]>
The slide offers a view looking towards the fireplace in the Great Hall. During the colonial era, the room served as a dining area for professors and students to gather for common meals. Members of the House of Burgesses also occasionally met in this room when the Capitol underwent renovations.]]>
Colonel Edward Champion Travis built the home in 1765 and it acquired several additions as successive owners occupied the site. Travis served in the House of Burgesses and was its most prominent colonial occupant. The house became a residence for superintendents of Eastern State Hospital in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Eastern State Hospital turned the building over to the Williamsburg Restoration in 1929 and this led to its temporary move to Duke of Gloucester Street to become a restaurant between 1930-1951.]]> Rights and reproductions]]> Interior view of the Public Gaol Keeper's Quarters, 1935. Opened as an exhibition building in April 1936,  the Public Gaol is one of the surviving  original buildings restored to its eighteenth-century appearance.  This room served as a place for the gaoler on duty to rest, eat a meal, or work on paperwork.  "In its present form, the Public Gaol has three rooms on the first floor -- a hall and chamber for the gaoler and his family and a cell at the rear for debtors -- and 'chambers' in the attic for the gaoler's use and the confinement of prisoners."  York County inventories aided the curatorial staff in selecting antique furnishings similar to those the gaolers actually used.  Among the room's furnishings, a yellow pine dresser (accession # 1936-34) is pictured to the far right against the wall.

Interior furnishings and decor reflect curators' views in the 1930s as to how Williamsburg's historic interiors may have looked in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, with new research advancements over the years, the interiors of the Governor’s Palace have changed to reflect a more authentic and accurate view of the building’s likely contents and room arrangements.

(Source: Michael Olmert and Suzanne Coffman, Official Guide to Colonial Williamsburg [Williamsburg, VA: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 2007], 74).

]]> Rights and reproductions]]> Rights and reproductions]]> Interior of the Dining Room in the Governor's Palace, 1935. The painting on the wall may be a portrait of the young Prince William, Duke of Gloucester (1689-1700), son of the future Queen Anne. (This painting is possibly a former loan to the museum). Among the room's furnishings, a beautiful corner table (accession # 1930-227), made of mahogany, maple, and white pine, stands in the corner.

Interior furnishings and decor reflect curators' views in the 1930s as to how Williamsburg's historic interiors may have looked in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, with new research advancements over the years, the interiors of the Governor’s Palace have changed to reflect a more authentic and accurate view of the building’s likely contents and room arrangements.

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Interior furnishings and decor reflect curators' views in the 1930s as to how Williamsburg's historic interiors may have looked in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, with new research advancements over the years, the interiors of the Governor’s Palace have changed to reflect a more authentic and accurate view of the building’s likely contents and room arrangements.]]> Rights and reproductions]]> Interior of the parlor in the Governor's Palace, 1935. The painted portrait above the mantel represents King James I of England (and VI of Scotland). A handsome tilt-top mahogany tea table (accession # 1930-184) stands in the middle of the room, and an elegant card table stands to the left against the wall.

Interior furnishings and decor reflect curators' views in the 1930s as to how Williamsburg's historic interiors may have looked in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, with the advance of new research findings over the years, the interiors of the Governor’s Palace have changed to reflect a more authentic and accurate view of the building’s likely contents and room arrangements.

]]> Rights and reproductions]]> Rights and reproductions]]> Interior of the Upper Middle Room in the Governor's Palace, 1935. Among other furnishings, a beautiful desk (accession # 1930-210), made of mahogany, white pine, and ash, stands against the wall to the left.The room's former hand-tooled leather wall coverings are also visible on the walls, though they have now been removed due to deterioration.

Interior furnishings and decor reflect curators' views in the 1930s as to how Williamsburg's historic interiors may have looked in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, with new research advancements over the years, the interior furnishings of the Governor’s Palace have changed to reflect a more authentic and accurate view of the building’s likely contents and room arrangements.

]]> Rights and reproductions]]> chest on chest (accession # 1935-343), made of mahogany and white pine, stands against the wall to the left. Interior furnishings and decor reflect curators' views in the 1930s as to how Williamsburg's historic interiors may have looked in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, with new research advancements over the years, the interior furnishings of the Governor’s Palace have changed to reflect a more authentic and accurate view of the building’s likely contents and room arrangements.]]> Rights and reproductions]]> Rights and reproductions]]> Rights and reproductions]]> Detail photo of fireplace in the Great Room of the Market Square Tavern taken by F.S. Lincoln, 1935. The original tavern structure burned down in 1859 but the remains of the original foundations allowed for the restoration of the building to its eighteenth-century appearance. John Dixon constructed the original around 1749 and used it as a combination dwelling and shop. Later additions allowed the building to be converted into a tavern. 

In the 1930s, guests to Colonial Williamsburg could rent rooms in the tavern to experience some colonial ambiance. The Great Room served as a gathering spot for conversations, games, and special occasions. A cozy corner of the room for reading or resting centered around a paneled fireplace. A painting from the collection of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, titled Girl with Dove (accession # 1933.100.3), decorated the wall above the mantel.

]]> Rights and reproductions]]> Interior of Governor’s Palace Kitchen, 1935. The Governor's Palace opened to the public in 1934. In addition to viewing the lavish public rooms and private quarters of Virginia's colonial governors, visitors could also learn about colonial domestic life and cooking techniques in the Palace Kitchen. A costumed interpreter added commentary and demonstrated food preparation.

Among the room's furnishings, a handsome yellow pine China press (accession # 1936-752) is pictured against the wall to the right. Interior furnishings and decor reflect curators' views in the 1930s as to how Williamsburg's historic interiors may have looked in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, with new research advancements over the years, the interior furnishings of the Governor’s Palace Kitchen have changed to reflect a more authentic and accurate view of the building’s likely contents and room arrangements.

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