Williamsburg, Virginia, a City Before the State - An Illustrated History (Hardcover)

Named in honor of King William III (1650-1702), Williamsburg, Virginia, celebrated its three-hundredth anniversary in 1999. Founded as the capital of Virginia in 1699, the city has seen the birth of the American republic; the growth of the College of William and Mary, which educated five presidents; the founding of the first mental hospital in America; the emancipation of African American slaves; post-Civil War reconstruction; suburbanization; and the restoration of the historic area.

This comprehensive volume, edited by Robert P. Maccubbin and Martha Hamilton-Phillips, documents the rise of Williamsburg in chronological and thematic chapters enhanced by 378 maps, drawings, and photographs, including color illustrations and rare materials from family archives. From the Anglo-Powhatan war and Bacon's Rebellion, through Williamsburg's struggles during and after the Civil War, to the city's role in two world wars and its remarkable growth in the second half of the twentieth century, this book covers all three centuries of Williamsburg's history and the diverse cast that has met the city's historical challenges. The twenty-five contributors are distinguished by their intimate knowledge of Virginia's history, geography, architecture, religion, and politics.

Williamsburg holds a special place in American history, and its character is abundantly evident in the pages of this substantial volume, ideal as a reference or gift.