Governor's Palace

The reconstructed residence of Virginia's royal governors, the most lavish building in colonial America

The Governor's Palace was the official residence of Virginia's royal governors from 1722 until the Revolution and is the most grandiose building in Colonial Williamsburg — a deliberate expression of imperial authority over the colony. The reconstructed building (the original burned in 1781) sits at the north end of the Palace Green, a broad lawn that runs between the palace gates and Duke of Gloucester Street.

The interior has been meticulously furnished to reflect its appearance during the administrations of Lord Botecourt and Lord Dunmore in the 1760s and 1770s. The entrance hall is lined with a display of muskets and swords arranged in geometric patterns — a statement of military power by governors who knew the colonists were watching. The formal gardens behind the palace are among the most carefully designed in Colonial Williamsburg. Guided tours are included in the Colonial Williamsburg admission.

things to do sight history
A story
The original Governor's Palace burned down in 1781, just a year after ceasing to be the colonial governor's residence. The current building is a 1930s reconstruction based on colonial drawings, a copperplate engraving, and archaeological excavations. During the Civil War, the palace grounds were used as a hospital — Confederate graves from that period are still in the garden. The palace kitchen prepared food using 18th-century recipes and methods, and tastings are sometimes offered.