WRL Lecture Series: Williamsburg Before and After

Williamsburg Virginia is full of history, great restaurants, performances, and world class resorts. One thing often overlooked is the fantastic lecture series held throughout the year by the Williamsburg Regional Library. The authors of Williamsburg Before and After  Carl R. Lounsbury and George Humphrey Yetter, who recently updated their story of Colonial Williamsburg and the vision realized by W.A.R. Goodwin and John D. Rockefeller will be giving 2 lectures at the downtown library.

March 2 @ 2:00 pm at the Main library located at 515 Scotland St. Williamsburg, Virginia 23185

March 9 @ 7:00 pm at the Main library located at 515 Scotland St. Williamsburg, Virginia 23185

Williamsburg Before and After provides a comprehensive look at Williamsburg’s evolution and important role in defining our understanding of 18th-century America

Today Williamsburg Virginia is often referred to as the world’s largest “living history” museum, in the 1700’s Williamsburg was the capital of the colony of Virginia and the setting for key discussions amongst prominent leaders culminating in the American Revolution. The latest edition of Williamsburg Before and After, a now-classic book with more than 200,000 copies in print, offers an updated and nuanced look at the continuing process of restoration.

Lavishly illustrated with more than 350 photographs, watercolors, sketches, maps, and other illustrations, Restoring Williamsburg features new images from both before and after the restoration.

George Humphrey Yetter, who co wrote Williamsburg Before and After, is the former associate curator of architectural drawings at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Carl R. Lounsbury is the former Shirley and Richard Roberts Architectural Historian at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and currently teaches history at the College of William and Mary.

Carl Lounsbury is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor of History at the College of William & Mary. In addition to his teaching role, as the co-coordinator of the NIAHD program Lounsbury oversees the Eyre Hall Project.

The Eyre Hall plantation near Cheriton on the Virginia Eastern Shore is one of a handful of premier, eighteenth-century, gentry houses owned and occupied by descendants of the original family.
Where Loundsbury earned his esteemed reputation was serving as the Senior Architectural Historian with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation for over 34 years. With the foundation he was responsible for long-term architectural research projects and various architectural matters in the Historic Area of Colonial Williamsburg.

Carl Lounsbury will discuss the book, share stories, and talk about the work involved in renewing a gem of local histories. He’ll also be signing copies.
Questions? Call 757.259.4050.