The Beginning of America.

a. Read the text with a dictionary and find answers to the questions.

1. What is Williamsburg?

2. What was Williamsburg?

3. What did you learn from this text?

a. THE BEGINNING OF AMERICA

On May 15, 1776, Virginia legislators in the Capitol at - Williamsburg adopted the Resolution of Independence which led to the July 4 Declaration in Philadelphia. From those beginnings, a new state was born.

The Historic Area of Williamsburg was a capital city and a centre of politics, commerce, and culture. Williamsburg is three hours journey from Washington. People visiting this historic city, are given a firsthand look at the workings of colonial life.

All the major public buildings of the original town plan still exist or have been reconstructed totally or partially.

In addition, the eighteenth-century original house and its outbuildings are often used for educational study visits. Visitors explore family relationship, seasonal work patterns there. Williamsburg is a museum now.

Historical interpreters - guides always welcome all visitor’s questions. Each guide will accompany a maximum of twenty-three young visitors and two grown-ups.

The visitors of this town-museum will be able to observe and talk with tradesmen at work, and also examine public and private buildings that served the colonial community. One can also see the shops and marketplaces, workplaces, family homes, and many other places of interest.

Any group of tourists may select topics from, but not limited to, the list below:

Architecture; Government in Colonial Virginia;

Science and Medicine;

The Decorative Arts; Food and Cooking;

Textiles and Clothing;

and Dance,

Theatre, and Music, etc.

So topics may be chosen from the entire spectrum of eighteenth-century life in Virginia.

For the visitors who stay there for more than one day there is a hotel, which is economically priced, conveniently located a midway between the Historic Area and the Visitor Centre Complex.