Fort Randolph

01/02/2026

The MHS is commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution with exhibitions, programs, educational resources, digital content, and more.

01/01/2026

12/08/2025

06/19/2025

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06/08/2025

On this day in 1610, Jamestown was abandoned.

After arriving to the devastation wrought by the winter siege of James Fort by the Powhatan, Sir Thomas Gates (who spent his winter wrecked on Bermuda) declared martial law and tried to re-establish control over the failing colony. But with no supplies or food, Gates buried the colony’s cannons and decided they were done. The survivors of the Starving Time and the wreck of the Sea Venture loaded back up on their ships and began the long trip back to England.

But a day later, near modern-day Newport News, they met an advance boat with Captain Brewster, captain of Lord De La Warr's personal guard, coming to tell the colonists the new governor was arriving imminently. Brewster forced Gates to turn back, which must’ve been heartbreaking for the survivors who believed they were on their way home. As Governor, Lord De La Warr would continue running the colony under martial law, oversee a clean-up of the fort that we find archaeologically, and increase threats and violence against the surrounding Powhatan nations.

Visit Historic Jamestowne on Saturday, June 14 to learn more about this pivotal moment and hear from Captain Brewster. Plan your visit or explore more history at historicjamestowne.org

06/08/2025

06/07/2025

Happy Birthday Kentucky! June 1, 1792

06/07/2025

06/07/2025

The British did not learn from the problems of the Quartering Acts of 1765, again passing it as one of the Intolerable Acts June 2, 1774. It was another factor in unifying the Colonies.

The Quartering Act would be one of the grievances itemized in the Declaration of Independence two years later. The Third Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a part of the Bill of Rights, also addresses the quartering of soldiers stating:

“No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.”

The Quartering Act of June 2, 1774.

An act for the better providing suitable quarters for officers and soldiers in his Majesty’s service in North America.

WHEREAS doubts have been entertained, whether troops can be quartered otherwise than in barracks, in case barracks have been provided sufficient for the quartering of all officers and soldiers within any town, township, city, district, or place, within his Majesty’s dominions in North America: And whereas it may frequently happen, from the situation of such barracks, that, if troops should be quartered therein, they would not be stationed where their presence may be necessary and required: be it therefore enacted by the King’s most excellent majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That, in such cases, it shall and may be lawful for the persons who now are, or may be hereafter, authorised be law, in any of the provinces within his Majesty’s dominions in North America, and they are hereby respectively authorised, impowered, and directed, on the requisition of the officer who, for the time being, has the command of his Majesty’s forces in North America, to cause any officers or soldiers in his Majesty’s service to be quartered and billetted in such manner as is now directed by law, where no barracks are provided by the colonies.

II. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if it shall happen at any time that any officers or soldiers in his Majesty’s service shall remain within any of the said colonies without quarters, for the space of twenty-four hours after such quarters shall have been demanded, it shall and may be lawful for the governor of the province to order and direct such and so many uninhabited houses, out-houses, barns, or other buildings, as he shall think necessary to be taken, (making a reasonable allowance for the same), and make fit for the reception of such officers and soldiers, and to put and quarter such officers and soldiers therein, for such time as he shall think proper.

III. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That this act, and every thing herein contained, shall continue and be in force, in all his Majesty’s dominions in North America, until the twenty-fourth day of March, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six.

The Statutes at Large from Magna Charta to the End of the Thirteenth Parliament of Great Britain, Anno 1773, Vol. ###, Danby Pickering.

Image: The Colonists Under Liberty Tree, US-PD

© 2020-2025 Clifford Olsen/250Years America’s Founding

06/07/2025

The War for American Independence began on April 19, 1775 — 250 years ago this spring — with the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. These ini...

06/07/2025

The Fort is now scheduled to open for the season on June 7th. It will be open 9-4:45pm Wednesday-Sunday and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Please check back for any updates to this schedule.

06/07/2025

Before & After ~ Extreme Edition. The reconstructed John Crump House.

The before photo (courtesy of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation) was taken c. 1895. It shows the 18th-century John Crump House in Williamsburg, VA, in an advanced state of disrepair. In the early 20th century, the building collapsed or was torn down. As part of the Colonial Williamsburg restoration (which started in 1928), it was reconstructed in 1941-42.

The reconstruction was based on physical evidence recovered through archaeology and documentary evidence, including this before photo. The archaeology also uncovered a portion of an earlier foundation, likely dating to 1719, which nearly led to the house being reconstructed in the wrong location. Plans were corrected when this photo was located and showed the location clearly not on the earlier foundation.

Few of us will ever reconstruct an entire historic building, but sometimes, reconstructing missing portions of a historic house is part of a restoration project. The research and planning for reconstructing the long-demolished woodshed and carriage house at Whitten House in Maine are an example project in Chapter 3 of "Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners."

Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our online shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.

Our shop also carries select preservation and restoration titles by other authors. Save on cost and shipping with our multi-book combo packs!

© Scott T. Hanson 2025.

Colonial Williamsburg