News of Your Impact on The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
EXPANDING PATRICK HENRY’S STORY
Nat Lasley debuts as the newest member of the Nation Builder unit. PAGE 4
Secrets of the Magazine Cresset the
SPRING 2025
A NEW GARDEN TAKES ROOT
After four years of planning, the Historic Garden has a new home. PAGE 6
UNCOVERING THE
Since 1715, the brick Magazine has stood at the center of Williamsburg, a symbol of power and protection that has endured periods of adaptation, reuse and disrepair. Last restored in the 1930s, the military storehouse has been the focus of new archaeological and architectural study ahead of the Foundation’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Gunpowder Incident. Now, new evidence uncovered during this restoration continues to highlight the power of place and how Colonial Williamsburg’s work to preserve original 18th-century buildings deepens the authentic history we share every day.
2024 BY THE NUMBERS
Impressive statistics help tell the story of the nation’s largest U.S. history museum. PAGE 11
When Lieutenant Governor Alexander Spotswood first proposed the Magazine’s construction in 1714, he wanted to establish a storage facility to house the arms sent by Queen Anne for protection of the colony against threats from Spain and France. Spotswood certainly never anticipated that 60 years later, the structure would set the stage for a conflict between colonists and then-Governor Lord Dunmore and further spark the call for revolution in Virginia.
We are pleased to present the spring issue of The Cresset. A sensory experience that helps to define Colonial Williamsburg, cressets line Duke of Gloucester Street. They are used for a small fire, burning as a light or beacon. This newsletter is intended to be just that a beacon to highlight the stories, places, people and projects that demonstrate...
The Gunpowder Incident — when Dunmore ordered the seizure of the gunlocks and gunpowder from the Magazine in the early morning hours of April 21, 1775, and Patrick Henry responded by marching an armed militia to Williamsburg, demanding the powder’s return — features largely in the way the Foundation has interpreted the Magazine in the past, and its role in the event contributed to the interest of early preservationists in the storehouse. Matt Webster, executive director
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For membership information and assistance, please contact The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation at donorrelations@cwf.org. The Revolution Is Here.
(left) An archival photograph shows the Magazine at the start of its 1935 restoration. (right) Major changes to the Magazine’s exterior include the restored entry gate and lunette window on the front elevation, both completed this spring.
The Power of this Place
Dear Friends,
When I walk around the Historic Area, I am struck by the visibility of your support. I watch as archaeologists investigate the Peter Scott Shop site; teams finish restoration of the Williamsburg Bray School and the Magazine; crews continue construction of the Campbell Archaeology Center; and so much more. I especially enjoy engaging with and watching the Nation Builders and actors who so passionately share their knowledge of the people they portray, expertly bringing history to life so that we can experience it all firsthand. The tradespeople who use their hands to build and grow, all interconnected together to show a cross-section of a community at work, continue to leave me in awe. Not to mention the interpreters who guide us through this powerful place to share the historic events that happened right here.
What an incredible impact you have.
THE CRESSET
This newsletter is published by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation exclusively for members of the Colonial Williamsburg Burgesses, Colonial Williamsburg Associates, Raleigh Tavern Society and The W.A.R. Goodwin Society.
Cliff Fleet, President & CEO
The Colin G. and Nancy N. Campbell Distinguished Presidential Chair
Sani Silvennoinen, Chief Development Officer
WRITERS
Elizabeth Henderson, Emily MacIntosh and Rachel West
EDITOR
Rachel West
CONTRIBUTING
EDITORS
Betsy Edwards and Laura Potts
ART DIRECTOR
Bob McCracken
PROOFREADER
Elizabeth Narney
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Brendan Sostak and Brian Newson
For membership information and assistance, please contact The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, P.O. Box 1776, Williamsburg, VA 23187-1776 or email
donorrelations@cwf.org.
You may also call 1.888.293.1776.
This year the Magazine restoration project continues to fascinate us as we finalized restoration of the outer wall and began work on the windows and gate. This initiative coincided with the 250th anniversary of the Gunpowder Incident, where the people of Williamsburg — led by Patrick Henry — demanded the return of munitions taken in the dark of night by the royal governor, Lord Dunmore. The incident was a catalyst for the Revolution in Virginia, bringing more people toward the cause for independence. For more on this, see the cover article. I am pleased to share that the Magazine project has been fully funded by generous donor support and a grant from the Virginia Department of Historic Resource’s Virginia 250 Preservation Fund.
Colonial Williamsburg’s newest Nation Builder, Col. Patrick Henry portrayed by Nat Lasley, just made his public debut at the commemoration of the Gunpowder Incident. Many of you had the opportunity to meet him at the St. George Tucker House earlier this year — a benefit we are pleased to offer friends like you as a thank you for your investment in us. You will read more about Nat’s journey to portray Col. Henry on page 4.
Donor support for the Nation Builders, theatrical and actor interpreters who make up our Museum Theater unit makes their unique type of historic interpretation possible. These talented colleagues are more than world-class actors; they are historians, scholars and experts in their areas. So are our tradespeople, whose work in preserving skills from our past and continuing to utilize 18th-century tools and techniques have saved many trades from being lost to time. We are grateful to those who give in support of this dynamic programming.
Alongside our events of Juneteenth and July 4 will be the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Dunmore’s Proclamation in the fall, when Lord Dunmore offered freedom to enslaved people who joined the British. We are also putting the final touches on the interior of the Bray School to open soon and will then get started on the reconstruction of the African Baptist Meeting House, breaking ground on Juneteenth. And we are progressing on plans for the Randolph Stable project as well.
Everything you see throughout this newsletter is a reflection of you and your tremendous support
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Continued from page 1 Secrets of the Magazine
of the Grainger Department of Architectural Preservation and Research, sees the building not just as the setting of a key event on the road to independence, but as a physical reminder of those years of uncertainty that led up to its construction, when the survival of the British colonies in North America was not guaranteed.
“I’ve looked at this building a fair amount,” Webster said. “I think, in all of Williamsburg, what it represents is the overall struggle to survive and prosper as a colony, which then led to the ideas of revolution.”
“What the Magazine was here for was to show power and dominance and be a warning to England’s enemies,” Webster continued. “Then you get to the Revolution, and that flips on its head. All of the sudden, it’s the symbol of an uprising, revolution and the establishment of a new country.”
In 2024, masonry restoration work began to lower the Magazine’s perimeter wall, with the final section around the north gate and archway being completed earlier this year. Originally added in 1755, the wall was no longer standing by the late 19th century. Webster and his team found primary sources, including letters and
The Power of this Place
illustrations, that suggested that the wall would have been shorter than the 10foot one reconstructed in 1934. Colonial Williamsburg’s archaeologists uncovered evidence of the original wall’s foundations during excavations in the Magazine’s courtyard that fit with a wall closer to seven feet high. Now, the lowered wall more accurately reflects how the Magazine would have looked in 1775.
Members of the Architectural Preservation department traveled overseas to do further research for the next planned changes to the Magazine’s exterior: the windows and roof. Drawings and photographs from the 19th century indicated that the large arched windows, restored in the 1930s, were a later alteration that occurred at some point between 1855 and 1880. Instead, a smaller lunette (“half-moon”) window was depicted in the earliest illustrations of the Magazine, and the team visited other surviving, contemporary powder magazines in the U.K. to gather more information and learn how they may have influenced Spotswood’s original designs. Additionally, they met with traditional tile producers to source appropriate clay tiles for a new roof based on the clay roofing tile fragments recovered during the courtyard excavations.
Continued on page 9
Continued from page 2 of this organization and our mission. I hope you enjoy reading about the impact of your generosity and what your investment helps us accomplish. I encourage you to visit and visit often. If you can’t join us in person, watch our YouTube videos; engage with our social media content; browse our websites. Take pride in knowing you played a tremendous part.
Thank you for all you do for Colonial Williamsburg.
Warmly,
Sani Silvennoinen Chief Development Officer
A postcard titled “Williamsburg, Va. The Old Powder Horn - built in 1714 by Gov. Spotswood,” published circa 1910.
“I am not a Virginian, but an
Expanding Patrick Henry’s Story
In 2024, Nat Lasley’s strong interpretation and acting skills were on full display during A Shock of Electricity, a special program exploring Virginians’ reactions to the closure of the port of Boston in May 1774.
This spring, visitors to the Historic Area can catch a familiar face in a new role. As part of the programming planned for this year to commemorate key historical events from 1775, Nat Lasley will debut as the newest member of the Nation Builder unit, portraying Col. Patrick Henry. Lasley has been a historic interpreter with the Foundation for 15 years. To prepare for his new role, he has been working closely with Richard Schumann, who has portrayed Patrick Henry for Colonial Williamsburg since 1995. By performing alongside each other as Henry during different times in his life — Lasley as Col. Henry and Schumann as Gov. Henry — Lasley and Schumann will deepen the Foundation’s interpretation of the noted Virginian orator and firebrand.
Growing up in Virginia Beach, Lasley has had a lifelong interest in American history. His earliest visit to Williamsburg is documented by a family photo of him as a two-year-old, peeking through the pillory beside the courthouse on Duke of Gloucester Street. His interest in the Revolution grew with subsequent trips to the Historic Area, and he pursued a history degree in college. He found his way into interpretation after graduation, wanting to connect others with the people and events he had studied.
“I started pursuing acting as a way to teach history,” Lasley said. “Because folks in America — and I don’t mean young people, which is the stereotype — but Americans in general don’t like history or don’t understand it. I think it has to do
with being a young country. We’ve got our eyes on the future, not on the past. But it’s important because it tells how we got here…so I wanted to try to popularize it, and I thought that acting was the best way to go.”
Lasley has been following in Henry’s footsteps, visiting the same places where he lived and spoke. During a recent study trip to Philadelphia, Lasley visited Carpenters’ Hall, the site of the First Continental Congress in 1774. There, Henry met with delegates from outside of Virginia for the first time and proclaimed, “Distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers and New Englanders are no more. I am not a Virginian, but an American.”
Before heading back to Williamsburg, Lasley stopped by Christ Church Burial Ground to visit the grave of Lieutenant Colonel James Innes. Innes, an officer in the Continental Army who would go on to serve as Virginia’s second attorney general, was one of the historical figures he regularly portrayed as an actor interpreter. Now that he will exclusively be performing as Henry during the early years of the Revolution, Lasley explained that leaving flowers on Innes’ grave felt like the appropriate way to say goodbye.
Colonial Williamsburg’s Nation Builders become experts on the individuals they portray, reading through primary sources, biographies and the latest historical research to better understand their experiences and motivations. Lasley noted that he has been grateful to train alongside Schumann, who has not hesitated to share his own knowledge and resources, including 12 volumes on Patrick Henry from his personal library.
American.”
“I always strive to keep my interpretation as close to the source material as possible,” Lasley said. “I want audiences to know that these were people. They were scared, they were sick and they had feelings. Not to bring them down, but so they know that they might have greatness in them as well. This greatness, this vision doesn’t just belong to the past. I’m going to show Henry as Henry was, with his religion, with his vision, with his enslaving — the whole thing — and let folks draw their own conclusions.”
By showing that our nation builders were real people, with good qualities as well as flaws, it should inspire us all to find the greatness in ourselves.
Lasley’s first performances as Col. Henry took place in February at the St. George Tucker House in visits with donors. In April, he made his public debut as Henry during a program in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Gunpowder Incident, staged on the courthouse steps and at the restored 18th-century Magazine. Additional programs and special events, featuring both Lasley and Schumann, are being scheduled for 2025 and 2026.
Donor support makes our dynamic first-person programming, such as the Nation Builders, possible. For more information on how you can support Museum Theater, contact campaign@cwf.org. CW
As Col. Patrick Henry, Lasley will interpret the skilled orator’s radical calls for independence from Great Britain.
A New Garden
The Historic Gardeners stayed busy preparing for their first spring season at their new site, located at the corner of Francis Street and Bucktrout Lane. After four years of planning and designing a new garden layout, Master of the Historic Gardening trade Eve Otmar and her team transferred to their new home last September and quickly got to work, planting a winter garden and cover crops.
“Moving” a garden is not as simple as a normal office move. The gardeners dug up and potted plants that could be transplanted or saved seeds for further propagation. For plants that could not be moved, they took cuttings and rooted them.
“Even though it’s a new site, we brought some of the soul of that old garden into the new garden,” Otmar said.
As part of Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Trades program, the gardeners maintain the craft using 18th-century tools and techniques. That means that the overall process takes more time. Otmar estimates it will be at least two years before the garden begins to fill out. In the meantime, she and her team will regularly be onsite caring for their plantings, weeding and interpreting for guests.
Embedded within the landscape of 18th-century Williamsburg, gardens were private and associated with individual households, enclosed within the fenced properties of the city’s wealthy landowners. The gardens of the gentry incorporated crops and fruit trees, as well as
ornamental plants, and were maintained by enslaved workers. Wealthy landowners like John Custis IV may have had an interest in horticulture and exotic plants, but they were not performing the regular labor of gardening themselves.
Within the Historic Garden, plots dedicated to the Sankofa Heritage Garden and the American Indian Garden allow for a more diverse and
Shortly after their move, the Historic Gardeners got to work planting cover crops in the fall of 2024.
Intern Laura Inman and Apprentice Gardener Erik Gulbronson arrange glass bell jars to protect seedlings over the winter.
Takes Root
To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.
complete interpretation of the plant varieties and garden practices that would have been present in Virginia during the colonial period. Otmar notes that the new site has allowed her team to reconsider what they are growing in each area. For example, in the Sankofa garden — meant to represent a provision garden for enslaved people typically found on farm or plantation sites — they are planning to only include plants which have been attested archaeologically from excavations of enslaved home sites in Virginia or mentioned in journals, diaries and traveler accounts.
This fresh start not only furthers their interpretive goals, but the garden is now beside the Historic Farming site. Showing the two trade sites sideby-side provides new opportunities to engage with guests about the differences between agriculture and horticulture, while continuing to practice the skill and art of gardening.
Sowing the seeds of a new site
“We love to share what we are doing,” Otmar said. “A few years ago, a couple came into the garden and said, ‘Do you remember us? We were here last year, and we talked about potatoes.’ They were so excited to speak with me, and it ends up that they tried my suggestion for growing potatoes that worked for us in our garden. They finally had success and had a bountiful harvest. It is that sort of connection that we live for.”
Gardening takes experience and expertise, but it is also a labor of love. As the Francis Street garden goes through its first seasonal cycle or two, the Historic Gardeners are grateful for the investment of our donors that gives them the needed time and resources to bring the site to life.
“We’ve had some really great support, and it wouldn’t have happened without donor support,” Otmar shared.
For more information on supporting the Historic Garden and other Colonial Williamsburg trades, email campaign@cwf.org.
CW
(left) Work to construct the new site and lay out planting beds began last summer. (right) Guests could already see new plants growing on a warm day in early November.
Donor Spotlight – Robin and Leslie Johnson
Leaving a Legacy:
Strong memories and special moments
For Robin and Leslie Johnson of Bluffton, South Carolina, Colonial Williamsburg evokes strong memories of sharing special moments with family and friends over the years. It is the people they have met and the memories they have made with loved ones that keep them coming back to Williamsburg again and again.
them
a Raleigh Tavern Society meeting.
Members of the Raleigh Tavern Society for 25 years, the Johnsons began their journey as Colonial Williamsburg Burgesses and quickly rose through the donor society levels. Robin credits their involvement with Colonial Williamsburg to Leslie’s love of history. “It’s always been one of our most favorite places to visit,” she said. “The way Colonial Williamsburg presents history really resonates with us. To walk around and see this town that our forefathers inhabited — it is the best way to comprehend the history and the importance of the place.”
“From the beginning, we’ve always tried to take as many guided tours as we can. We’ve toured the whole town at this point,” Robin said. And in fact, Leslie has learned so much from tours in the Historic Area that he now likes to give unofficial tours for their friends and family.
Leslie’s favorite places to visit are the Capitol and the Governor’s Palace. “One tour that we took with RTS, we were able to go up into the cupola of the Palace. And that was one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done in Williamsburg because you can see the whole city from up there,” he said. Leslie also enjoys visiting the kitchens to watch cooks prepare authentic colonial dishes using techniques and recipes of the time, and the print shop where the printers set type and use printing presses to produce newspapers.
For Robin, the draw of Colonial Williamsburg is in the architecture, and she specifically enjoys the George Wythe House. She remembers attending a cocktail party at the Wythe House in honor of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s 75th anniversary in 2001, which convinced them to join the Raleigh Tavern Society.
“The way Colonial Williamsburg presents history really resonates with us.”
For the Johnsons, one of the biggest joys of visiting Williamsburg has always been sharing this special place with their children and now, their grandchildren. They first started bringing their children here for vacations over Thanksgiving and Christmas, attending special holiday programming and making family memories that they still talk about today. Now, they bring their grandchildren to Raleigh Tavern Society meetings to expose them to all the wonderful opportunities and experiences that Colonial Williamsburg has to offer.
“Another thing that is always a special experience for us is eating dinner at Christiana Campbell’s Tavern,” said Leslie. “We like to take a walk down Duke of Gloucester Street on our way home. It’s so quiet and peaceful at night.”
Donors like the Johnsons help the Foundation create a brighter future for all by learning from our shared past, and they hope others will join them in supporting this important work. “It makes us feel good when people choose to give to Colonial Williamsburg — what a great investment!”
Robin and Leslie Johnson’s granddaughters, Ava and Cameron, joined
for
Tucker House Happenings
The St. George Tucker House, our premier donor reception center, provides eligible donors a comfortable place to relax, engage with fellow donors, experience exclusive programs and enjoy light refreshments. Below is a recap of some recent donor events at the Tucker House, as well as a reminder to reserve your spot for upcoming programs.
Make Your Reservations for Spring Donor Programs — Donor Visit with a Nation Builder programs at the Tucker House are a wonderful way to engage with the historic interpreters in up-close and personal conversations. Programs are offered on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Space is limited, so reserve your seats today for this popular program by calling 877-293-8477.
Recent Book Discussions with Nation Builders —
The Tucker House hosted discussions of Jeffrey Rosen’s book, “The Pursuit of Happiness,” led by Nation Builder Bryan Austin, who portrays James Madison. We also featured discussions of Colin Calloway’s book, “The Indian World of George Washington.”
Patrick Henry: An Early Preview — In February, we hosted four opportunities for donors to get an early preview of programming featuring our new Nation Builder, Nat Lasley, who portrays Col. Patrick Henry, before his public debut in April.
Come In for a Visit —
Are you planning a visit to Williamsburg?
Be sure to stop by the St. George Tucker House for refreshments and to say hello. The house is open and staffed by our wonderful volunteers seven days a week.
The St. George Tucker House is one of Colonial Williamsburg’s 89 original structures.
Work on the windows began this spring, and the project is not limited to the Magazine’s exterior. While the plan for the interior renovation is still being finalized, new research continues to come to light. “I think we’re on the edge of some other really great findings that we’re working through,” Webster said.
the Historic Area and advance our educational mission. We hope you continue to visit us and see our latest progress as this project unfolds. If you would like to learn more about how you can support our current Campaign priorities, please contact campaign@cwf.org. Continued from page 3
The Magazine restoration and all of the projects included in the Power of Place Campaign are possible only because of the generous support of our friends like you, who help us preserve
The Williamsburg Bray School
Teaching another chapter in American history
Colonial Williamsburg marked a historic moment with the dedication of the Williamsburg Bray School, the oldest known building in the United States dedicated to the education of Black children. This project represents an important chapter in Colonial Williamsburg’s ongoing commitment to telling a more inclusive story of Virginia’s colonial capital.
On November 1, a dedication ceremony was held to celebrate this monumental achievement.
Speakers included Lonnie G. Bunch III, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, who described the event as “one of the most important historic moments of the last decade.” The Hon. John Charles Thomas, Colonial Williamsburg trustee and former justice of the Virginia Supreme Court, emphasized that the Bray School is more than just a building — it is a transformative story that reshapes our understanding of race, education and freedom in early America. Other speakers echoed this sentiment, highlighting the enduring legacy of the Bray School and its impact on the nation’s history.
Your support has been instrumental in this moment of discovery, restoration and education. Together, we are deepening our understanding of America’s founding and honoring the stories of those who helped shape it.
Harking back to memories of high school auditoriums filled with papier-mâché volcano models, staff from all areas of the Foundation came together during recent donor society meetings to present a history fair. Team members from Development, Historic Trades and Skills, Archaeology, Architectural Preservation and Research, and more hosted tables presenting information about their latest projects and research, mingling with donors and answering their questions. The table displays
Celebrating the
were complemented by a series of posters highlighting key initiatives and accomplishments of the Power of Place Campaign.
The fairs provided attendees with the opportunity to engage directly with the interpreters, curators and researchers who share the history of 18th-
(left) Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Lonnie G. Bunch III addresses the crowd at the Bray School dedication. (right) The dedication ceremony, held on the Art Museums Lawn across from the Bray School site, honored the legacy of the school and its students.
2024 By the Numbers
When words aren’t enough — numbers tell a compelling story
Colonial Williamsburg brings history to life each day thanks to generous support from our donors. Below, see some of the impressive statistics and dedicated efforts required to maintain this living history museum and provide accessible educational programs for all. From preserving historic buildings and gardens to supporting our tradespeople and animals, every aspect of our operations is fueled by donations to the Colonial Williamsburg Fund. Thank you for helping us continue to share an inclusive, accurate portrait of American history for future generations.
All statistics are for the 2024 calendar year
Tucker House
n 8,819 visitors to the house
n 3,936 donors attended Tucker House programs
Coach and Livestock
n One Red Devon calf born
n Eight Leicester Longwool lambs born
n Six Cleveland Bay foals born
n 6,918 carriage rides given
Power of Place
century Williamsburg every day, as well as learn more about the ways donor support makes all this work possible. Members of the Development team also enjoyed the experience.
“I had the privilege of working at the African Baptist Meeting House table with the
Archaeology
n 131,794 total artifacts catalogued by archaeology lab staff
n Four excavation sites: the Colin G. and Nancy N. Campbell Archaeology Center; Custis Square; the African Baptist Meeting House and Burial Ground; and the Williamsburg Bray School
Architectural Preservation
n >75 structures on 18 sites received preventative maintenance
n 56 other structures had exteriors repaired and painted
n >417 gallons of paint used
n 12,500 hours of staff time spent painting
Art Museums
n 166,117 visitors
n 700 programs in the Hennage Auditorium
n 56,920 people attended programs in the Hennage
n Three exhibitions opened: Elegance, Taste & Style: The Mary D. Doering Fashion Collection; Worlds Collide: Archaeology and Global Trade in 18thcentury Williamsburg; and Celebrity in Print
Archaeology team,” said Doris Salem, director of principal gifts. “It was amazing to listen to their in-depth knowledge of all the findings featured. Our donors were enamored.”
Recalling his interactions with donors during the events, Director of Principal Gifts Joe Poole said, “They genuinely appreciated the contact with content experts like these, much like our staff members do on a regular basis. Always something new and exciting to learn!”
During the fall 2024 meeting of the Raleigh Tavern Society, attendees spoke directly with Foundation staff while learning more about the many projects supporting our educational mission. CW
The Donor Registry is Going Digital!
For many years we have included our donor registry in the spring issue of this newsletter. We are excited to share that we will be moving the registry to our recently refreshed website, colonialwilliamsburg.org. By publishing the registry securely online, we can ensure your information is up to date and any changes can be made immediately. Make sure you’re signed up to receive our emails so you don’t miss the link.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Juneteenth
June 19, 2025
July 4
July 4, 2025
Friends of Collections Meeting
September 5-6, 2025
Colonial Williamsburg Associates Meeting
September 20, 2025
Raleigh Tavern Society Meeting (Fall)
October 31 - November 2, 2025
Grand Illumination
December 6, 13 and 20, 2025
If you have any questions about special events, please contact our Development staff at (757) 220-7279 or cwevents@cwf.org. To receive our emails, including meeting and special event links, send an email to donorrelations@cwf.org.
Thank you for your generous and continuing support.
Donor Societies Newsletter