Guess what’s coming to Merchants Square in September? Here’s a hint: It’s home to some real page-turners!
Guess what’s coming to Merchants Square in September? Here’s a hint: It’s home to some real page-turners!
A new chapter for publications of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation begins Labor Day weekend with the opening of a Merchants Square bookstore dedicated to the Foundation’s titles.
The Foundation has published books since 1935 on subjects as varied as art and archaeology, history and historic trades, scholarly books, cookbooks and volumes for children and young adults. More than 50 Colonial Williamsburg titles will be available at the Colonial Williamsburg Bookstore, which will be located on the southwest corner of Merchants Square on the second floor of the building that houses J. McLaughlin at 440 West Duke of Gloucester Street. A doorbell will be available at the ground floor level to summon help for customers with limited mobility. The bookstore is scheduled to open Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.
Colonial Williamsburg’s publication history began with a book that served as both a traveler’s guide and a history of key events that happened in Williamsburg. “A Brief and True Report for the Traveller Concerning Williamsburg in Virginia,” as the initial edition was called, was written by Rutherfoord Goodwin, the son of the Rev. Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin, whose preservation efforts led to the restoration and reconstruction of Williamsburg as it existed in the 18th century.
Selections at the Colonial Williamsburg Bookstore include perennially popular titles such as “Restoring Williamsburg,” a lavishly illustrated volume that expands upon the story of restoration efforts that was first documented in “Williamsburg: Before and After.” Visitors to the store will also find old favorites, including “The Williamsburg Cookbook” and “Williamsburg: The Art of Cookery,” and new favorites, such as “Ghosts Amongst Us” and “Hauntings.”
Books written by historians whose articles have appeared in Colonial Williamsburg’s magazine Trend & Tradition will also be available at the store, along with early American history books from such Colonial Williamsburg publishing partners as the Omohundro Institute, University of Virginia Press, University of North Carolina Press and Yale University Press. The store also will carry books affiliated with other museums, including Mount Vernon, Monticello and the Museum of the American Revolution.
The Colonial Williamsburg Bookstore will support the Foundation’s educational mission and will be open seven days a week. It will be operated by the Foundation’s retail partner, Aramark. Daily hours of operation can be found at colonialwilliamsburg.org/cwbookstore.
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