5 articles
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg, a living history museum in Williamsburg, Virginia, restores and interprets Virginia's eighteenth-century colonial capital. Founded in 1926 by W.A.R. Goodwin with John D. Rockefeller Jr., it features 89 original structures, the 1932 Raleigh Tavern opening, and African American interpretation since 1979.
Historical reenactment
Historical reenactment, a form of living history, is costumed reconstruction of past events, customs, and material culture by hobbyists and museums, from battle reenactments to living history sites, organized around negotiated authenticity.
Jamestown Settlement
Jamestown Settlement is a living-history museum near Williamsburg, Virginia, run by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation; opened 1957 as Jamestown Festival Park, renamed 1990, it re-creates the 1607 Jamestown colony's Paspahegh town, three ships, and fort.
Renaissance fair
Renaissance fair (Renaissance faire): outdoor festival recreating idealized Elizabethan village life with costumed performers, crafts, and jousting. First held May 1963 in Los Angeles by Phyllis and Ron Patterson as a KPFK fundraiser; about 200 US fairs now draw millions yearly.
Texas Renaissance Festival
Texas Renaissance Festival (TRF), the largest US Renaissance faire by attendance, held weekends each October–November in Todd Mission, Texas. Founded 1974 by George Coulam; sold in 2025 to Meril Rivard; ~500,000 visitors per season.