Information & history on rear of plaques:

WIL17   Governor's Palace - Begun in 1706 as the seat for the Royal Governor, the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg was not completed until 1720 due to a lack of expert artisans in Virginia at the time.  Though unhappy about the added £3000 in taxes collected to build the Palace, the community took great pride in the building upon its completion.  The Palace, credited as being the first Georgian house built in America, served as both home and office to the Governor of Williamsburg.  Set atop the balustraded roof of the building is a cupola, or lantern as it was originally known, which was lit on the monarch's birthday and other special occasions.

WIL16   Tayloe House - John Tayloe bought this house in 1759 from surgeon James Carter who built it in the period between 1752 and 1759.  The interior of the house contained woodwork considered to be some of the finest in Williamsburg.  To the east of the main house is an ogee-roofed office building.  Though common in Britain prior to 1770, this type of roof was unique in Williamsburg.  Most other occurrences of this distinctive style in America did not appear until later in the eighteenth century or the first two or three decades of the nineteenth century.

WIL15   Capitol - The foundations of the original Capitol were laid in 1701, with Virginia's General Assembly convening here from 1704 - 1780.  The east wing contained the Hall of the House of Burgesses (the lower house of legislature and America's oldest representative assembly) with committee rooms on the second floor.  The west wing housed the General Courtroom and Council Chamber on the second floor.  Appropriately linking the two wings, is the Conference Room.  It was here where burgesses and councilors met together for morning prayer or held joint conferences to resolve disagreements.  The H - shaped plan of the Capitol is an early example of an architectural design successfully devised for a specific purpose.  Originally built without chimneys, the use of fire, candles or tobacco was strictly prohibited.  A secretary complained that his records were "exposed by the Damps," thus, two chimneys were added in 1723.  Then on Jan. 30, 1747, the Capitol was gutted by fire.  Reconstruction was completed in 1753.  This second building fell into disrepair after the removal of Virginia's government to Richmond.  In 1832, it too was destroyed by fire.  Today's Capitol was rebuilt and opened in 1934.

WIL14   Raleigh Tavern - As a center of social, political, and business activities, the Raleigh was one of the most famous taverns in eighteenth century Williamsburg.  In the Apollo room many public receptions and balls were held, and the Phi Beta Kappa Society was founded.  The Tavern has changed little in its many years of operation.  The Raleigh's spirit of hospitality is well expressed in the motto gilded over the Apollo room: Hilaritas Sapientiae et Bonae Vitae Proles -- "Jollity, the offspring of wisdom and good living."