Colonial Williamsburg presents the stories of the diverse peoples who lived in, worked in, and visited 18th-century Williamsburg, and the political, economic, social, religious, and cultural forces that shaped their lives. This includes diving deeply into the stories of both well-known members of the Founding generation and people whose contributions had been long overlooked in accounts of American history. Drawing on a wide array of primary sources, including written records held in archives like the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, objects of material culture in the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg, and architectural and archaeological evidence based on research conducted by our team of experts, the People of the Past at Colonial Williamsburg bring the city to life.