Merchants Square and Resort Historic District
National Register of Historic Places

Merchants Square and Resort Historic District

Williamsburg (Independent City), Williamsburg County, Virginia
Listed
May 2, 2006
Type
District
Period
Colonial
Ref No.
06000365

About this property

Merchants Square is a 20th-century interpretation of an 18th-century-style retail village in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Conceived in 1927 by John D. Rockefeller Jr. and Reverend W. A. R. Goodwin, Merchants Square is considered to be one of the first planned shopping districts in the United States, if not the first. Small shops throughout Williamsburg would move into a centrally located area that used architecture that was in harmony with the restoration's character. William G. Perry, chief architect of the Williamsburg Restoration, designed the shopping district. Most of the stores and shops are located on Duke of Gloucester Street (DoG St.) right across from The College of William & Mary’s campus. To keep the area as close to historical accuracy as possible, all telephone wires were placed underground, and modern day technologies such as air-conditioning ducts and garage equipment were hidden with shrubs and plantings. Today there are over 40 shops and restaurants located in Merchants Square. The area is also used for other purposes, such as seasonal concerts, a farmers' market, and special movie screenings. Media related to Merchants Square at Wikimedia Commons

Location

Williamsburg (Independent City), Williamsburg County, Virginia
37.27165, -76.70233

Categories

ARCHITECTURECOMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTENTERTAINMENT/RECREATIONSOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Nearby Historic Sites

Wythe House
Industrial
0 mi
Bruton Parish Church
Colonial
0 mi
Randolph, Peyton, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Armistead House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Williamsburg Inn
Industrial
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle at Middle Plantation (Bacon's Rebellion)
1676Colonial
0.3 mi
Action at Williamsburg (1781)
1781Revolutionary War
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Merchants Square and Resort Historic District listed on the National Register?

Merchants Square and Resort Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 2, 2006.

What type of historic resource is Merchants Square and Resort Historic District?

Merchants Square and Resort Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Merchants Square and Resort Historic District?

The period of significance for Merchants Square and Resort Historic District is recorded as the colonial era.

Can I research the history near Merchants Square and Resort Historic District?

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