Of burke president and ceo Colonial Williamsburg president and ceo. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to American History tv live this morning from Colonial Williamsburg. You will see today on the eve of the American Revolution williamsburg, virginia was a bustling capital city, home to a colonial tradespeople and a a large enslaved population. American history tv returns to the williamsburg at the 1770s where we are live from the historic district. We will see revolutionaries in british loyalists mingle in the street, the house of burgesses, where George Washington once served, and the governors palace, home to king george. We will also be taking your questions this morning as we talk to historians, curators, and interpreters that will all be aboard the cspan bust today. Joining us is Colonial Williamsburg president mitchell reiss. Thank you for being here this morning, i appreciate it. Mitchell my pleasure. For someone who has never visited Colonial Williamsburg, how do you describe it . Mitchell well, i think it is important for people to know it is more than the sum of its parts. You have 88 buildings that have you have 88 buildings that have been immaculately preserved. You have worldclass interpreters who are impersonating some of our nations founding fathers. You have a remarkable campus with retail stores, worldclass hotels, golf, tennis, baseball, and wonderful restaurants. It really is something for everybody but what it is more than that is a very special place, because it is really where our country began. It was here in williamsburg where the first discussions and debates took place over whether we should be independent, how we should become americans, and in fact that debate led to a decision to become independent, to declare that and to fight for it and when it ultimately. All of those stories took place in colonial times in williamsburg and we create that and connect people to our heritage every day. How do you do that . What is happening in 1774 that you are reflecting . Mitchell we have a variety of ways in which we can do this. There is a wonderful website. People can curate a little bit of their tour even before they arrive. The buildings are will preserve that are really there to tell blessed and we are very in having some of the most talented storytellers in the country right here to interact with our guests every day, to explain what it was like to live in the early 18th century, through colonial times, that revolutionary upheaval. To understand what it meant to be enslaved for africanamericans in that time, and that dark chapter in our countrys history. There is something important to connect to. The issues we are hearing today on the president ial trail, immigration, tax reform, individual rights, state rights, all of those stories and debate began here and you can reconnect with them every day. When and why was this idea of representing the 1770s Colonial Williamsburg . When did it come about and why . Mitchell it was the brainchild of a remarkable individual, the reverend goodwin, a professor at the college of william and mary nextdoor and the pastor of the Bruton Parish church. He decided that this history was too important to continue to decline. He saw the buildings here in eroding so he reached out to John D Rockefeller junior and enlisted his support in restoring 18th century williamsburg. The reverend chose well and wisely, and John D Rockefeller and the Rockefeller Family have been supporters ever since. What goes into preserving the buildings today and making it function on an everyday basis . Mitchell as the question suggests, it really is quite a challenge because we do not want people to just look and not touch. We want people to go into the buildings, to see the art and artifacts, to understand what it really meant to live, to go to school, to dine in the 18th century. We have to be very mindful of the legacy that we need to preserve. We have some of the countrys leading experts, archaeologists who unearthed the history but preservationists and conservationists to make sure we continue to stuart this inheritance for future generations. Commission for Colonial Williamsburg is so the future the mission for Colonial Williamsburgs so the future will learn from the past. Mitchell that motto goes to the heart of our educational mission, to share with americans and beyond the values and ideals that first took flight here in williamsburg back in the 1770s. How did we become america . How did we decide that we wanted to be independent from the british . The about one third of colonists decided that was what they wanted to do, one third were loyal, and one third were sitting on the sidelines. Those discussions took place here. The debates lead to decisions that led to the revolutionary war. Independence,our we had another debate, what does it mean to be an american . All of those discussions took place here, so how can we connect people to that history, to the First Successful revolution in the world is something that we think is extremely relevant to current life. What do you think are some things that people might not know or realize about Colonial Williamsburg . Before, as i mentioned i think the scope of what we have to offer here. We have over 300 acres in the historic area and beyond for people to discover, learn, and explore. Museums,wo worldclass one, the leading full art museum in the country and the leading museum on the revolutionary times, the art and artifacts of that time. Many do not know that these museums exist. As i said before, we have great hotels, dining, and other entertainment. We are talking with the president and ceo of Colonial Williamsburg, mr. Mitchell reiss joining us aboard our cspan3 bus this morning live from williamsburg. Employees, 1800 volunteers, an annual budget of 200 million, 500 reconstructed buildings. John d rockefeller funded the restoration of the town. Where does the budget today come from . Mitchell thank you for asking. Patriotsver 100,000 who donate their money to preserve and to promote Colonial Williamsburg. That role is essential for our financial stability, and we are very grateful for their support. Receive any direct funding from the state or federal government. We also earn money through ticket sales, retail stores, and hotel and dining. We do the core of what really depends on the generosity and philanthropy of over 100,000 people across the country and around the world. Greta what is your role, your job . Mitchell my job is to make sure that we focus on our Core Educational mission. Again, to connect people to this very special place, to be able to tell our stories, to share the values, founding ideals of our founding fathers, and to make sure we can do so in a financially sustainable way. Greta we were recently back in williamsburg in october filming a street scene. 26, 1774 when governor dunmore, the royal governor of virginia dissolve the house of burgesses. Can you help set the stage for the viewers . What was the mood of the colonists . Mitchell it was one of rising rebellion, of anger at the imposition of additional taxes by the brits after the tea party in boston. Again, the idea that no taxation without representation, the first tax rebellion to lace at that time. Took place at that time and the rise of a commercial class that decided they were not going to take this any longer, so tensions rose and spilled over. Lord dunmore had to flee in the middle of the night, leaving behind some items which we still have here. Reached to a very famous by Patrick Henry that many people know, and the virginia declaration of rights which became the foundation for our declaration of independence from the brick. Brits. The core stories, core values started in Colonial Williamsburg and that is why this is so important for all americans to connect with. Greta we want to say thank you to you and Colonial Williamsburg for welcoming American History tv and the cspan bus to williamsburg. Thank you, sir, for your time as well. Mitchell my pleasure. Please come back