It is June, 1776. For the last 11 months, the Rebels have occupied the Governor's Palace, safeguarding its treasures while the war raged throughout North America. Benjamin, an enslaved man belonging to Mr. Wythe, is sent to deliver a special meal to the Palace Commander. Upon arrival, he runs into Major James Innes, a man he has known since childhood. The Major reveals that the Fifth Virginia Convention has voted to declare independence. What does this transformation mean for Benjamin, the enslaved people of Virginia, and most notably his friends, the 57 enslaved men and women who still live in the Palace?
Other Experiences
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Music: Governor's Musick In the Wythe Parlor
Join members of the Governor’s Musick in the gentry setting of the Wythe House parlor as they illustrate domestic music on period instruments.
CW Admission
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Music: Governor's Musick in the Palace Ballroom
While touring the Governor’s Palace, see members of the Governor’s Musick interpret music in the Ballroom as part of your tour.
CW Admission
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Street Theater: Shawnee Princes Arrive in 1774
Come witness the arrival of these Shawnee “Princes” into the city and the reactions when two cultures collide.
Open to the Public