Williamsburg Inn
Also known as: 137-0079
Why it's listed
Set on a broad lawn at the southern edge of Williamsburg's restored colonial area, this resort hotel of brick and slate was completed in 1937 to designs by the Boston firm Perry, Shaw and Hepburn, hired by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to oversee the town's restoration. The architects chose early nineteenth-century Federal-period styles so the Inn would stand apart from its eighteenth-century neighbors, drawing on Virginia's hot springs hotels and the Greenbrier at White Sulphur Springs. The front is dominated by a two-story Ionic portico over a ground-floor arcade, and the rear has a three-story bow overlooking the courtyard and golf course. An east wing of guest rooms followed by 1950 in matching style, and the Regency Dining Room, inspired by the Royal Pavilion at Brighton, was added in 1972. Interiors carry Federal and Regency detailing. The original central buildings form the main basis of its significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the Inn as an important work of the architects engaged by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. for the Williamsburg restoration, and as a Colonial Revival hotel modeled on early nineteenth-century Virginia and West Virginia springs resorts. It is also tied to the Inn's role in entertainment and recreation and to Rockefeller's involvement. The original central buildings form the principal basis of its significance.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 97000480, listed June 4, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 136 E. Francis St., Williamsburg (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Williamsburg |
| Listed | June 4, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000480 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1937 - 1945 |
| Architect / builder | Perry, Shaw and Hepburn |
| Architectural style | Late 19th/20th-century revivals: Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operated as a resort hotel with dining facilities by a subsidiary of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. |
| Acreage | 12.5 |
| Coordinates | 37.26896, -76.69624 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 97000480.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16903468
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.