Wren Building, College of William and Mary
Also known as: Old College Yard
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Why it's listed
The Old College Yard occupies a triangular lawn at the western end of Duke of Gloucester Street in Williamsburg. Its centerpiece is the Old College, commonly called the Wren Building, begun in 1695 and rebuilt after fires in 1705, 1859 and 1862. Beside it stand The Brafferton, built in 1723 for the college's Indian School, and the President's House, built by Henry Cary, Jr. in 1736 and used continuously as the presidents' residence. The buildings represent the second oldest institution of higher learning in the country, founded to train ministers and to educate Native American students with funds from Robert Boyle's bequest. They are also early examples of Georgian design in the colonies. In 1928 the Old College became the first building restored by Colonial Williamsburg's architects, Perry, Shaw & Hepburn, who relied on the Bodleian plate to return the exterior to its 1716 appearance. Reconstructed outbuildings and a brick wall complete the yard.
Significance in brief: The yard and its buildings form the physical plant of the second oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. They reflect colonial aspirations for Anglican-linked higher education and the effort to educate Native Americans. They are early examples of Georgian architecture in the colonies, and their 1928-30 restoration was Colonial Williamsburg's first, a landmark in American preservation.
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 66000929, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | College of William and Mary campus, Williamsburg (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Williamsburg |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000929 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928-1930 |
| Architect / builder | Various (see description); includes Henry Cary, Jr. (The Brafferton, President's House), Perry, Shaw & Hepburn (restoration) |
| Architectural style | Georgian (early Renaissance/Georgian style in the colonies) |
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated October 9, 1960 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated excellent and occupied; the Old College interiors are shown as museum rooms, The Brafferton houses administrative offices, and the President's House is still a presidential residence. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 37.27088, -76.70893 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 66000929.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8037738
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.