Historic Triangle Block Walking Tours
The Village Initiative is proud to offer tours of the Historic Triangle Block alongside our local Descendent Partners!
Did you know Williamsburg, Virginia had a Black business district?
The City of Williamsburg displaced this Black business district and the surrounding community under the auspices of urban renewal in the 1970s.​​​​
“This is definitely the best field trip experience I have ever had in my 29 year career.
My hope is that we can make this a yearly trip for our students.”
- Bryan Cole, Queens Lake Middle School educator, York County Schools
Tours are available by request for tourist groups, community groups, and school groups. Tourist and community groups can request one hour tours with an optional screening of our 25 minute film, for a fee that supports free programming for school groups. Free school field trips include:
1) A one-hour tour of the Triangle Block with the displaced families
2) A screening of a 25-minute film on the displaced businesses and community
3) A primary source scavenger hunt in partnership with the William & Mary Special Collections Research Center to deepen learning
“What our students and our team is experiencing is priceless. Definitely recommending for ALL 4th graders on the Peninsula. Excellent timing with the 250th anniversary of the country.”
- Christine McBee, Matthew Whaley Elementary School, WJCC Schools
This field trip pairs well with 4th grade Virginia Studies, 7th grade U.S. History, 8th grade Civics, and 11th grade U.S. History, among other courses. This field trip can accommodate 100 students a day. Groups of 20-25 students take turns 1) participating in the tour, which meets at the W&M Bookstore at 601 Prince George Street, 2) watching the film, and 3) participating in the primary source scavenger hunt in the nearby Williamsburg Public Library. This program can also be offered within schools with the film screening, Q&A with displaced families, and scavenger hunt with copies of primary sources.