Rebuilding Charlton’s Coffeehouse

On view in the Helen Zadarlik and Bruce Sogoloff Gallery

Colonial Williamsburg’s reconstruction of Charlton’s Coffeehouse is the first ground-up reconstruction along Duke of Gloucester Street in several decades. It involved the work of every department and trade in the Foundation.

Rebuilding Charlton’s Coffeehouse explores how such a building could be so accurately constructed and furnished when seemingly very little was left of the original structure. It uses archaeological, architectural, archival, decorative arts, and trades components to show the process of rebuilding the history, structure, and interiors of the coffeehouse.

Through video, graphics, original objects, and touchable reproductions, learn firsthand what it took to bring the project to completion.