| Architectural preservation is often intended as a visual display of a group's identification with their heritage. Most scholars and Americans accept the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg, the colonial capital of Virginia, as an accurate representation of a heritage of democracy and as a site designed for heritage education. The Restoration is considered a conventional Colonial Revival -- part of a broader movement which celebrates patriotism and America's humble beginnings. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that Colonial Williamsburg is instead a celebration of classicism and European design, intended for an elite group of architectural connoisseurs. As the sole patron, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. imbued the project with his taste for European architecture. Instead of reflecting the heritage of early Americans, Colonial Williamsburg reflects an era when wealthy patrons used their status to disseminate personal taste in the arts and in architecture. |
