Ride Into History aboard a 18th Century Horse-Drawn Carriage

For more than 50 years, guests at Colonial Williamsburg have enjoyed traveling down Duke of Gloucester Street as passengers on an 18th century horse-drawn coach.  The experience elicits a feeling of being a celebrity as onlookers watch with interest as the carriage and horses pass by. And there have been a list of celebrities who have been given the colonial royal treatment.

Celebrity Carriage Rides in Colonial Williamsburg Slide Show 

The Colonial Williamsburg’s coach and livestock program has been operating carriage tours continuously since 1947. The program is dedicated to furthering the authenticity of the restored 18th-century capital by ensuring that the vehicles and animals present in the Historic Area reflect as accurately as possible those that would have been seen on the streets of Williamsburg during the colonial era.  

Behind the scenes and just outside the Historic Area, the Colonial Williamsburg stables prepare the carriages and horses for daily tours of the colonial community. The drives are the most visible part of an effort that begins very early. “We’re here long before the sun gets up, and we’re still going after it goes down. It’s a long day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” says Richard Nicoll, Director of the Colonial Williamsburg Coach and Livestock department. 

Nicoll began his career at Colonial Williamsburg in 1984 as manager of the Coach and Livestock department. In 2000, he was named director of the department, where he continues to oversee the various domesticated animals used throughout Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area programs. Nicoll also runs Colonial Williamsburg’s award-winning Rare Breeds program, begun in 1986 to preserve genetic diversity in livestock. Some of the selected breeds represent animals that could have been present in Williamsburg during the 18th century, according to historical research. Nicoll is also well-known in equestrian circles as Chair of the FEI Technical Committee for Driving and as the designer of the driving course at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY.

The stables are not open to the public other than during weekday tours and special events. The AHP Board of Directors met with Nicoll during their site tour and meeting at Colonial Williamsburg in October 2010. It was during this trip that the Board agreed that holding a welcome reception at the stables would be a real treat for AHP seminar attendees in 2012. 

The Welcome Reception sponsored by Alltech will be held on Thursday evening, May 31 during the AHP “Ride Into History” Seminar in Colonial Williamsburg. This will be a unique opportunity to see the horses and carriages of colonial times. Shuttle transportation between the Woodland Hotel and the stables will be provided for AHP members. 

And if you are interested in experiencing 18^th century travel during your stay, carriage ride tickets are available at Colonial Williamsburg ticket locations.