The Perfect Place for a Deep Dive into the Founding Era
hether you call it the War for Independence, the Colonial Era, or the American Revolution, the tumultuous decades that gave birth to the United States remain among the most important events in our history and still shape who we are as a people. Many of the political, theological, and cultural questions debated in the eighteenth century are still being contested today, and the legacy of independence, liberty, authority, and covenant has not faded in our present ideological struggles over the meaning of America’s past. We believe that the simplistic and un-nuanced interpretations of the colonial and founding era so often presented as settled truth today require much deeper examination and careful interpretation of the historical record. We are attempting that deeper dive from an explicitly biblical framework. You should join us for this Colonial USA 250 Symposium as we explore the people, ideas, conflicts, and convictions that forged the American nation.
“We claim nothing but the liberty and privileges of Englishmen, in the same degree, as if we had continued among our brethren in Great Britain.” —George Mason
We will be taking “field trip breaks” throughout the week to view special events at CW; Patrick Henry giving a speech, a debate in House of Burgesses, a sermon in Bruton Parish or a militia drill on the green as they release their event schedule a bit closer to our stay. At that time, we will incorporate them into our schedule.
Tuesday, October 13
- 1PM – Registration
- 1:30 – Welcome, Orientation, Introductions
- 2:00 – 6:00 Sessions
- 8:00 – 9:00 Fellowship
Wednesday, October 14
- 9:00 – 12:00 Sessions
- 1:30 – 5:30 Sessions
- 8:00 – 9:00 Fellowship
Thursday, October 15
- 9:00 – 12:00 Sessions
- 1:30 – 5:30 Sessions
- 8:00 – 9:00 Fellowship
Friday, October 16
- 9:00 – 12:00 Sessions
- 1:30 – 3:00 Sessions
- 5:30 Farewell Banquet Historic Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg
- 20 Sessions taught by distinguished Christian Historians
- Access to faculty beyond sessions to dialogue
- Daily “field trips” into Colonial Williamsburg
- Free time to explore independently
- Farewell Banquet at Historic Tavern
- Access to exclusive $89.00 room rates at the Woodlands Hotel on Colonial Williamsburg.
- Daily admission to Colonial Williamsburg for 2 people per room, discounted admissions for the rest.
- Practical instruction on building / executing your own tours
- Fantastic fellowship with faculty and new friends
Make the Most of Your Colonial Williamsburg Ticket
Your Colonial Williamsburg admission gives you access to historic buildings, trade shops, exhibitions, museums, and daytime programs throughout the Historic Area.
We will be meeting at the Robert Carter House (Wednesday), The Powder Magazine (Thursday) and Shields Tavern (Friday) as a group. On Tuesday, Dr. Potter and company will likely say a few words also on Colonial government at the Governor’s Mansion since it is next to Robert Carter’s house, although we are not allowed to guide inside.
Especially Recommended for Colonial USA 250
- The Capitol—The essential stop. Explore the building where Virginia’s colonial government met and where the political struggle with Britain unfolded.
- Governor’s Palace—Seat of royal authority in Virginia and home of the colony’s royal governors, including Lord Dunmore.
- Raleigh Tavern—A center of political activity. After royal governors dissolved the House of Burgesses, Virginia’s legislators famously continued meeting at the Raleigh.
- George Wythe House—Home of Declaration signer George Wythe, teacher and mentor to Thomas Jefferson and other Founders.
- Peyton Randolph House—Home of the first president of the Continental Congress and an excellent connection between Williamsburg politics and the developing continental resistance.
- Courthouse—A useful window into colonial law, local government, and the English legal tradition inherited by Americans.
- Public Gaol—Where accused criminals, debtors, and prisoners were confined; particularly interesting for understanding colonial justice.
- Printing Office—One of the best Symposium-related trade sites. Printing, newspapers, pamphlets, and broadsides were indispensable to the spread of Revolutionary ideas.
- Magazine—Williamsburg’s storehouse for arms and ammunition and the setting for the 1775 Gunpowder Incident, one of Virginia’s most important confrontations immediately before the Revolution.
- Bruton Parish Church—The spiritual center of eighteenth-century Williamsburg and church of Washington, Jefferson, Henry, Randolph, and other prominent Virginians. The church remains an active Episcopal parish, so access differs from CW-operated buildings.
- Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg—Particularly worthwhile for portraits, furniture, silver, weapons, maps, and other material culture that puts the Founding generation into its physical setting.
- Historic Trades—Don’t overlook the printer, gunsmith, blacksmith, cabinetmaker, wigmaker, tailor, and other trades. Which shops are operating varies by day.
Adults (18+): $760
Youth (17 and younger): $499Limited scholarships available: email us or call (210) 885-9351 to discuss.
Dr. Bill Potter
An experienced historian and avid bibliophile, Dr. Bill Potter combines a lifelong study of American history with an uncommon ability to captivate audiences of all ages as he traces the providential acts of God throughout the ages. He has taught history in high schools and colleges, has led many tours of American and European historical sites and brings to each event a wealth of experience and knowledge. An experienced researcher and writer, Dr. Potter possesses a practical knowledge of antiquarian books, documents, and artifacts and has published several short books and has penned many articles and book reviews for publication. Dr. Potter has earned a well-deserved reputation as a man gifted in communicating the story of God’s providential hand in American history. As a father of eight children, he appreciates the necessity of passing on to the succeeding generations the richness of both our regional and national history. He and his wife, Leslie, reside in Virginia.
John Eidsmoe
John Eidsmoe is a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel and Alabama State Defense Force Colonel, and a graduate of the Air Command & Staff College and the Air War College. He is Professor of Law at the Oak Brook College of Law and Government Policy and, in his various teaching assignments, his students have given him the Outstanding Professor Award or Professor of the Year Award five times. He has served as Senior Staff Attorney with the Alabama Supreme Court and is currently Legal Counsel for the Foundation for Moral Law. Eidsmoe also serves on the boards of Lutherans for Life, The Plymouth Rock Foundation, and the Gospel Martial Arts Union, and is a constitutional attorney who has defended homeschools, Christian schools, the right of students to study the Bible in public schools, and the right to display the Ten Commandments in the public arena. He has authored numerous books, including Historical & Theological Foundations of Law, Christianity & the Constitution, God & Caesar, and Columbus & Cortez, and has produced a variety of audio and video lecture albums including The Institute on the Constitution and Here I Stand: A Biblical Worldview for a New Millennium. He holds seven academic degrees in law, theology, history, and political science. He and his wife, Marlene, have been married since 1970, have three children, and live in rural Pike Road, Alabama.
Paul Jehle
An ardent student of history, Dr. Paul Jehle serves as the Executive Director of the Plymouth Rock Foundation, an organization dedicated to the remembrance of the Pilgrims and the Christian heritage that was forged in the wake of their influential devotion to God and the Bible. Paul has travelled across the nation and to a number of foreign countries, hosting seminars and teaching on America’s Pilgrim and Patriot heritage. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from Barrington College, and a Doctorate degree in Education from Whitefield Theological Seminary. Paul began giving walking tours of Plymouth and its monuments in 1978, and in 2004 he published Plymouth in the Words of Her Founders for visitors to the Plymouth area, allowing the Pilgrims to interpret the monuments erected in their honor through their own words. Dr. Jehle also serves on Plymouth’s 2020 Commission in preparation for the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Pilgrims. Paul and his wife, Charlene, have two grown children.
Mary Turley
Mary Turley is a homeschooled historian and accomplished autodidact. Her aptitude for teaching history began at an early age with insatiable reading habits and a natural story-telling ability. Having accomplished tutorials with historian Bill Potter, and completed deep dives into primary sources related to Irish and Scottish history and the full scope of American history, Mary brings to the Landmark team budding scholarship, biblical perspective and lively personality.
John Huffman
John Huffman grew up with a love for history and biography. He portrays Godly heroes in the first person, dressed in period attire. John serves the Lord as a pastor, speaker, and writer, having co-authored a book called “Legacy of Character.” John and his wife, Katie, have two children, Ruth and Caleb. They love to see the stories of God’s faithfulness passed along from generation to generation.
Aaron Bradford
Aaron Bradford is a 13th-generation direct descendant of Plymouth Colony Governor William Bradford. For over 30 years, Aaron has shared a passion for helping others to personally encounter stories of liberty in American history in a multitude of settings. Aaron grew up in Delaware and graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in History Education. He served at Pamplin Historical Park in Virginia Old Fort Jackson, and the Savannah History Museum with the Coastal Heritage Society, and Wormsloe State Historic Site in Georgia. He is now back in Delaware while also serving as a full-time Upper School History and Literature Teacher at a Principle Approach School in Pennsylvania.
Bernie Beall
Bernie and his wife Linda founded Great Commission Families in 2006 as a local family ministry helping families to “take steps of faith toward greater involvement in the Great Commission”. Prior to Great Commission Families, they were on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ for 23 years, including 8 years as the D.C. Metro Director, then on the National Team for CCC’s International Student Ministries. Today, a big part of their ministry is creating family-friendly evangelistic outings by leading spiritual heritage outreach events in Washington, D.C. showing the evidence of our Christian heritage on display throughout our nation’s capital and surrounding region, including at the local major Civil War battlefields. Bernie and Linda met at Penn State University in 1979 where Bernie graduated in Agriculture and Linda in Nursing. Today, Bernie is an ordained minister with the Evangelical Church Alliance. Bernie and Linda have four grown children and live in Maryland not far from their nine grandchildren, and near the family dairy farm where Bernie grew up.
THE WOODLANDS HOTEL AND SUITES – 105 Visitor Ctr Dr, Williamsburg, VA 23185
- $89.00 ($125 per night inclusive of tax and resort fee)
- Reserve your room(s) using this reservation link
- Cut-off date for our block is September 10, 2026.
- Included in rate:
- Self-Parking
- Light Continental Breakfast Available Daily
- High-Speed Internet Access in Guestrooms and Public Spaces
- Unlimited Local and Long Distance in Guestrooms
- Splash Park and Heated Outdoor Pool (open seasonally)
- Fun Zone featuring Mini Golf, Shuffleboard, Corn Hole, a Playground and More
- 10% off Golf Merchandise in the Golf Pro Shop and select Discount on Green Fees
- Access to Golf Driving Range and Balls
- Discounted Colonial Williamsburg Admission Tickets
- Resort Outlets Booklet – up to $350 in Savings
- Tennis-One-hour Court Time
- 30-minute Tennis Clinic: Mon., Wed., Fri. at 11:30 a.m.
- 30-minute Golf Clinic: Tues., Thurs., Sat. at 3 p.m.
TBA
“The Future of History Symposium was such an uncommon opportunity to learn from grounded Christian historians who spoke on topics rarely referenced in today’s classrooms. I came away from the week with advanced knowledge of history and a new passion for government. An additional benefit of the event is the ability to fellowship with others who desire to advance Christ’s kingdom through history. The Symposium was definitely a milestone in my learning.” —Ella S.
“I highly recommend Landmark’s The Future of History Symposium! Not only did I get to meet other history enthusiasts of all ages, but I also had the opportunity to soak in many wonderful sessions from men who love sharing their knowledge of history with others, and whose love for the Lord infuses all they do. We enjoyed sessions ranging from the logistics of touring and the art of storytelling, to the Biblical philosophy of history and recognizing revised history. I left Virgina excited and encouraged… with a few new books and a copious amount of notes!” —Madelyn B.
“I will forever be grateful for the time and effort invested in my life at the Future of History Symposium last summer in Woodstock, Virginia. Dr. Potter, Colonel Eidmsoe, Bernie Beall, and Kevin Turley generously shared from the deep well of their own rich experiences. I came away with many practical tools that I have already put to use leading a tour overseas in the land of the Bible, as well as sharing history with others right here at home. Another great blessing of the symposium was the opportunity to develop lasting friendships with other like-minded lovers of history. My family and I were edified and inspired to glorify our Lord by telling and retelling the stories of His mighty deeds.” —John H.
“If you love history, especially from a Christian perspective, it is a wonderful week with kindred spirits. You will learn a lot from very knowledgeable historians, have fun, and make new friends. Thank you, Landmark Events!” —Judson H.
Upcoming Events
Future of History Symposium
October 13-16, 2026
Plymouth Pilgrim Tour
November 16-20, 2026
