Colonial Williamsburg is one of the popular tourist attractions of Virginia. Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia Colony between 1699 and 1780. When the capital was moved to Richmond during the War of Independence, the colonial old town of Williamsburg was left to decay, but remained essentially unchanged until the 20th century. Restoration and partial rebuilding of the colonial town was initiated by the Reverend W.A.R. Goodwin in 1924, who secured the financial support of John D. Rockefeller Jr. Restoration work began in 1926, and by now, the colonial town has been fully restored to its 18th century appearance, complete with actors and tour guides in period clothes.  Out of about 500 buildings in the area, 88 are original, the others were built in a contemporary style. The Governor's Palace is an imaginative recreation of what such a building may have looked like at the time.