Word: williamsburg
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Serious students of Middle Eastern affairs dismiss Erdman's scenario as wildly improbable, but his book is still being bought by many people who do not ordinarily purchase thrillers. Known readers include many of the corporate executives who attended the Time Inc. Energy Conference in Williamsburg, Va.; Saudi Arabian Minister of Industry and Electricity Ghazi Al-Qusaibi ("I thought it was fun reading, but I certainly don't take it seriously"); and some diplomats at the Iranian embassy in Washington. The book is banned in Iran itself, but Western visitors keep being asked by Iranian friends to bring...
George Mason traveled to Williamsburg by carriage in 1776 to deliver his Virginia Declaration of Rights to the House of Burgesses; Patrick Henry conducted his late-night debates at the King's Arms Tavern by the flickering glow of candlelight. Today's visitors to Colonial Williamsburg explore the nation's oldest and most ambitious historical restoration in shuttle buses and relax in air-conditioned rooms with electric light. But the 20th century comforts carry an inflated modern price tag-and so, in Bicentennial 1976 of all years, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, which runs the restoration, suffered...
Over the past 51 years, Colonial Williamsburg has become more than just a faithful reproduction of the 18th century. It has grown to include 211 exhibition rooms, 36 craft shops, three hotels and seven restaurants. To direct the tourists, the foundation spends $500,000 a year maintaining a staff of 600 garbed in colonial costumes. The 30 shuttle buses provided for visitors burn a $1 million hole in the budget; fresh flowers, finger bowls and exquisitely manicured lawns and gardens cost thousands more. Says Foundation President Carlisle Humelsine: "It is unique-uniquely expensive too." Total 1976 budget: $54 million...
...original restoration in 1926 with $11 million and added a $60 million endowment to cover future expenses. Income from that endowment and sales of tickets, gifts and hotel and restaurant services enabled the nonprofit foundation to cover its expenses through its first 49 5 years. But in 1976 Colonial Williamsburg officials expected the Bicentennial celebration to attract a record 1.4 million visitors-v. 1.2 million in 1975-and spent an extra $500,000 to prepare for them. Instead, potential tourists, pinched by inflation and recession and frightened by forecasts of bumper-to-bumper traffic at historic sites, stayed home. Attendance...
Cutting Costs. At Williamsburg, attendance seems to be rising now after a disastrous first quarter of 1977. But the price of an adult admission ticket is only $6.50, and it costs the foundation about $8 more to shepherd a visitor through. So the foundation is seeking new ways to cut costs and raise money. It is building a more centrally located visitor center to slash its gas bills by two-thirds, and for the first time is bidding for group tours to save on expenses for bus fuel and guides. Guests checking into Colonial Williamsburg hotels are now greeted...