In 1873, the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) line led by
Collis P. Huntington had connected Richmond with the
Ohio River Valley at
Huntington, West Virginia. In 1881, the
Peninsula Extension of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway brought the line east to the new city of
Newport News. Williamsburg initially allowed tracks to be placed down the main street of town,
Duke of Gloucester Street, and even directly through the ruins of the historic capitol building. As regular service was established, the main line was soon relocated slightly north. Williamsburg's original station was replaced in 1907 with a brick structure, in conjunction with the
tercentenary of Jamestown. Then in 1935, the 1907 station was replaced with the present station building with funding from
John D. Rockefeller Jr. C&O passenger service to Williamsburg was replaced in 1971 by Amtrak. ==Station layout==