A sign at the crossroads of Williamstown’s small town center proclaims the town “the village beautiful”—and so it is. Completely ringed by mountains, the town is dominated by Williams College, whose green lawns and eclectic architecture makes every street corner a Kodak moment.
The college is actually one of the oldest in the country, founded in 1791 through the will of Colonel Ephraim Williams, who was killed during the French and Indian Wars, but provided money for the establishment of a “free school” in the town of West Hoosac, provided it change its name to Williamstown.
Just 30 years after its founding, the president and half the student body left to found Amherst College in the southeast, thus ensuring a rivalry that continues in sports to the present day. Today, the town is well known for its art museums and theater festival, which brings theatergoers from New York City [1] and Boston [2] every summer.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-city-long-island/discover-new-york-city
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-england/massachusetts/boston