Visit Williamsburg

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Material Witnesses: Quilts and Their Makers

May 29, 2010 to May 29, 2012 - This is a multi-day day event.

As silent witnesses to events of the past, milestones in human lives and artistic traditions, quilts and coverlets can tell fascinating stories of the men and women who produced the intricate and colorful bed coverings of the 19th and early 20th centuries. “Material Witnesses: Quilts and Their Makers,” the newest exhibition at Colonial Williamsburg’s Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum opening Saturday, May 29, offers testimony about the people who created the textiles as it generates new questions that remain unanswered. As part of their documentation and design, coverlets and quilts often include written words — words that record the lives of the makers who signed the textiles, often proclaiming personal beliefs through patriotic or religious messages. Other textiles reveal their tales more quietly, their stories coaxed into daylight only through avid research of various records, including genealogies of the makers. Yet other stories are told through motifs of the textile creation itself, such as an appliquéd patriotic eagle, a woven rose sprig or the embroidered outline of the maker’s hand. The “Material Witnesses: Quilts and Their Makers” exhibition is made possible by a gift from the Turner-Gilliland Family Fund of Menlo Park, Calif., and reflects Mary Gilliland’s interest in textiles. She and her husband, Clinton, have supported Colonial Williamsburg through restricted and unrestricted gifts since 1980.

Conservation: Where Art and Science Meet

Jun 26, 2010 to Jan 02, 2013 at 10:00 AM

The newest exhibition at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg fuses good, old-fashioned detective work with the high-tech world of exotic tools and cutting-edge science. “Conservation: Where Art and Science Meet” opens June 26 and immerses museum guests in the rarely seen world of object conservation — a fascinating and compelling mix of disciplines — history and art with science — with much the same aura as today’s crime scene investigation dramas, without the criminal element. Antiques that were centuries in the making owe their continued existence to professional conservators who use the latest techniques to stem the ravages of age. After a decade of exhibition planning, Colonial Williamsburg’s conservators lead museum guests through a behind-the-scenes examination of conservation practices that begins with the object’s creation. As they follow an antique’s “DNA” beginning with the object’s manufacture, they see its interaction with external forces that influences the object. Eventually, the journey concludes with the conservators who analyze and document the forensic evidence and use it to make their treatment decisions. The exhibition also enlightens guests about care for their own keepsakes — encouraging them to apply conservation principles at home. Nearly 70 objects and hands-on activities illustrate museum practices as they suggest methods to care for family treasures. The enemies are the same — light, pests, pollution, temperature, humidity and poor handling all take their toll at home and in museums. The exhibition also examines the sophisticated tools available to modern conservators: X-radiography, X-ray fluorescence, microscopy, infrared light spectroscopy and others.

"This Old Coffeehouse" exhibition

Sep 25, 2010 to Dec 01, 2012 at 10:00 AM

The newest exhibition in the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg offers guests a look behind the scenes on the process of recreating Richard Charlton’s Coffeehouse. “This Old Coffeehouse,” opening Sept. 25 at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, reveals the archaeological, architectural, and historical sleuthing that brought this important historic building back to Duke of Gloucester Street 120 years after it was demolished. The exhibit draws on archaeology, architecture, decorative arts, historic trades and archival elements to show visitors the process of rebuilding the history, landscape, structure, and interiors of Charlton’s upscale meeting place, which served the politically powerful, the economically elite and the socially savvy. In the exhibition, prints of period coffeehouses, a painting of Nathaniel Walthoe, who leased the building to Charlton, Charlton’s estate inventory and multiple Virginia Gazette advertisements show the development of the social and economic background that created the interpretation guests experience today at the coffeehouse. A treasure trove of archaeological artifacts recovered during excavation of the site, such as table wares, food remains, and household implements will illustrate how the coffeehouse functioned, the diversity of menus offered to 18th-century patrons and how this information played a role in what guests see and experience at the site today. Architectural fragments from the original 1750 structure, drawings, models, and reproduced framing, locks, hinges, plaster, paint, and wallpaper will show the evidence for reconstruction decisions made and the process of reproducing these elements for the Coffeehouse project. “This Old Coffeehouse” opens Sept. 25 in the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and will remain on view through December 2012. Admission is by Colonial Williamsburg admission ticket, Museums ticket or Good Neighbor Card.

Dollars, Farthings & Fables: Money & Medals From the Colonial Williamsburg Collection

Nov 24, 2010 to Dec 31, 2011 - This is a multi-day day event.
Nov 25, 2010 to Dec 31, 2012 - This is a multi-day day event.

A new Colonial Williamsburg exhibition showcases the “Cornell Hoard” —more than 6,600 pieces of colonial currency squirreled away by a North Carolina loyalist prior to the American Revolution — and other fascinating examples of coins and paper money from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s extensive numismatics collection. “Dollars, Farthings & Fables; Money & Medals From the Colonial Williamsburg Collection” opens Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25 at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and explores facts and falsehoods, realities and rumors associated with money including the Founding Fathers and the origins of the dollar.

Fashion Accessories from Head to Toe: 1600 to 1840

Jan 29, 2011 to Aug 31, 2012 at 10:00 AM

A new exhibition at Colonial Williamsburg’s DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum features apparel that turned heads for 240 years and demonstrates that fashion accessories were just as important in the distant past as they are today. “Fashion Accessories from Head to Toe: 1600 to 1840” takes wardrobe items out of the closet and illustrates their roles in reflecting the latest fashion trends for men and women. More than 200 fashion accessories are displayed — from hats to shoes and everything in between: stockings, handkerchiefs, shawls, gloves, purses, aprons, jewelry and watches. “Men were just as fashion-conscious as women,” said Linda Baumgarten, Colonial Williamsburg’s curator of textiles and costumes, who curated the exhibition. “A well-dressed man needed more than a suit in fashionable society. From wigs to hats to buckled shoes, gentlemen’s accessories could be practical, stylish or both. Pastel colors and glittery stones were considered manly and entirely appropriate for dressy occasions.” Many of the objects in the exhibition are new to Colonial Williamsburg’s collections, while still others have not been on view for 20 years. Funding for the exhibition is provided by Mary Turner Gilliland and Clinton R. Gilliland of Menlo Park, Calif., through the Turner-Gilliland Family Fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation of Mountain View, Calif. An interactive online exhibit, “Historic Threads,” complementing the museum exhibition, debuts Monday, Jan. 17 at www.history.org/history/museums/multimedia.cfm.

More than Meets the Eye: Maps and Prints of Early America

Mar 26, 2011 to Mar 01, 2012 at 12:00 AM

Learn how colonial expansionists used maps and prints to sway public opinion. Maps, regarded as scientific and authoritative documents, were designed to impart a perception of power and control over the environment, claim land, and establish boundaries. The exhibition features maps and prints from the Foundation's nationally important collection, as well as important pieces borrowed from other institutions and private collectors. A few of the maps and prints have rarely been on view.

"A True North Britain": The Furniture of John Shearer, 1790-1820

Apr 02, 2011 to Mar 31, 2012 at 12:00 AM

This ground-breaking traveling exhibition organized by the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum in Washington, DC., examines the furniture of John Shearer, a joiner who worked in the backcountry of Virginia and Maryland from ca. 1790-1820. Through the use of inlay and inscriptions, Shearer's furniture demonstrated his loyalty to Great Britain. Shearer's continued allegiance to Great Britain and her Royal Navy after the American Revolution underscored the evolving political landscape of the new United States.

"A True North Britain": The Furniture of John Shearer, 1790-1820

Apr 02, 2011 to Mar 01, 2012 at 12:00 AM

This ground-breaking traveling exhibition organized by the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum in Washington, DC., examines the furniture of John Shearer, a joiner who worked in the backcountry of Virginia and Maryland from ca. 1790-1820. Through the use of inlay and inscriptions, Shearer's furniture demonstrated his loyalty to Great Britain. Shearer's continued allegiance to Great Britain and her Royal Navy after the American Revolution underscored the evolving political landscape of the new United States. April 2, 2011 through March 2012.

Style, Function, and Price: Buying Furniture in the 18th Century

Sep 03, 2011 to Aug 31, 2012 at 12:00 AM

Featuring furniture from the permanent collection, this exhibition looks at the variety of elements that went into making furniture selections in the period. An eighteenth-century consumer considered wood choices, complexity of design, details of construction, and type of finish when choosing furniture for their home. This exhibition is supported in part by and award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Opening September 3, 2011.

"The 17th Century: Gateway to the Modern World" Special Exhibition at Jamestown Settlement

Nov 16, 2011 to Aug 15, 2012 at 09:00 AM
Nov 16, 2011 to Aug 15, 2012 at 09:00 AM

An exhibition organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) in cooperation with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation explores developments that set in motion the transition from “old” world of the Mediterranean – the center of European commerce and diplomacy since ancient times – to a new globally connected world. Artifacts from European, Asian, African and American cultures are exhibited.

Pull Back the Curtain

Jan 01, 2012 to Feb 15, 2012 - This is a multi-day day event.

You’ve walked the streets and explored the buildings of Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area. You’ve browsed the galleries of the museums. Now, pull back the curtain and go behind the scenes. Meet with curators, archaeologists, and others. Ask the experts how they set the stage and bring history to life.

The Actor's Trunk

Jan 04, 2012 to Mar 09, 2012 at 10:00 AM

How does the colonial performing artist develop his art? How are costumes, sets, play scripts, and music brought to life for a colonial audience? Drop in and chat with our Performing Arts staff about the craft of theater and performance in colonial America. Stay for as little or as long as you wish, but this is the chance to ask the questions you’ve always wanted to ask.

Costume Design Center Tour

Jan 13, 2012 to Feb 17, 2012 at 03:00 PM

A behind-the-scenes tour of the Costume Design Center. Explore and meet members of the CDC staff, where most of Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area costumes are created and maintained. Unfortunately, strollers cannot be accommodated. Free reservation required. Space is limited.

"From Africa to Virginia" Theme Month at Jamestown Settlement

Feb 01, 2012 to Feb 29, 2012 at 09:00 AM

Gallery exhibits, guided tours of the museum’s outdoor living-history areas, and lectures on February 12 and 19 highlight the culture of the first known Africans in Virginia and the experience of Africans in 17th-century Virginia.

Getting To Know Us Tour

Feb 05, 2012 at 02:30 PM
Feb 12, 2012 at 02:30 PM
Mar 11, 2012 at 02:30 PM

Are you new to the Williamsburg area? Perhaps you are looking for a location for a family or organization event. Take a guided tour of our day use area to see what our park has to offer. Picnic shelters, playgrounds, boating, and access to the York River shoreline are just a short drive from Virginia's Historic Triangle.

Spring Homeschooler Event

Feb 11, 2012 to Feb 26, 2012 - This is a multi-day day event.

Experience the sights and smells as raw cocoa beans are being processed. Thread your needle and learn how to keep 18th-century Williamsburg residents stylish in the latest fashions. Learn how to crack the codes that spies used and discover what it was like to grow up during the 18th century.

George Washington Lecture Series: My People: George Washington and Slavery at Mt. Vernon

Feb 14, 2012 at 05:30 PM

This lecture by Peter Henriques—Professor of History, Emeritus, at George Mason University—will use George Washington's extensive records to give a glimpse into the lives and personalities of individual slaves. Professor Henriques will illustrate not only the horrors of slavery, but also that the story is more complicated than generally believed. This Distinguished Scholar Lecture is funded by the Horatio Hall Whitridge and Gracia Grieb Whitridge Lecture Series Endowment.

Magical Creatures

Feb 15, 2012 at 10:30 AM
Feb 22, 2012 at 10:30 AM

On a special guided tour, explore the galleries for griffins, phoenixes, mermaids, dragons, and unicorns while recording your discoveries in a book to take home. Intended for ages 8 and above.

President's Day Weekend Sale at Williamsburg Premium Outlets

Feb 17, 2012 to Feb 20, 2012 - This is a multi-day day event.

Don't miss the annual President’s Day Sale. Enjoy extra savings on top of our everyday savings of 25% to 65%

Great Backyard Bird Count

Feb 17, 2012 to Feb 20, 2012 - This is a multi-day day event.
Feb 18, 2012 - This is an all day event.
Feb 19, 2012 - This is an all day event.
Feb 20, 2012 - This is an all day event.

The Great Backyard Bird Count http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc is a great opportunity for beginning and expert birders across North America to enjoy and record a variety of birds. This is a self guided event where participants can take as little or as much time as they wish. The York River shoreline, Taskinas Creek, and our miles of trails provide excellent birding and other mid winter adventures.

Crack the Code

Jun 13, 2011 to Aug 15, 2011 at 04:00 PM
Feb 17, 2012 at 04:00 PM
Feb 24, 2012 at 04:00 PM

Learn about real secret codes and ciphers used by George Washington and other leaders during the Revolution. Try your hand at "cracking the code" using the spy techniques you've learned. Geared for ages 8 and older.

Presidents' Day Weekend

Feb 18, 2012 to Feb 20, 2012 - This is a multi-day day event.

Meet three Founding Fathers—Washington, Jefferson, and Madison—whose Williamsburg experiences led to the creation of a nation. Gather for music, meals, and special performances and mingle with these great leaders and their influential contemporaries, such as Patrick Henry and the Marquis de Lafayette.

Richard Newsham’s Fire Engine

Feb 18, 2012 to Dec 31, 2012 - This is a multi-day day event.

How did early Americans fight fires—especially in cities where most buildings were built of wood? After Williamsburg’s rebuilt Capitol was threatened in 1754, the colony invested in a proper fire engine. The Council directed “That the Receiver General send to London for a Fire Engine and Four Dozen of Leatheren Buckets for the use of the Capitol.” The clear choice was Richard Newsham’s “new water engine for quenching and extinguishing fires.” See a true piece of history in the exhibition featuring an original engine—on view for the first time!

Stargazing

Mar 24, 2012 at 07:00 PM

Join the Virginia Peninsula Astronomy Stargazers for a night of wonder and discovery. Away from the city lights, the broad cliffs above the York River are perfect for observing constelations, planets, and other features in the night sky.

More Than Slaves

Feb 24, 2012 to Feb 26, 2012 - This is a multi-day day event.

Colonial Williamsburg commemorates Black History Month 2012 with a weekend of programming that illustrates the universal story of people actively seeking political, economic, and social change. African Virginians were aware that they were excluded from the rights and privileges afforded to the ruling class and race. Many became more active in seeking freedom, sometimes under dire circumstances. Weekend programs will illustrate the numerous ways these agents of change challenged the political and societal norms to affect a better future for themselves and the next generation. Colonial Williamsburg seeks to inspire guests to be as proactive in contemporary issues as these oppressed people of the past were.

Papa Said, Mama Said

Jul 03, 2011 to Aug 28, 2011 at 07:30 PM
Jul 03, 2011 to Aug 28, 2011 at 09:00 PM
Feb 24, 2012 at 07:00 PM
Feb 24, 2012 at 08:30 PM

Join enslaved people who share their recollections of stories that teach moral lessons that have been passed down from generation to generation. Ages 6 and up.

Cry Witch

Jul 05, 2011 to Aug 24, 2011 at 07:30 PM
Jul 24, 2011 at 07:00 PM
Jul 24, 2011 at 08:30 PM
Aug 12, 2011 at 07:30 PM
Aug 12, 2011 at 09:00 PM
Aug 24, 2011 at 09:00 PM
Sep 02, 2011 at 07:30 PM
Sep 02, 2011 at 09:00 PM
Feb 29, 2012 at 07:30 PM
Feb 29, 2012 at 09:00 PM

You are invited to question the witnesses, weigh the evidence, and determine the guilt or innocence of Grace Sherwood, “The Virginia Witch.” Ages 13 and up.

Military Through the Ages at Jamestown Settlement

Mar 17, 2012 to Mar 18, 2012 at 09:00 AM
Mar 17, 2012 to Mar 18, 2012 at 09:00 AM

Hundreds of re-enactors join with the Virginia Army National Guard to present centuries of military history in one weekend. Re-enactors demonstrate a variety of weapons and military tactics, field communication and medical treatment. Visitors are encouraged to interact with re-enactors to learn how soldiers from different time periods dressed and armed themselves, as well as how they were fed and sheltered in times of war. A children’s parade will be held at noon Saturday, followed by a military pass-in-review at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Chesapeake Bay Sierra Club Backpacking 101

Mar 17, 2012 at 11:00 AM

Get ready for overnight backpacking with the Chesapeake Bay Sierra Club (http://www.meetup.com/CbSierraClub). Learn about proper clothing, equipment, and safety to make the most of your hiking and overnight trips. Participants will be invited to take an overnight trip with the CBSC later in the spring. The fee for this workshop is $10 with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Friends of York River State Park.

Canoe & Kayak Kick Off/Burning of the Socks

Mar 24, 2012 at 10:00 AM

Celebrate the 2012 canoe and kayak season with a Chesapeake Bay sailing traditon. Take off your socks and burn them with the rangers. Then join us for a guided trip into Taskinas Creek and the York River. Bring your own watercraft and pay only for parking. Equipment rentals are canoes - $9/person or $6/person (family of 4+), solo kayaks - $16/person, tandem kayaks - $11/person.

RevQuest: Sign of the Rhinoceros

Apr 02, 2012 to Apr 22, 2012 - This is a multi-day day event.

“RevQuest: Sign of the Rhinoceros” returns for spring break only! Don't miss this alternate reality game that challenges participants to save the revolution. Players must solve a mystery that helps to avert a crisis that could change the course of history in Revolutionary War-era Williamsburg.The game is designed for youngsters 8 and up and is best played with a group. Players begin the game by registering on-line at www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/revquest. The first game clue will be available online and participants will be encouraged to return to the website as it changes and reveals more information and clues.

Run for the Dream Half Marathon, 8K and Kids Fun Run

May 19, 2012 to May 20, 2012 at 08:00 AM

Both the half marathon (Sunday May 20) and 8K (Saturday May 19) begin at Phi Beta Kappa Hall (600 Jamestown Road) on the picturesque campus of The College of William & Mary, wind through Colonial Williamsburg’s famous Historic Area, and end with a picture perfect finish at William & Mary’s Zable Stadium. The half marathon also includes the scenic Colonial Parkway toward the James River. The race director is Dave McGillivray, race director of the Boston Marathon. The Kids Fun Run on Saturday takes place at Zable Stadium and includes three lengths: 100 meter sprint, 400 meter dash and a mile run. The Run for the Dream 8K has been named the 2012 USA Masters 8 km Championships by USA Track and Field (USATF).