The Art Museums of
Colonial Williamsburg
The distinctive collections of the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum are located under one roof. Enter through the Public Hospital of 1773 and be sure to investigate the exhibits detailing mental illness treatments from the 18th and 19th centuries. The hospital was the first of its kind in North America.
Downstairs, you’ll find wonderful examples of American and British antiques and decorative art from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries and be able to explore bold and imaginative pieces of colonial and contemporary folk art. After touring the museums, stroll down the street and enter Bassett Hall. There, you’ll gain insight into the life and times of John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his wife Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. View furnishings, folk art, and landscaped grounds that have been restored to the Rockefellers’ 20th-century interpretation of colonial life.
Painters and Paintings in the Early American South
Experience a ground-breaking exhibition, featuring pieces by artists painting in the South during the 18th century.
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Threads of Feeling
Discover the stories told by simple scraps of fabric—tokens left to identify the babies at London’s Foundling Hospital.
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Changing Keys:
Keyboard Instruments for America, 1700–1830
Explore the evolution of spinets, harpsichords, and pianos in the 18th century.
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Tramp Art
Examine six pieces of intriguing wooden-notched and chip-carved tramp art.
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American Folk Portraits
Explore the world of folk art portraits through highlights of the museum’s superb collection.
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Paper Trail:
Documenting Rites of Passage in
German-speaking America
Examine some highly decorative certificates that traditionally document live events among German-speaking people in America.
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One of the largest collections of American and British antiques from 1660 to 1830.
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Take in folk art’s bold colors, fanciful shapes, and imaginative ornamentation.
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Take a guided tour through the home and gardens of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller Jr.
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Upcoming Events in the Hennage Auditorium
May 23
4:00 PM
Palette with a Past
Have you wondered why Peyton Randolph's white house is now painted red? Are you surprised by the vivid wallpapers in the Governor's Palace and Wythe House? Join us when evidence of Colonial Williamsburg's colorful past will be revealed and an exciting member of the WILLIAMSBURG licensing portfolio will be announced. Matt Webster, Colonial Williamsburg director of architectural resources, will share updates about the latest research in paint investigation. Liza Gusler, product manager for the WILLIAMBURG brand, will put paint in the context of extraordinary 18th-century color. Hear exciting developments about the look of the Revolutionary City and discover how you can enjoy a new "Trend meets Tradition" WILLIAMSBURG palette in your own home from the newest company to collaborate with the WILLIAMSBURG brand.
May 25
12:30 PM
Conversation with a Founding Father
What questions would you like to ask one of our nation's founders? What would you like to know about their lives and the politics of the day? Why did they become revolutionaries? What did they expect of the new nation? One of our founders shares his thoughts, memories, and beliefs as he answers questions from the audience.
May 27
12:30 PM
Mrs. Washington’s Revolutionary Letters
Listen to a reading of letters from Martha Washington and others, which provide a glimpse into the personal lives of the General and his Lady. Hear Martha Washington tell about the three letters that changed her life and made her a part of the "Glorious Cause" of American Independence.
May 28
5:30 PM
Foundlings, Philanthropy, and Textiles in 18th-century London
Guest Curator John Styles will give a glimpse into the poignant backstory behind the exhibition "Threads of Feeling." He'll discuss the establishment of London's Foundling Hospital in 1741 for orphaned children and the admission process in which mothers were encouraged to leave a small textile token with their children as means of identification should they ever return to reclaim them. Together these swatches now form Britain's largest collection of everyday textiles from the 18th century. Individually they tell the story of a single abandoned infant and its mother. $5 in addition to museum admission
May 30
11:30 AM
Princes Without a Palace:
Tracing African Princes and Captives in Williamsburg
Learn of the direct connections between the transatlantic slave trade and people, places, and events in Williamsburg. Listen to the stories about African princes enslaved in the Chesapeake who were determined to return to their homelands. Discover how the Age of Revolution in British North America, France, and Haiti, during the late 18th century, changed perceptions of the slave trade and pressured many European governments to abolish it. This program is part of Colonial Williamsburg's Equiano Forum on Early African American History and Culture, which seeks to broaden the public knowledge about African and African American history and culture in Virginia and the Atlantic World during the American Revolutionary era.
Jun 3
12:30 PM
Mrs. Washington’s Revolutionary Letters
Listen to a reading of letters from Martha Washington and others, which provide a glimpse into the personal lives of the General and his Lady. Hear Martha Washington tell about the three letters that changed her life and made her a part of the "Glorious Cause" of American Independence.
Upcoming Events in the Art Museums
May 23
3:30 PM
Focus on Furniture
You may be surprised to find that many of today's home furnishings are deeply tied to those of the past. Take an in-depth guided tour of 18th- and early-19th-century furniture. You'll see rare baroque, rococco, and neo-classical tables, chairs, chests, and desks that set the fashions we continue to enjoy. Programs and exhibitions at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum are supported by the DeWitt Wallace Endowment Fund.
May 24
11:00 AM
Decorative Arts Highlights
Embark on a guided tour of some of the museum's masterworks on exhibit. View paintings, ceramics, textiles, furniture, and silver. Programs and exhibitions at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum are supported by the DeWitt Wallace Endowment Fund.
May 24
12:00 PM
Introduction To Folk Art
Discover whimsical and fascinating paintings, sculpture, and textiles from Mrs. Rockefeller's collection on this guided tour. These pieces are the basis of the museum's original collection.
May 24
12:30 PM
God is My Rock
Gowan Pamphlet, a slave known locally as a popular preacher, offers his perspective on slavery, religion, and freedom.
May 24
1:00 PM
Decorative Arts Highlights
Embark on a guided tour of some of the museum's masterworks on exhibit. View paintings, ceramics, textiles, furniture, and silver. Programs and exhibitions at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum are supported by the DeWitt Wallace Endowment Fund.
May 24
1:30 PM
Tantalizing Tableware of
Our Colonial Ancestors
What sort of dishes did our colonial ancestors buy? Where did the ceramics come from and how were they used? Hear the stories on a guided tour, then go behind the scenes and view the museum's ceramic storage vault.
Explore More of Colonial Williamsburg
Fully wheelchair accessible via ramp in fenced area at the west side of the Public Hospital of 1773 building. Passenger drop off and limited parking is accessible by way of the gravel drive off South Henry Street.
Five front entrance steps with railing; passenger elevators; wheelchair accessible restrooms. Additional handicapped parking is behind the building, off Nassau Street.
