We are happy to announce exciting changes are underway in the Historic Area—ones we hope will make your next visit an even more memorable one! Beginning in March 2017, the life of the town will be drawn into a tighter circle, allowing you to more quickly immerse yourself in our vibrant colonial community.
What exactly does that mean? The short answer is that activities currently taking place along the outskirts of the Historic Area will be redirected closer to the heart of our Colonial Capital, making it easier for you dive right into a rich sensory experience. When you visit our sites, we want you to be able to hear, smell, see, and feel what life was like in the 18th century. This shift reinforces our main entry point for the shuttle which is now at the Market House and Magazine. We want you to to be able to step off the bus and into another world as seamlessly as possible.
Within a short walk from that main entrance, you will have four newly-reinvigorated options for exploration: the Wythe House, Geddy House, Randolph House, and Public Armoury. These are already significant sites, but come spring all will be open seven days a week and populated with an unprecedented level of activity. And each will have its own flavor.
Speaking of flavor, our Historic Foodways program will be an even bigger part of your new experience. Look for chocolate making demonstrations to start in the basement of Charlton’s Coffeehouse and an added kitchen interpretation at the Wythe House. The revival of this interpretation is one Master Weaver Karen Clancy is particularly excited about. She recalled starting out in the Wythe Kitchen two or three years, er, decades, ago: “Coming from western New York to Virginia and working in a kitchen with a bonfire in your back pocket was a lot more heat than I was used to! What a great job! Didn’t have to buy clothes, didn’t have to worry about a bad hair day, and allowed to talk all day!”
While this is very much a work in progress as we iron out details, we think (and hope) you’ll share our excitement for the vision. In the end, our goal is to create additional opportunities for meaningful engagement while capturing some of the bustle that the 18th-century capital really had. Allow us to explain.
Wythe House
George Wythe’s home has been outfitted as Washington’s Headquarters before Yorktown since last September. In 2017, it will return to being the household of Mr. Wythe. Perhaps Mr. Jefferson might stop by to see his old law professor, or you’ll be able to speak with Ben, an enslaved member of the household. There’s a good chance you’ll hear music inside, as musicians will frequently be rehearsing and playing throughout the home.
Out back, the Basketmakers will have new neighbors as the Coopers move from their present location on Nicholson Street into the building next door. And as we mentioned, Historic Foodways will reopen the Wythe Kitchen for 18th-century cooking demonstrations.
Geddy House
Fun for kids will be a new focus at the Geddy, with hands-on games and activities, and a more intensive interpretation of domestic life. Some of our staff from the Powell House, which is known for its family-friendliness, will be bringing their bags of tricks to the site (where you might even be able to try out the bed—no, seriously!).
The Silversmiths will also open a satellite location in the Foundry in back of the house, a change the Master of the Shop has been advocating for for quite some time.
Randolph House
The Randolph House has had an ongoing resurgence of activity, so many of the changes, such as the addition of cow milking and the move of the Candlemaking trade on to the property, have already been put in place.
It also remains a crucial site for the interpretation of the African American experience. In terms of portraying differences in race and class in colonial Virginia, the Randolphs’ emphasis on enslaved people complements the gentry perspective found at the Wythe House and the middling tradesperson’s point of view at the Geddy.
Public Armoury
Many of you are already familiar with this home to the Blacksmiths, Tinsmiths, Foodways, and Military Artificers. Soon, you’ll have the chance to meet more character interpreters—and soldiers, who might be drilling, cleaning their weapons, or getting their equipment repaired. You’ll have a new opportunity to learn about simple machines, like levers and pulleys!
Our Foodways interpreters from the Powell House will be moving to the complex to replace the current crew headed to the Wythe kitchen.
Historic Farming
In 2017, you won’t have to decide whether to dedicate a chunk of time to visiting Great Hopes Plantation or coming directly into the city. You’ll be able to do both, as our Carpenters are busy working on their new home at the corner of Botetourt and Nicholson, and our Historic Farmers will soon be developing pastures around town. One of the first targets is at the southwest corner of Nicholson and Colonial Streets, behind the Prentis Store.
In addition to being more accessible, the hope is that the pastures will benefit from cultivation. Director of Coach & Livestock Paul Bennett says he’s excited for his team to partner with their friends in Historic Trades. Together, they will bring farming into the city and the greater public view. “Not only will be growing different crops, in turn, it will allow us to replant, reseed, and replenish grass for our Rare Breeds and allow our animals to flourish in the coming year,” he told us.
Detailed plans are still in the works, but expect to see several of these areas coming to life not just with grass and crops, but also our farm-to-table vegetables for Colonial Williamsburg’s chefs to use in our taverns and hotel restaurants.
As a result of the move, Great Hopes Plantation will feature signage, so that if you want to take self-guided tours of the site, you can. But you won’t have interpreters to map things out for you. The same holds true for the Public Gaol, which will no longer be actively staffed. We would like to mention though that both sites will continue to be available for school and group tours.
The Powell House, which has previously been open to the public during the summer, will also only be available to school and group tours, with its talented interpreters brought into contact with more guests at the expanding sites closer to the action.
These moves are another step in the direction of efficiently using our available resources and providing you with the richest possible experience every time you come to visit. While we would love for you to stay in our hotels and visit for a week or month at a time, we realize that isn’t possible for many of you. And as our loyal friends will tell anyone who will listen, you could spend years here and still not see it all. We want you to get the most out of your trip!
These changes reflect our commitment to our unwavering mission to inspire citizens, and bring us all closer together as Americans while honoring our diversity through the ages. We can’t wait to watch these exciting moves come to life and look forward to bringing you more updates right here on our Making History Blog in the coming months.
Stay tuned…
,We have been visiting CW for many years, multiple times each year. The interpreters are the main reason for our visits. They share such a great deal of history! We were there in October and were disappointed by the lack of history. We tried to see George Washington at the Playhouse theatre only to be unable to see or hear him. If it weren’t for the presentations at the Kimball Theater the entire trip would have been for naught. We were very disappointed. Other people we know who have also been loyal visitors have already changed their travel destinations due to the changes. Please return the history (accurately!) back to the place we love!
I would like to know more about the removal of the white oak basket making program, which has been eliminated as of mid-January. The two employees were apparently terminated in the most recent round of layoffs. To my knowledge, CW was one of the only living history museums to offer this as an interpretive demonstration. This program was instituted in the late 1960s by the Cook family of Luray Virginia. This is truly a DYING art and for a museum dedicated to preserving trades and skills to end it is a travesty!!
Agreed. This is a slap in the face to the Cook family. The new management, that instituted many wonderful changes, is starting to go down the wrong road . Signs instead of people at Great Hopes and at the jail are terrible mistakes. Deemphasizing agriculture makes for a horribly incomplete picture of Colonial and revolutionary Virginia. Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI has many buildings that are open but have no interpreters inside, making for a cold and sterile affect at those locations.
With all the changes that may be coming in 2017, can anyone explain why programs have been deleted for Presidents’ Day weekend? On Sunday there will be George Washington at the Courthouse, but Jefferson and Madison will not be doing programs anywhere. Also, the very popular evening program at the Kimball is not scheduled.
Have been supporting Williamsburg for over 35 years. My family including a college age son have watched with sadness at the decline of special programs, odd operating hours and most of the all, the state of the Taverns in regards to food quality and selection.My son was very excited to hear that gingerbread cakes were going to be made again in the old ovens and could observe process. During Christmas we went to Raleigh Tavern bakery only to find that gingerbread is only made between 9:00 to 12:00, and they had run out. They still have had two bake staff standing there to say, “we are not baking”. we walked away. My family feels that Colonial Williamsburg has two groups they serve, the Foundation Contributor/Season Pass Holder/long time devoted fan that returns frequently. The other group is the one time customer that is looking for the Disney experience and wants to eat hamburgers and fries from the taverns. Colonial Williamsburg has to find a way to successfully deal with both or lose many patron including my family..
It’s a shame that instead of spending a ton of money on an intrusive guest scanning system, they didn’t increase staffing in the historic area. It really spoils the illusion to see interpreters standing at the building doors holding scanning devices.
I worry Mr. Reiss is doing the same thing he did at his last institution- swoop in, fire dedicated employees erratically and unexpectedly, making the staff live in regular fear of losing their jobs, making foundation changing policy changes and then simply leave. Those he left behind atWashington college are still licking their wounds.
I have read with great interest about the upcoming changes.
Last year my wife and I visted four different times for a total of 39 days.
The gardens brought us two times in the spring. We explored the backyards of the Colonial Area. We had the pleasure of attending a walk with James Madison on two different occasions. Seeing Your pastures and virity of animals was time well spent. Getting to talk to the gardners let us know how much work goes into daily maintance not normally seen by the visitors. Seeing the tulips and other flowers is a photographers dream.
The fall trips turned out to be different, lack of rain and heat caused a change from the previose years.
As people found out about the special tours they became fully booked weeks in advaced.
A suggestion I would like to make. On the resevation desk. Keep track of the total requested tickets request for each tour. This way you know if more tours are needed. Paying for these tours is realistic. The founders tours especially.
We enjoyed Halloween last year and this year. What a great memory for the younger families.
I wish that people in charge of the busses would rethink how they are dispached. Yes We can see the need for differen routes. It is how they are run. The local buses get us to the Capitol Charlton stage early before the crowds get there, busses to the museums could be part of the express service. In the rain or at closing times pick the people up more often.
Colonial Williamsburg is not Disneyland. Worst ideas i have every heard. All buildings and all trades should be open every day of the week. I could go to every historical site in the US and I will ending up seeing the same thing, just empty buildings. just like CWF
Wow, signs at Great Hope? I think it is a mistake to effectively shut down the site. To bring parts of the farm into town will take away from the leaning experience. I prefer distance between sites. People walking to and from the farm are not all jammed up at a site. To experience CW properly takes several days, at best. It was so nice to walk from the Woodlands, stop at Great Hope and continue.
Keep Great Hope, please
I totally agree. I think it’s wrong and a disservice to the Great Hope Planation area if it just has signs and no live staffing. So it sounds like it’ll just be like an outside museum - just read the signs and if you have any questions, you have to remember them until you get into “town”. Plus the benefit of the buildings and slave gardens is lost in having no one there in them. I wish I was one of the larger benefactors to the CWF organization which have more of a say because as we’ve learned throughout our history, money talks and it seems so in this case. It’s very sad to see this happen. There have been things that CWF has done over the past handful of years and some of them were downright flops and yet I voiced my opinion and waited for the failure to occur. The “SPY” initiative was one of the bigger flops and while older people will enjoy a more centric program, people will really miss out on the Great Hope Plantation experience or worse yet, it’ll get so diminished that no funding will be used in it’s upkeep. Again, very sad to see this decision being made.
After coming for 30 years and now bringing my children we have decided not to come again. We feel that colonial Williamsburg is moving in the wrong direction by closing the Powell house. My daughters look forward and love spending hours there. Now with it gone where do we go? They answer with a response of: hey it will be great to be around thousands of people and we are going to have the same things like they did at the Powell house. But where in town can they go into a building and do the same things they could at the Powell house ? I can answer that. No where. We loved being able to see our children play and take part in activities and visit the kitchen without being on a guided tour and be quiet. Truly this new move is sad. We just spent the Columbus weekend at colonial Williamsburg. I can’t tell you how many people asked about te Powell house and why it wasn’t open. My daughters were upset everyday because it was closed. In closing you are losing a 30 year customer as well and other family members and new customers as well. I truly feel bad for the volunteers and workers who provide the vital job of keeping colonial Williamsburg alive. Those people I say thank you for all that you do and know that the 9 Vice Presidents. ( do we really need 9!!!!!). Are taking colonial Williamsburg backwards.
These changes are interesting - some good and some not so good in my humble opinion. I have generally been in favor of most of the changes instituted by new management. Not so much, however,, for these changes. . .
.
Pros
1. Chocolate making in the coffee house basement - Don’t often get to see basements of historic structures. It will be nice to see chocolate making on a regular basis at CW.
2. Wythe house changes - Moving the coopers here is a good idea. It might also bring more folks to see the wheelwrights without causing undue compaction - with consequent mad house effects - on DOG street. Music at the house will be a plus and had been done before. Interaction with in character interpreters is a great idea..
3. Public Armory - Good idea to keep the kitchen going. It is important to continue to be able to see what most folks ate in VA..
Cons
1. Military interpretation will suffer somewhat - The new house is being built at the military encampment. It doesn’t seem like the drilling activity which will take place at the armory will compensate for what will be lost when the military encampment is eliminated.
2. House at Nicholson and Botetourt St. - I believe this is going to be the Great Hopes farm house. Isn’t the house too far from the outbuildings that I assume are remaining at the Great Hopes Site for a middling farmer’s plantation? Also, is it really accurate to have a farm in town like this? I took a peak at the Frenchman’s Map and don’t believe it shows a farm in that area. Perhaps there wasn’t a farm in the 18th century at the Great Hopes location but that area was outside, but still appropriately close, to the town. .
3. De-emphasis of the Great Hopes Farm Site - How will this affect windmill visitation? Are there plans to move the windmill closer to town - say to the Randolph plantation? Wouldn’t that be ironic. I’m not sure what is meant by bringing farming into town. Was there commercial farming in town? I know there were vegetable gardens in town but I ‘m not so sure about tobacco farming. and the growth of other market crops. Just having signs at the Great Hopes site misses opportunities to better interpret the tobacco barn and the slave house. CW’s interpretation of rural slavery suffered somewhat when Carters Grove was sold but at least the subject was covered by the slave house at Great Hopes. CW does a good job interpreting town slavery at the Randolph house, I would hate to see the interpretation of the more common rural slavery minimized by having signs, instead of interpreters, at the Great Hopes slave house.
4. Closing the Powell House for all intents and purposes - This is a bad move. The house is an 18th century structure, I believe. If memory serves me correctly, it is roomier than the Getty house and consequently, better suited to indoors hands on opportunities. Please let me know if I am mistaken about the roominess as that would change my opinion about indoor hands on activity. Aren’t some of the Powell outbuildings - maybe the kitchen - original structures? Original outbuildings are rare. Losing access to them would be a shame.
5. Gaol interpretation - Just having signs here is a huge mistake. CW generally does a great job interpreting its open sites. I have noticed that interpretation at the jail has suffered in the past, being quite sketchy and almost being conducted as an afterthought. Making it more of an afterthought by just having signs there is not the answer. Instead, there should be more emphasis on making interpretation there more interesting. by addressing the following: were there escape attempts, background on the jailers - including Pelham & others, what was security like,, what were conditions like during the Rev War,, more detail on 18th century punishment, how did punishment & jail use change over time, who were some of the more interesting prisoners..
6. Wythe kitchen cooking - Do we really need a 3rd gentry kitchen? Aren’t the Governors Palace and Randolph House kitchens sufficient?
18th Century smells?
Are you sure you want to bring these into the visitor experience? Figured I’d end on a light note.
..
Aggreeing and disagreeing with many of the comments. Very observant and valid points. My largest concern to to stop making CW a theme park!!!!!! It is tasteless and cheapens it’s value. AND THE GEDDY HOUSE IS NOT A PLAY GROUND BUT RATHER BELONGS TO MEMBERS OF THE FOUNDATION. Take the proposed games elsewhere. And the closing of the Powell House may just be a hidden reason to maybe open a carousel…..that is sarcasm. Stop altering the historical and founded reason for CW. WE ARE A LIVING MUSEUM. Mr. Reid take notice.
.
Military Drills will take place closer to the magazine from what I understand. The encampment site stretched their staff too far and thin and now CW is really piling on programs and duties for an already tight staff- so their programming may actually improve.
Jim,
Just to clarify things a little bit, the Powell House has typically only been open to the public for a couple of months during the summer. Our Schools and Groups colleagues manned the site at the time of year when there weren’t school groups coming to town. We would like that activity to be more accessible to more people, which is why the activities there are being redirected closer to the middle of town. The Geddy House, which has only been open for half-days, deserves more attention. The site will tell that family’s story, which has many things in common with Powell as the home of a striving middling family. I hope you’ll give it a chance.
Wow, I have read all the comments…was a couple of days behind in reading my Making History newsletters…like many of you I am disappointed in the Great Hopes decision. When Great Hopes was started as a replacement for Carter’s Grove, it was a welcome area. I kept looking forward to each new building, etc. I was still looking for the main house to be built but I guess now that will not be built.. Since the red parking area is right next door to it, that would have been a perfect place for a bus stop so people could visit Great Hopes more easily. Some people consider that a long walk from the VC to the HA. but that was the only way to get to Great Hopes…to go to all of that expense and effort to build a “middling” farm to show the other side of colonial life and then to discontinue seems a waste of resources NOT the continued interpretation of Great Hopes as it is now…instead of closing it why not make it more accessible by putting it on the bus route…see how that goes for a couple of years before closing it down.
We have visited CW multiple times a year since 1972. Interpreters make Williamsburg come alive and not just be a lot of attractive buildings to look at. Every time we visit we have a different experience because the different interpretations. We always learn something new.
It is great to emphasize the Wythe and Peyton Randolph houses but we need more interpreters at all the trades and houses and public buildings not less. CW should be an experience not a historical site to check off a list and never go back.
I fear the new thinking is going to ruin the atmosphere of CW. It is meant to be magical, like being transported back in time. This requires authenticity. No Poke e Mon or signage etc. It has to feel real. This takes costumed interpreters all over CW. I consider it a treat to get to see the inside of the Powell Waller house. I love the Hopes Plantation. Empty sites just feel empty.
I have been concerned about the new things at CW since they changed the visitors guide making it must less useful. Also taking the British flags away from open buildings. I suggested doing candle making a couple of years ago and was told that residents of CW did not make their own candles so it would not be authentic.
Change for change’s sake or for money is not a good thing when it comes to preserving history.
I fear they are going to ruin something I have loved my entire adult life. I wanted to retire to Williamsburg but fear all the changes are going to ruin it.
Margaret,
I appreciate your comments, and I think the changes will get us closer to what you want to see. There are just as many interpreters, and they’ll be even more visible. We use the Grand Union flag, which was raised over the Capitol in 1776, to indicate open buildings. We did reintroduce candlemaking earlier this year. While it was normally a domestic activity rather than a trade in the 18th century, we actually did find evidence of it being done on a larger scale in town. But we’re always learning more about what 18th century Williamsburg really looked like, and we try to incorporate it as best we can. There’s always been change here, it just hasn’t always been as transparent as it is today, now that we can share information so quickly. Fear not-the magic isn’t going away anytime soon!
One thing that is evident. Many people (including myself) are passionate about Colonial Williamsburg!
I think that is great. Today so many Americans know so little about our history, and what happened in the past, unlike Las Vegas, does not stay in the past. It impacts us much more than we typically consider to this day.
Agreed! To me, all these thoughtful comments, whether complimentary or skeptical, are evidence for how much people value Colonial Williamsburg. we really do appreciate that.
What will happen to the Brick Making area and to the interpreters there? That has been a highlight of our visits each year. We are even traveling to Colonial Williamsburg to see the “firing of the bricks” in November. Please don’t tell me that since they are not centrally located they will also be eliminated. Please don’t tell me that you think signage will replace them. If that is what you think, then you haven’t talked to those outstanding interpreters.
Judi,
Don’t worry, there is no change for the Brickmakers! I think I may have inadvertently created the impression that the centralizing of activity was far more extreme than it actually is. This is a very modest alteration, done to make it even easier to enjoy all there is to offer. It’s still a mile down Duke of Gloucester Street, so you can still bring your hiking shoes!
I can accept most of the changes. I am a bit concerned with the concentrating of activity concentrating visitors in a smaller area as well. I am not big on being part of crowds. Not having to be is one of the draws to Colonial Williamsburg for my wife and I.
I most concerned with taking the Great Hopes Plantation down to the level of a site bereft of interpreter farmers, having “signage”as the substitute. That was a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate an accurate picture of the rural aspect of life in the same timeframe as depicted in the heart of the historic area. Especially the life of African-Americans in that context. I am sure there were farm type activities close to the heart of the city, as you say will be shown in pastures around town. But that won’t demonstrate the hardscrabble life of African-Americans and the poorer white Americans of that time.
My wife and I typically take two vacations a year in CW, and spend full days each day there. We love the walks through town. Even if it means going from one end to the other to see events that we want to. In a typical vacation we like to walk into town from the Visitor Center by going over the pedestrian bridge, specifically so we can make our first stop at the Great Hopes Plantation and observe people at work, and talk with them. We happen to have a little farm ourselves and have kept chickens, guinea fowl, peafowl and horses, as well as done a lot of vegetable gardening for 36 years. It was so interesting to us to see how things were done at the Plantation and compare that to our practices. The setting and context of that place is unique. Life then as now is not all about urban or town life though it is becoming more and more the overwhelmingly dominant idea of what American life is. One of the greatest differences between our present life and that of the past is the swing from a predominantly Agrarian society to a society that is largely distanced from the land and family farming. We know that Thomas Jefferson considered that Agrarian society as his ideal aspect of America. He mistakenly counted on its continuance.
Demonstrating some of the activities that “could” or “might” occur on a farm outside of town in some of the pastures spread around town does not allow for the real interpretation of an extremely important characteristic of the society of the late 18th century.
CW wouldn’t (I hope) give up on the importance of interpreting the lives and thoughts of people like George Wythe without having his house to provide the context. I think CW is right to use the Courthouse and Capital Building (and used to be the Gaol), to interpret the judicial system in its proper context.
I think CW is really fooling itself if it thinks it is a right way to bring the 18th century to light by degrading so important an aspect of the time by practically completely removing the effort at the Great Hopes Plantation..
It all fits. Centralize the activities so people don’t have to move around much. That’s very modern and fits our couch potato society. Replace real workers at the Great Hopes Plantation with “signage”. Make it look dead which is pretty much what much of our small family farms are becoming and how they are perceived. But that is not how it was in the 18th century. And why CW should continue and even intensify the activity at the Great Hopes Plantation.
I think it is obvious I really don’t like that aspect of the “exciting” changes!
Jeff,
The activity being concentrated in a smaller area is primarily interpretive activity. In emphasizing how much exciting interactive experiences will be coming to the 4 sites, I may have overlooked making the point that this is over a pretty huge area. And since these sites will be open all the main operating hours, it’s actually adding to the space available to visit, not taking it away. It’s still a hike!
I’m extremely sympathetic to your points about the quality of Great Hopes and the significance of agrarian life. I don’t want to go too far in my comments because I don’t have any detailed knowledge about what went into the decision, but I think it’s fair to say that we are trying very hard to maximize our commitment to our core mission, which is a city. I’m optimistic that we will find creative ways to expose more people to Historic Farming. As great as it has been at Great Hopes-and it has been great-we want it to be easily accessible to more people. Right now, we think this is the best way to accomplish that goal.
And since more than half the city in the 18th century was enslaved African Americans, we also feel it is important to show that slavery was more widespread than plantations. The Randolph House is part of that strategy, but it’s really important to have that presence all around town.
I totally agree. All the plans sounded ok until I read about Great Hopes Plantation! We love it there. We’ve brought 3 different families on vacations to CW and all have learned and loved the interpreters at GHP.
Why this emphasis on concentration and density? The CW experience should not be the same as that of a crowded theme park. It should be an opportunity to explore, learn, and think about the history of our nation. Learning and contemplation are minimized when there are crowds of people and constant stimulation. The expansive geography of the place is a benefit, not a drawback.
Colonial Williamsburg was never intended to be and will never be financially profitable in the way that a Disneyland is, and will always rely on substantial donations, The more you “Disnify” the place, the less likely you are to impress potential donors with its beauty and value.
Knowledgeable interpreters have always been one of the high points of the experience. There is no way that signage or even interactive exhibits can substitute for them. Placing interpreters in a crowded, attention-poor, centralized area is a terrible substitute. The existence of so many 18th century structures (such as the Gaol) was the original impetus behind the creation of Colonial Williamsburg, and it is a mistake to remove interpretation from any of them.
I fear that the current management is changing far too many things far too quickly, without an understanding of what makes Colonial Williamsburg so special. If they continue, they may well damage its unique character beyond repair. I had great hopes early on, but they have been almost completely dashed.
Jonathan,
I hear what you’re saying and fear that I may have led you to think that this is a more dramatic change than it actually is. This is really about trying to get our talented interpreters to the places where they can have the greatest impact. We don’t really expect the changes to have much effect on where our guests are. If anything, it might decrease crowding by creating more things to see and do in the places where most people already are. But even as we pull interpretation into a slightly smaller area, it’s still pretty huge. These changes have no effect whatsoever on most sites. Instead it’s an opportunity to create rich interactive experiences in a handful of locations. We think you’ll like it when you see it!
It is a bit confusing to read this “exciting news”. My confusion comes from the fact that “CW is a sprawling place” and moving activities to a more central location will not make it any less sprawling. Great Hopes Plantation, the Governor’s Palace, the Capitol, Powell House, Christiana Campbell’s, the Gaol (“Jail”), Bassett Hall, the Williamsburg Inn/Lodge, the Art Museums, Merchant Square, and even the Administrative Buildings (where tours are conducted), are important sites around the periphery of CW that require mobility and effort to see and experience. I think it is only natural to assume that bringing more activities to a central location might cause some “congestion”/crowding in the central location and reduce interest and attendance at the sites at the periphery.
If, in 2017, the CW bus service will only make stops at the Visitor’s Center, the Magazine, and perhaps at the Art Museum/Merchant Square areas, that is not exciting news. If, in 2017, Powell House activities would be moving to a more central location, that would make sense, but hardly exciting for those who have been willing to make the walk to the Powell House in the past. If, in 2017, CW will offer more activities for families and for children, that again, makes great sense, and would be exciting, but it would not matter where these activities were placed in the Revolutionary City — families with children will seek them out.
While CW is not a Disney theme park, I’m guessing that not too many Disney theme park visitors complain that rides and shows should be closer together. But like a Disney theme park, in part what makes CW a wonderful experience is that there are so many things to see and do, and there are always new, interesting and informative programs, exhibits, etc.
I think the “news” might really be that CW is trying to alter its activities and format for the 1-day pass holder who has complained that their one-day pass experience was inadequate. I think more resources could be placed to make certain that the 1-day pass holder is counseled on the best activities to take in during their day, instead.The announced changes may be good for these “1-dayers”, but not for my family that buys Annual Passes every year, and visits for 2+ weeks at a time….
Kevin,
Thanks for your comments. There’s a lot to cover there-I’ll try to address as much as I can, I guess the main point I’d like to make is that we’re responding to reality, which is that most people do come for one day, and most do miss the Powell House. We’re not altering the geography at all, really, we’re just trying to deploy our resources more efficiently. For the most part, that means getting more interpreters near the action, and each other, to create more of the kinds of interactions that show what this 18th-century town really looked like.
The bus routes are the same. We’ve just been encouraging people to get off at a place where they are immediately engaged and can choose to head in several different directions according to their interests. In terms of congestion, this really is doing much more to shift the locations of interpreters, not guests. This is where the vast majority of them already are.
I had not heard about the bus schedule being downsized. As a yearly visitor who pushes her husband around CW in a wheelchair this is not good news. We have used all the stops at different points in our vacation. If we are at one end of CW and have covered a lot of territory, I’m not looking forward to having to reverse my steps in order to get back to a bus stop.
Wendy,
I think you might have misunderstood something here. There is no change happening with the bus routes, nor is there any downsizing in these changes. Visitors in your position should actually be in a much better position to enjoy more opportunities because you won’t have so far to go.
I totally agree! The people who come back year after year for weeks at a time are those who have supported CW the most. Instead of moving buildings that money could be better used on fences that are in terrible condition. Bassett Hall home looks like the exterior needs to be replaced. We were just there and the upkeep was really lacking. My husband and I wondered where our anual gifts are going? Try sending out questionnaires to see what your patrons want to see and enjoy the most during visits. Keep in mind .that visions that new leaders may have are no more important or useful than those who oay and drive for daya to return to the Colonial days.
Brenda,
I don’t have any specific info about Bassett Hall, but I can tell you that I’ve seen a lot of fence and building painting going on this fall. Hope you will be pleased to know that over the past couple of years our investment in upkeep has increased, not decreased. And I certainly agree that the opinions of our guests are of the utmost importance. It’s improving that experience that’s driving these changes.
Encouraging people to walk so they can see the farm along the way to the main historic area would have brought more people to the farm. I went to CW 4-5 times before I found out that if I’ walked instead of taking the shuttle, I’d encounter a wonderful farm. Please consider finding ways to let people find this gem as is instead of moving everything close together. It will be too congested if everything is together.
Yes, Cat! I totally agree. It took me a few visits to learn of Great Hopes Plantation, but once I did it became my favorite part of CW. What made it so enjoyable were the outstanding interpreters! They were so informative and always willing to answer questions. I also liked that it was more authentic being located away from the town.. This article makes it sound as if all the changes are not set in stone. I hope this is one change they reconsider.
Cat,
i appreciate what you’re saying. We’re focused on building a great experience-it’s not just a matter of trying to get more people to take the path by Great Hopes. We’re not moving anything closer together, really; we’re just trying to allocate limited resources more efficiently. See what you think come spring!
Concentrating the activity into a small area also means concentrating the crowds of people. What’s the plan to keep it from becoming an overcrowded, unmanageable mess? Many people do not enjoy huge crowds of people.
My thoughts exactly! My son, with autism, is no longer going to be able to enjoy the freedom of a relaxed open atmosphere as people will no longer be so spread out.
Cat,
We really don’t expect this to have a major effect on where people are, or crowd sizes. It’s much more about putting our interpreters in the places where people already are. And with longer hours and additional days at the four sites, there will actually be more spaces for people to spread out. Time will tell, and if we need to adjust, we will.
Heidi,
I think this is a milder step than it might seem. It’s really just taking interpreters from the most outlying, lesser-visited spaces (which has absolutely nothing to do with the worthiness or quality of those sites) and putting them closer to where the greatest number of guests already are. We want more people to have meaningful interactions with our interpreters, as well as create more opportunities for interpreters to interact with each other. This keeps with doing everything we can to make sure our guests have a great time while we portray the hustle and bustle of the city as fully as we can.
Thank you for your response, Bill. Hopefully this will lead to being able to hire more interpreters and the closing of the Gaol and Great Hopes will be temporary. Yes, I know that they are not officially “closed”, but signage really can’t replace the experience of interacting with knowledgable interpreters.
Absolutely true. I think of the way the Newport Mansions now have self-guiding audio tours. They are non-interactive and, frankly, not as pleasant as following an actual human being around..I think there should be more knowedgeable interpreters, not fewer. Recently we took a tour of the Gaol (a place I remember seeing the first time when I was a child) and the interpreter was one of the reasons the tour was enjoyable. Actually, without one, the place is just a bunch of empty rooms. In one place without interpreters (but with an audio track), the Presbyterian meeting house, my wife and I felt the experience was distinctly lacking.
Another point: You mentioned Randolph House and also the presentation of the enslaved population. You seemed to suggest that Randolph House was going to be some sort of model. When I went there, our guide just kept asking people (in an accusatory voice) “Have you ever done (fill in menial job)?” As a result, I learned a lot about the work my fellow guests had done or not done, but zero about the slaves who worked there and, of course, zero about the Randolphs. Why couldn’t we have been taught about the actual people who lived and worked there? Surely there were records..
There have been some good changes-as a law student I appreciate the emphasis on the justice system, and it is done well. The crowds at the Courthouse testify to that. The “revolutionary city” idea is also good, and so are audiences with historical characters. The Indian encampment was also a welcome addition. Charlton Coffeehouse and McKenzie’s apothecary have been good, as well.
I concur with what many have said about overcrowding in the central area. No matter what the intention is, that is what will happen. I actually like that there are buildings away from the central zone. I would open more of them. Yes, sometimes it can be a pain to walk far, but that tends to be when you are trying to attend an event and haven’t calculated the walking time correctly. The remedy for that would be advising people about walking times and perhaps adding a separate shuttle. But that could cost CW more money, and saving money seems to be the real reason CW has done this.
My wife and I go every year for a lovely, peaceful, and educational experience, without the terrible crowds at more centralized and managed locations (like Disney). Hearing all these “exciting” changes makes me kind of wish we hadn’t bought two annual passes just now.
My wife and I brought our 2 nieces 3 summers ago and they STILL talk about how it was their favorite vacation. We plan on bringing them back this summer. Our next trip will be this weekend for Dogs on DOG street to introduce our “son” Rocket to our favorite place.
Robert,
Look forward to meeting Rocket! Come up to the Capitol for your photo op. That’s where I’ll be!
This really sounds exciting. To me, it means that the Foundation is looking for ways to,grow CW. Yes, it will be hard to see some places not staffed or available, but the input of those who will miss them and why is crucial to the Foundation understanding the impact of a place on visitors. Moving activities closer together in town is a good first step to tethering inout from visitors. Reassigning some staff is also a first step. toward involving more visitors in daily activities. Having a better opportunity for knowing ss to play - and parents to take pictures or even join in - is key to making CW a place families want to return thome year after year. Through these changes, CW will get stronger, For myself - I say let’s foster interest in animals, activities of the small farm and let that lead to realizing Great Hopes NEEDS to be part of CW with a bus stop for those who can’t walk there.
YES! A bus stop for Great Hopes Farm would make it easily accessible and help people to know it exists.
We have been visiting CW for 31 years and love it all. I would like to offer some constructive criticism, if you concentrate more activity in a smaller area, please include more benches with arms and backs so some of our group can wait while others enjoy shops or activity we have already enjoyed. Parents or grandparents can wait with bags backpacks etc. On a bench so we don’t have to drag everything along. Also your webcams are low resolution/ quality compared to other resorts, locations in Eastern states. It is a big thrill for kids to have there friends see them on webcams on vacation,
Mike,
We’re always open to suggestions! We’re always looking for spots to add seating or whatever else is necessary to make our guests more comfortable. In fact, we’re adding shade structures for many of the bus stops. The sites involved here should have spots for respite, although most are outdoors because space inside is at such a premium. We’re also in the process of upgrading our webcams. A generous donor funded two new ones to keep track of the Raleigh Tavern and the dig there, and I think you’ll see it’s a better resolution. So now we’re trying to get all of them upgraded. Hope that’s heartening!
These changes look very exciting.
I am a homeschooling mom of 5. We take a week-long field trip every few years to CW It is always a challenge anywhere we go to keep all the kids learning and engaged. I have 2 kids (the oldest and youngest, strangely enough) who love spending plenty of time in each of trades shops while another one is driven absolutely nuts by them as he needs more hands-on learning. The other 2 mainly enjoy kicking the gravel as they walk and throwing rocks in the creek. Lol. (These same 2 kids’ favorite activity in DC was chasing pigeons on the mall.) The kids-oriented activities excite me.
2 things we have enjoyed other places are an audio walking tour and a scavenger hunt.
As a frequent visitor over the last 16 years (5-6 times a year), I look forward to some of these changes. But balance issues make it nearly impossible to do steps without a rail. I know some of the newly reopened sites have added railings but I hope to see more - especially at the Courthouse. Also, as an Annual Passholder, I really miss the “free” passes for the evening programs. I understand these were dropped because people got passes for more than 1 program at a time. It would seem the computer could be programmed to ensure that only 1 pass per person is issued.
This is a great idea. I’ve always thought that Colonial Williamsburg was a bit too big. Especially if you have elderly family members and kids that you have to drag around all day. Having everything in one location will help things run so much smoother.
I hope everything picks up for Colonial Williamsburg. I have been a huge fan ever since my first visit in 1999 and I have returned multiple time every year since then. Colonial Williamsburg is a lot more than a revolutionary city. It’s our American heritage. The Japanese have their kimonos and samurais. The English have their knights and castles. This is ours.
I agree, Brad! When I was there a few years ago, my family and I stayed for a week-with my parents and my grandmother, it was a lot of walking, etc. and we didn’t come close to seeing everything!
My kids were always disappointed that we could not visit the Powell House at the times that we chose to come to VA, and really enjoyed a trip to see it on the rare times we could be there in the summer. It is sad that we will not be able to share this with our granddaughter even if we travel to Williamsburg in the summer. We also will miss the interpreters at the gaol and Great Hopes-we always learned something when we got the chance to speak with people there., really getting an understanding of the ways of the colonial period that we just can’t get from reading signs.
The other changes you will be making sound great, and maybe with added interest in those areas you may be able to bring back more staff and programs in the areas that are taking cuts. I certainly hope so. Our children, now adults with their own families, got a great education due to visiting places like Colonial Williamsburg and fostering a love of history. We hope they will be able to visit with their children and give them that same gift.
Rita,
The Powell House has been a wonderful site for interpreting family life, but the challenge has been that it’s only open to the public during the summer, and it’s waaaaay on one end of town. Many people just haven’t spent the time to get there. But now all the great stuff that has been done at the Powell House is moving closer to the action in the middle of town, and especially the Geddy. I apologize if that wasn’t clear in the post. We’re excited because we think this will make the opportunity for kids to play much easier.
My husband and I travel to Colonial Williamsburg annually for the fall conference on raising sheep. The Leicester Longwool program is exciting and makes it worth the trip. Eating is an adventure as well as touring the many homes and businesses in the village. Thank you!
I haven’t visited CW since I was a tween in the 80’s. I am planning on bringing my two sons this year as I’ve been anxiously waiting for when they would be old enough to enjoy and appreciate it. We live in GA so this will probably be their only trip. I am growing concerned after reading the comments that we will miss out on some special places and experiences. I was already worried about what will be open as we are homeschoolers and want to attend on the homeschool days. There is a rumor going around the homeschool community that not all the buildings are open during homeschool days. We will have 2 days at most to tour CW. How can I make the most out of our experience?
Well, that’s a great question. I don’t know when you plan to visit, but there are more, not fewer, opportunities to explore during Homeschool Days. There are certain days that specific trade shops or sites are closed, but the vast majority are open. If there are specific places you want to visit, a little advance planning should make that pretty easy to manage if you’re here for a couple of days. (More is always better!)
This initiative is very much directed toward having as much open 7 days a week as possible. The interior of the Wythe House, for example, is currently only open mornings, and Geddy in the afternoons. So this is an important move to making these wonderful (and centrally-located!) historic places easier to visit.
I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see that the town’s richness and diversity has grown by leaps and bounds since the ’80s, and you’ll find there’s not nearly enough time to do everything you want to do.
Follow the blog for more updates on all the cool stuff going on. There’s a newly designed app that’s out today (that’s our blog post for tomorrow!) which should help, and consider ordering The Official Guide if you want a deep dive into Williamsburg’s history that you really can’t get anywhere else.
Thank you so very much for not only a quick reply but a very detailed one at that! I am really excited about visiting as CW left a HUGE impression on me so many years ago. I can’t wait to pass it on to my boys.
Can you post a link to where I can order the Official Guide? I have looked on this site and on CW’s site and have had no luck yet.
Sure! Look here: http://shop.colonialwilliamsburg.com/Colonial-Williamsburg-The-Official-Guide
Very sad to hear. This sounds like a bunch of “PR speak ” for more cuts. I’m surprised they chose the jail with how it could serve as an avenue to discuss the criminal justice system an issue that is very relevant today. What happens to Robertson’:s Windmill. Now that it seems that Great Hopes is pretty much being left for the dead.
Brian,
This really is an earnest effort to allocate limited resources as efficiently as possible. There are no cuts associated with this initiative. It’s about achieving our goal of having a vibrant life visible in the city. When you spread people over 300 acres, there’s just too much space between them sometimes. This is all about creating a sense of some population density, which just requires things to be closer together. And unlike some other sites, we have limited control of the geography. It’s a unique challenge. And, as I’ve mentioned in responding to other comments, today’s visitor isn’t here long enough to take it all in, so we’re trying to make it more accessible by suggesting that guests start in the middle of Duke of Gloucester Street, as opposed to previous generations, where most either walked via Great Hopes Plantation, or took the bus to the Capitol or Palace. It’s just a different world, and we’re doing our best to adjust to present realities.
Well, how about the windmill? It wasn’t addressed in your response.
The windmill will stay where it is, adjacent to Great Hopes Plantation. We’re continuing to work on it.
Will there be interpreters there demonstrating how it works or will it just be a static display with signage?
Old Sturbridge Village has a working sawmill a gristmill with interpreters and they were a hit with guests. The same interpreters worked both. One was open from 9-1, the other 1-5.
I had not visited the goal in some time, but last fall my husband wanted to see it on our last visit there. I was very impressed and hope that some form of interpretation can continue. I would like to see CW use volunteers as well as paid interpreters, which would stretch when sites are open.
Jennifer,
we’re subject to a lot of rules about how wee’re permitted to use volunteers, which may affect whether that would be viable. I’m not certain. But I expect the signage to cover essential elements about the Gaol, and the themes typically discussed there will still be interpreted elsewhere, in particular at the Courthouse.
I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH OF MY LIFE INVOLVED WITH COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG. I KNOW THE HOUSES, SHOPS, CAPITAL, PALACE, ETC. BY HEART. MEANING NO DISRESPECT, I HAD WRITTEN TO COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG AS WELL AS ANSWERING SURVEYS STATING THAT YOUR AFTER DARK PROGRAMS SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS PART OF YOUR TICKET PRICES. AS MANY PEOPLE NO LONGER COME TO SEE THE HOUSE TOURS ETC. I SINCERELY WISH THAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER THIS. OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN TO EVERY INCH OF IT HUNDREDS OF TIMES BEFORE AND THE EVENING PROGRAMS WERE SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO DO THAT WAS INTERESTING.
Thank you very much for weighing in. We appreciate the opinions of everyone who cares so much for this place. Please know that we’re constantly reevaluating the best way to make tickets as easy and appealing as possible, while taking great care to make sure that we do what is necessary to maintain the institution’s financial stability. Please take another look. We think you will find many, many programs and experiences that are new and innovative. Moreover, even the old standbys constantly offer new things to see. Personally, I’ve worked here for 10 years, and not only do I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface, I find new sources of inspiration every day.
I realise resources are tight, and CW has to compete against Busch Gardens, VA Beach, and (further afield) Disney - but I hope at least a significant portion of the historic/educational venue can remain free to those visitors who can’t afford multiple Jacksons for a day ticket. I’m not sure what “inside information” above commenters have to express concern regarding the closing of the gaol or the exit of “key employees” for reasons other than retirement. Frankly, all I see from your above report is *good* news, to the effect that CW is attempting to portray life in the colonial capitol of Virginia rather than just pretty buildings. I’ve been visiting CW since 1962, when I was in 4th grade. The town is much more “alive” than it was then. Add the dust, dirt, dung, sounds, and other sights of an inhabited colonial town - it sounds like you are trying to do that. Good luck.
Thanks for your comment. We share your optimism! And I think your observation about just how much progress has been made to present an increasingly authentic and immersive experience is exactly correct. And we aren’t sitting still. We have a wonderful group of people working very hard to be good stewards of the town and its history.
Please have all of the trades open seven days a weeK which includes the apothecary and wig shops.
That’s our dream! Hopefully we’ll continue to edge closer to that goal.
I pray this works for Colonial Williamsburg. After coming there every year for about 17 years we were saddened on our last visit when we were told by the ticket office that there were no longer the Revolutionary City scenes because the City of Williamsburg did not like you blocking off your streets to allow only paying ticket holders to participate.. Then we tried to find activities to do on your schedule and the ticket person explained that there are really only events now that one must sign up for in advance of coming because they fill up. Otherwise it would be too late (and indeed it was - we couldn’t sign up for anything). Then she informed us (SO MUCH to the DISMAY of our youngest child) that the president was just sending out a letter to the largest donors stating that if Colonial Williamsburg didn’t get funding, it would cease to exist. I first visited here in 1976 with my class trip, and have come back faithfully for 17 years because we are in LOVE with Colonial Williamsburg., the trades, the reenactors, the programs, and those who work behind the scenes to make it spectacular.. We love walking ALL of the streets. Even two of our children want to work there. However, I’ve noticed key program employees resigning unfortunately. which doesn’t appear to be a good sign. Hopefully this will work, because Colonial Williamsburg is a true gift of living history that we all benefit from. <3
Thank you for your good wishes and thoughtful comments. These are indeed very challenging times for history sites across the country, and Colonial Williamsburg is an especially large place to take care of. I’m sure you know that., of course. But we are very optimistic about the initiatives we’re undertaking. They are not mere cost-cutting measures. They’re very well-considered, strategic decisions to improve the experience of our guests.
It’s really a moving target. What worked 50, or 30, or 10 years ago doesn’t work the same way, so we’re trying to constantly adapt with the times. In this case, I think a really important element is that time is so precious for travelers, and we’re all watching what we spend, so we have to make it easier for people to visit the way they want to.
On the subject of special activities, there are several that require signing up, and they do tend to have smallish capacities. But we’re actually trying to move toward a renewed emphasis on the core experience of Colonial Williamsburg, which requires nothing more than the main ticket. There are so many activities going on that it’s really kind of impossible to itemize-I’m thinking of new things like the fire brigade at the Magazine. we’ve grown somewhat accustomed to treating special programs as the main event, but they really aren’t. I hope you’ll take a look through that lens and see what you think, because it really is important to us to offer experiences that all our visitors, not just whoever is near the head of the line, can enjoy.
The Gaol interpreters have always been extremely knowledgeable on the site. Please reconsider removing this staffing.
I agree!
We agree! And we hope that they’ll be even more effective by getting to interpret to larger audiences closer to the center of town. We recognize that this is a trade-off, perhaps even a risk, but we feel that there’s a huge upside. Please come visit in 2017 and tell us what you think! We do listen.
Why on earth is the gaol essentially being closed (“no longer be actively staffed”)? The gaol introduced some of the more harsh aspects of 18th life - an important balance. This decision has me completely stumped - and disappointed!
I totally agree.
I agree… they are always helpful, engaging and knowledgeable!
Please keep the gaol staffed, It was a highlight of my trip to CW that I would not have understood without the interpreter.
We appreciate all the kind comments about the Public Gaol. It’s a very evocative place with an important history. It will be spring before any of us see exactly what it means to use signage to interpret the space, but please give us a chance to find new ways to tell our story. For the Gaol we expect the benefits of putting more people in the center of town to outweigh the drawback of a self-guided tour. We’ll still be exploring crime and punishment at the Courthouse, and we’ll be working hard to keep your trust,
Could you use some tupe of recorded message in the areas where there is not an interpreter? Visited CW for the first type this August. Absolutely lived it but the heat got the best of us #The furnitire tour at the museum was fabulous. Can’t wait to visit again.
That’s an interesting question. I’ll pass it along. I know we’re trying to do more to accommodate people who need assistance in a variety of ways. Perhaps this is one of those opportunities. thanks for the question.
Sounds like back in the day when they laid off all the military interpretive staff and replaced them with talking barrels. Not a good solution.
Wanda,
Yikes! Talking barrels? Don’t worry, nothing like that is in the works, nor have any of my colleagues lost their positions. We’re just trying to arrange our efforts more efficiently. We believe there’s a huge upside to this and hope you’ll agree when you experience it firsthand.
Bill,
What is the purpose of putting more people in the “center of town”? Have folks been complaining about the outskirts of town? Historically speaking, were all of the things that the CWF is trying to “bring closer” historically accurate? Isn’t that the mission of the CWF, to be historically accurate or now is it a monetary issue? Part of the experience, in my opinion, is to walk to various houses, trade locations, and other buildings and to see things on the way to your destination. It almost seems like there is some push to “change history” for the sake of convenience or for monetary reasons. I think we all need to understand the reason behind abandoning certain places and why things have to be brought closer.
Thank you.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Honestly, I’m as eager as anyone to see exactly how this all plays out. And while it would be disingenuous to say that there are no budgetary considerations, it would be unfair to say that this is a financial move or a departure from good history. 18th century Williamsburg was a bustling town. If we spread our interpreters perfectly evenly throughout, it would not capture that feeling at all. If we put everyone on Palace Green and that end of DoG Street, we’d capture more of the real interaction that would have happened but we’d lose the diversity of the setting. There’s a happy medium somewhere in the middle. We’re experimenting with different ways to find it. Hopefully this will work. I know I’m excited to see how it gives us a fresh way to see things, different people having conversations, the opportunity to be surprised in a place you thought you knew.