The Blog of Colonial Williamsburg
When you have world-class collections such as we have at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg (known individually as the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, now celebrating its 60th anniversary year, and the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum), you want to share them with as broad an audience as possible beyond the visitors who already come through our doors.
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As the father of a one-year-old daughter, I try to be “up” on all things Disney, though I’m far from an expert. But I’m also a curator of costumes and textiles, and sometimes the costuming catches my attention….
So your shopping is done (show-off!), the presents are wrapped, and the family is dangerously close to channel surfing. What to do? Why not spend part of your Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day, with us? There’s a festive atmosphere, amazing decorations, and full slate of family-friendly activities on tap. Here’s a guide that might help….
For the next several months your ticket to the Art Museums at Colonial Williamsburg will come with a side of archaeology! Undeterred by the winter cold, archaeologists are excavating the site of the Galt Cottage, located in what is, today, the Museums parking lot. Had you visited the Galt cottage in the 18th century, however, you would have found it tucked conveniently behind the Public Hospital, at the edge of a ravine….
Hundreds of handmade ornaments adorn the majestic 16-foot Christmas tree near the central stairway of the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. The folk art tree is a Williamsburg tradition dating back decades. And if you’d like to make your own, we can help….
On Sunday, Dec. 4, we’ll be welcoming the season with Grand Illumination, one of Colonial Williamsburg’s most magical—and popular—evenings. We hope you’ll join us for the lights, music, and fireworks. Here are some tips to help you make the most of it!
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The first large-scale expansion and upgrade to the building that houses the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum since its opening in 1985 is slated to break ground in April 2017. “The expansion means the creation of dedicated gallery spaces for fine art, costumes, archaeological artifacts, weapons, numismatics, and a host of other materials that are now too rarely seen,” said Ron Hurst, Carlisle Humelsine chief curator and vice president for collections, conservation, and museums….
When people think of Colonial Williamsburg, they often think of our Historic Area and the costumed interpreters, historic trades, and vibrant programs found within it. While certainly true, that vision leaves out a critical piece of the puzzle: the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library. …
Dogs have played a critical role as human companions for thousands of years. Here, inside our Colonial Williamsburg Art Museums, we have a tour called A Dog’s Life that introduces visitors to various dog-related objects while explaining a dog’s place in society in early America. Let’s walk through the basics of the tour and give you a few extra fun facts about our canine friends!…
Renowned photographer Ansel Adams once said, “Photography is more than a medium for factual communication of ideas. It is a creative art.” African American photographer Albert Durant accomplished both, melding talent and style with a desire to document the world around him. What resulted was an unusually vivid lens into everyday black life and culture in the mid-twentieth century—one that visitors to the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library can experience themselves, throughout the month of February….