Explore History at No Cost: Visit Colonial Williamsburg Museums for FREE
Every season brings something new to Colonial Williamsburg.
As a Williamsburg resident, I get uber-excited when seasons change. Not just from the standpoint of what's happening with nature, but also- what's happening with history.
Scrolling this week's events online, I realized I hadn't shared an important bit of news for 2025: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg (Museums) eliminated their entrance fee.
Necessary disclaimer: As a blogger, I use affiliate links sometimes! I may receive commission from purchases I share; it does not change your price but sometimes you might get a discount. I do not receive affiliate income from Colonial Williamsburg.
Flowers blooming in Colonial Williamsburg
Here's what the FREE admission looks like for visitors to the Museums.
The announcement of the new pricing structure is available to view online by clicking here.
The Museums are technically 2 in 1.
Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum.
When John D. Rockefeller first invested in the reconstruction of Colonial Williamsburg, he had a wife who had her own interest in history. Her passion for folk art made her one of the earliest large-scale collectors. She brought folk art to their home in Williamsburg and over time, it was the foundation for a new public museum, the one you see today.
Read more about Mrs. Rockefeller and her collection here. I love the article because it's so detailed by also displays one of my favorite pieces- Reuben Law Reed's late 19th century painting of Washington and Lafayette.
And if you cannot get to the Museums soon, but want to learn more about this piece, click here to open a tab showing the Museums' collection online.
DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum.
DeWitt Wallace and his wife Lila Bell Acheson Wallace were co-founders of Readers Digest, launched in the 1920s. Their donation opened what we now see as a museum sharing true gems of understanding early American history: decorative arts.
This includes galleries and special exhibits of furniture, clocks, and portraits. And so much more!
More to find at the Museum.
Current exhibits include historic clothing, the reconstruction of the R. Charlton Coffeehouse, archaeology, and early American music.
And also: there is a Museum store and cafe for a quick bite.
Side view, entrance to Museums
When and why to upgrade to a full-admission ticket.
If you are swinging through town and love museums, especially decorative arts and/or folk art, take advantage of the free opportunity.
However, there are many reasons to invest a full-access Colonial Williamsburg admission ticket:
- if you'll be here more than one day
- if want to attend programs inside the Museum like Pursuing Happiness or others performed throughout the historic area like this one which is a discussion between Nation Builders
- if you want to take guided tours like this one exploring Nassau Street or one taking you through the Raleigh Tavern
- if you want access to special programming such as Pocahontas Reframed, discussed here
- if you want to visit the historic trades (learn more here) - if the flag is out, the site is open
Click here to see the events calendar- you can pop in the date you plan to visit and see what's going on.
And, yes there are discounts for veterans.
Take it to the next level: you can invest as a donor to the foundation. And that comes with perks! Depending on your donation level, you may receive an annual pass and even the ability to get family and friends discounted passes. You may also be eligible for deals at the on-site dining, retail, and hotels.
Click here to learn more.
Historic trade entrance: Brickyard
Closing words from history.
Below is an excerpt of a letter to Benjamin Franklin- in which I think you'll see the believed value placed in portraits and likenesses. It's why I constantly check out the portraits in the Museums- because they swap them out and you can learn so much!
And note: this is written in London in 1780- prior to the end of the war...
To read the full letter, with citations and notes, click here.
To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 24 May 1780
From Thomas Digges
ALS: Historical Society of Pennsylvania
London 24 May 1780
Dr. Sir
I took the liberty, in a letter of the 9th. Inst. to solicit the favour of You to help me to a full length portrait of yourself.4 It is to oblige a deserving and ingenious Engraver who means to employ his present time in producing a good print therefrom, & to take the plate with Him to a Country where his prospects for future happiness & success are greater than he can promise himself by staying here— He hopes too by Landing with him a good full length print of a person whom America looks up to as Her first Citizen, that it will pave his way to future employment & to a good settlement. We have several good bust & half-length likenesses of you in England but none at full length— What we want is one of these either setting or standing, with such ornaments and emblems to the portrait as You may chuse. The size of the Print is meant to be about two feet by 18 Inchs. more or less as the decorations may require. The nearer the drawing or picture is made to that size the better for my friend the artist.
....
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There is a huge practical disclaimer to the content on this blog, which is my way of sharing my excitement and basically journaling online.
1) I am not a historian nor an expert. I will let you know I’m relaying the information as I understand and interpret it. The employees of Colonial Williamsburg base their presentations, work, and responses on historical documents and mainly primary sources.
2) I will update for accuracy as history is constant learning. If you have a question about accuracy, please ask me! I will get the answer from the best source I can find.
3) Photo credit to me, Daphne Reznik, for all photos in this post, unless otherwise credited! All photos are personal photos taken in public access locations or with specific permission.
