Get More Than a Ticket — 2 Big Reasons to Invest in a Colonial Williamsburg Donor Membership!

It's my favorite birthday present and almost 200 posts into my blog it hit me.

Since we moved to Williamsburg in 2021, my birthday present from the man I share my life with has been a membership to Colonial Williamsburg (CW). As I continue to write this blog, I decided I need to share why it's the best birthday present ever.

Why share?

Because I want to encourage you to become invest if you have the ability to do so. CW is not state-funded. It's not federally-funded. This means it survives and thrives on donations and ticket sales. It also means it is open 365 days a year; not subject to government shutdowns.

I'm not affiliated or profiting from your donor support of CW. Our household donates. I do not work for CW.

Two notes as I head into the reasons you should donate:
1) you'll benefit
2) you'll be supporting the people who research, interpret, and preserve American history (our shared history!) at what is currently the largest living history museum in the world

When I started this post, I had 4 reasons to drop. I had an a-ha moment. It's really about 2.

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.



Entrance to one of the popular trades being preserved at CW

Reason 1: access for you and the history lovers you hang out with.

The numbers.

Starting at the $250 level (the Capitol Society) and on up to the $50,000+ level (the Daphne Room Circle) you will get a pass. Bonus: 2 annual pass discount vouchers for friends or family. Every season is amazing here (yes, even in the heat of summer if you're dressed right and drink lots of water!).

As it implies, an annual pass = unlimited visits for a year. But it also makes sense if you can only make one trip in a year.

For example:

Say you are visiting for a week and want to wander the area, an annual pass means you can wander in and out of CW at your leisure. You will not have to cram everything into one day, or even three.

An annual pass means you can make plans based on the events calendar and what is happening at other sites in the area you may want to visit.

• A daily ticket means you have to cram everything into one day.
• A multi-day ticket means you cram it into 3.
• An annual pass (current cost: $75/person) allows you flexibility on your visit

Thus, two annual passes cost $150. By joining a society 1 is included and you get a discount voucher for two more in addition to all the other benefits. (currently coming to $20 per pass)

Let me summarize: While supporting the people who make CW's mission come alive, you get an incredible deal on visiting as often as you like, and with less stress through more flexibility.

Brick House Tavern, December, 2025

The St. George Tucker House.

One of the most valuable benefits in my opinion: the St. George Tucker House, our donor reception center.

There's a whole history to the house (ask and you shall receive!), but keeping it simple for this blog post about becoming a CW donor, it's special.

It's one of the 89 original structures in CW and now welcome guests with coffee, tea, lemonade, cookies, and people. The volunteers and CW staff there are true gems.

You can relax, take a needed break, pull books off the library shelf, and learn about the Tuckers and the history inside the home.

Then there's one of my favorite things to do in CW: Donor Visits with a Nation Builder. Yes, sitting in one of the Tucker House's cozy rooms with a limited amount of people (your fellow donors and guests) having a chat with Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, the Marquis de Lafayette, James Lafayette, the Washingtons... you get the vibe.

But beyond that, these events allow you to meet the people that research and interpret these vital historical figures. They "take of the wig."

Yes, access. It's special.

St. George Tucker House, room used for Nation Builder visits

Reason 2: supporting the mission- and the passionate people of CW.

The CW mission is the basis of our support. Administrations come and go. But what's held up at CW: the mission. It's short, sweet, and impactful.

Simply put, the mission is "That the future should learn from the past."

There are countless staff at CW who believe in the value of sharing their research with the world. Who want to ensure trades are preserved. Who are passionate about ensuring primary-source information are foundational to telling the stories of ALL who lived our shared American history.

And I love that.

But CW does more- did you know it has a rare breeds program? The carriages you see on the street, the oxen and sheep in the pastures all have meaning.

The Liberty Lounge hosts active duty, veterans, and their families.

The archaeology that is the literal foundation of historical interpretation.

And so much more.

As the United States celebrates our Sesquicentennial-- 250 years-- of becoming independent in 2026, CW celebrates it's Centennial.

In November of 1926, the foundation, with John D. Rockefeller as the primary investor, purchased the Ludwell-Paradise House on the Duke of Gloucester Street. In my mind (and on paper) this single purchase commenced bringing the 18th century alive for generations to come.

Nathaniel Lasley as Patrick Henry in front of the Raleigh Tavern

Now, 4 calls to action.

Take action.

Call to action 1:

Click here and become a donor by joining a donor society.

Call to action 2:

Plan your visit to CW- book a call with me here and let's talk! Maybe I can help you plan your trip - or at the least, give you a customized tour.

Call to action 3:

Download the ExploreHere app and be ready to find history on the road, and in the area.

Call to action 4:

Click here to have history delivered to the kids in your life. I cannot tell you how many families we see here, but also: grandparents who have told us "when each grandchild turns X years old, we bring him/her here!"

Preserving and sharing history is vital.

Donor society levels range from $50 to $50,000+. As your gift increases, the amount of benefits increase as well.

From access to the St. George Tucker House donor reception center and discounts in restaurants and shops, to access to VIP accommodations in the Colonial Houses, the range is wide.

In the end, determine what works best for you and your budget, as well as which benefits mean the most to you.

Cleveland Bay rare breed preservation program in action.

Closing words from history.

Below is a quote from Peter Inker, the Foundation’s current director of historical research, as printed in a 2024 article on Colonial Williamsburg's website.

Click here to open the article in a new tab.

"... it is important to note that history is never fixed. There is always some new piece of evidence, some new question that has never been asked, that can completely change the way we look at what has been written, and how we interpret the past.

Colonial Williamsburg has always been ready to ask questions, and we are continuing to seek information that has been overlooked or uninvestigated in the past...

If we are going to tell the story of the people of Williamsburg, we need to tell everyone’s story and not be afraid to confront taboos or discomfort. Williamsburg is a place where people can find the stories that speak to them and a place where they feel comfortable enough to ask hard questions."

If you enjoy the blog and are feeling the love, click below to buy me a coffee (or even a tea!) using my online tip jar!

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.

Photo credit: Tom McAuliffe; Yule Log ceremony, 2025