The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg are the part of a Williamsburg visit that many people skip, and they are the part many remember most fondly. Two museums share one complex a short shuttle ride from the Historic Area. The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, opened in 1957, shows American folk art, from painted portraits and weathervanes to quilts, toys and carved figures, much of it made by self-taught artists whose names were forgotten for generations. The DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, opened in 1985, holds English and American furniture, ceramics, silver, textiles and firearms, arranged to show how people furnished their lives in the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. The decorative arts galleries sit within the reconstructed Public Hospital of 1773, the first public institution in America created for the care of the mentally ill, and a gallery there tells the story of that building. Both museums are covered by Colonial Williamsburg admission, they open daily from 10:00 to 17:00, and parking at the museums is free. They are the ideal answer to a cold, wet or very hot day.
How the visit works
The Art Museums are included with Colonial Williamsburg admission, so you do not need a separate ticket, and the free shuttle bus from the Visitor Center stops at the museums. They open daily from 10:00 to 17:00, an hour later than most trades and sites, and parking at the museums is free, so many visitors drive straight here and then take the shuttle on to the Historic Area. Check the museum pages for current exhibitions, because special exhibitions rotate through the year.
What to expect
The folk art museum is the more surprising of the two, because the objects are direct, colorful and often funny, and they show a side of early America that the grand houses do not. The decorative arts museum is quieter and more formal, with furniture and silver arranged by period, and it rewards visitors who like to look closely at craftsmanship. A visit to both takes about two hours at a relaxed pace. Both museums are indoors, so they are a good choice when the weather turns.
Making the most of it
Book them for the middle of a two-day visit, when your feet need a rest from the cobbles, and combine them with lunch at Merchants Square. Children enjoy the folk art for its toys, animals and bold painting, and an hour is plenty for younger visitors. In December, the museums are a warm break from Grand Illumination crowds in the Historic Area. Photography rules can vary by gallery, so look for signs before taking pictures.
What to expect
The experience
Two connected museums of American folk art and English and American decorative arts, visited at your own pace.
Best time
A cold, wet or very hot day, or the middle of a two-day visit.
How long
About two hours for both museums.
Tips
Park free at the museums, check the current exhibitions and pair the visit with lunch at Merchants Square.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Art lovers, couples and anyone who wants an indoor break from the Historic Area.
- Families
- Children enjoy the folk art, with its toys, animals and painted portraits, but keep the visit short.
- Couples
- A quiet, absorbing way to spend a rainy afternoon.
- Pair with
- A walk through the Historic Area and dinner at Merchants Square.
- Time needed
- About two hours.
Good questions
Are the Art Museums included in Colonial Williamsburg admission?+
Yes. Colonial Williamsburg admission covers both the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum.
What are the Art Museums hours?+
They open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. Check for changes before you travel.
Is there parking at the Art Museums?+
Parking at the Art Museums is free, and the free shuttle connects them with the Visitor Center, the Historic Area and Merchants Square.
What is in the DeWitt Wallace museum?+
English and American furniture, ceramics, silver, textiles and firearms, in galleries within the reconstructed Public Hospital of 1773, the first American public institution for the mentally ill.
How long should I allow?+
Two hours is enough for both museums at a relaxed pace, or an hour if you choose one.
