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June 11, 2012

Colonial Williamsburg’s Spy Week Reveals Secretive History not Found in Books

Colonial Williamsburg guests can learn how to “Save the Revolution” during Spy Week, June 18-25, through programs in the Revolutionary City and the Art Museums.

Programs that will take guests deeper into a world of 18th-century intrigue include:

June 18-Sept. 3, RevQuest: The Lion and the Unicorn. Colonial Williamsburg unveils an all-new online/onsite alternate reality game to enhance and expand a visit to the Revolutionary City on Monday, June 18. RevQuest: The Lion and the Unicorn immerses players in the world of 18th-century espionage as they race to protect the identity of a crucial patriot spy on the eve of the Battle of Yorktown. Based on actual events and real people, the game challenges players as never before to break codes and avoid detection as they navigate their way online and through the streets of the 18th-century colonial capital. Admission to “RevQuest: The Lion and the Unicorn” is free with the purchase of an admission ticket.

For more information visit Colonial Williamsburg’s new summer website at: http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/visit/summer/summer-events.html.

In their mission to save the cause of American liberty, families need a secret name to help protect their real identity. To reveal a spy name, guests can visit Spy Central at http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/visit/summer/spy-central.html. Young agents then pick up their top secret Set of Orders at the Colonial Williamsburg Regional Visitor Center and the game is afoot!

June 19 and 22, Crack the Code. During this family program at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum at 10:30 a.m., young guests learn about real secret codes and ciphers used by George Washington and other leaders during the American Revolution. Try “cracking the code” using spy techniques. This program is for children ages eight and up, and is also offered at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, June 26-Aug. 14. Entry is included with an admission ticket. Approximately one hour.

June 20 and 23, Spy Craft. During this drop-in program at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum at 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. on June 20 at 10:30 – 11:45 a.m. on June 23, young guests try their hand at reading and writing secret messages just like Revolutionary spies. This program also is offered at 10:30 – 11:45 a.m. Saturdays, June 30-Sept. 1. Entry is included with an admission ticket.

June 22, Heraldry Hunters. During this guided tour, families explore the galleries for coats of arms including lions and unicorns. Afterward, young guests will illustrate a book. Recommended for children ages 8 and up. This program also is offered at 10:30 a.m. Fridays, June 29-Aug. 17. Entry is included with an admission ticket.

Programs and exhibitions at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum are supported by the DeWitt Wallace Endowment Fund.

In 2000, the late William Kimball and his wife Gretchen made a major gift to create the William and Gretchen Kimball Young Patriots Fund. One of the largest gifts ever made for youth history education, the Kimball Young Patriots Fund supports Revolutionary City youth programming including the Fifes and Drums.

The Estelle and Harold Tanner Endowment for Technology in the Historic Area, established by Colonial Williamsburg Senior Trustee Estelle (Nicki) Tanner and her husband Harold of Scarsdale, N.Y., helps provide support for new initiatives such as “RevQuest: The Lion and the Unicorn.”

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is the not-for-profit educational and cultural organization dedicated to the preservation, interpretation and presentation of the restored 18th-century Revolutionary capital of Virginia. This town-sized living history museum tells the inspirational stories of our journey to become Americans through programs through the award-winning Revolutionary City program. Explore The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg and discover the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum featuring the best in British and American decorative arts from 1670 – 1830 and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum home to the nation’s premier collection of American folk art, comprising more than 5,000 folk art objects made during the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Colonial Williamsburg is committed to expanding its thought-provoking programming through education outreach on-site and online. Purchase of Colonial Williamsburg products and services supports the preservation, research and educational programs of the Foundation. Philanthropic support by individuals, corporations, and foundations benefits the educational mission of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Williamsburg is located in Virginia’s Tidewater region, 20 minutes from Newport News, within an hour’s drive of Richmond and Norfolk, and 150 miles south of Washington, D.C. For more information about Colonial Williamsburg, call 1-800-HISTORY or visit Colonial Williamsburg’s website at www.history.org.

Media Contact:
Penna Rogers
(757) 220-7121

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