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June 20, 2012

Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg Explore the Founding of the Nation

In the 18th century, Virginia patriots established the ideals — liberty, independence and personal freedom — that influenced the founding of the nation and have inspired generations of Americans and others around the world. The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg offer programs that explore our nation’s independence.

Programs include:

  • Explore the Declaration of Independence is a family program that examines the exciting events leading to the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution. Young guests ages 10 and up create a patriotic souvenir to take home. The one-hour program is offered at 1:15 p.m. on Mondays, June 25-Aug. 13 at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, 326 W. Francis St., Williamsburg. Entry is included with an admission ticket.
  • Meet the Curator/Conservator Tour focuses on “The Declaration of Independence” exhibition at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. Patricia Balderson, manager of museum education, discusses how the five 19th-century versions featured in the exhibition tell the fascinating story of the anniversary printings of the Declaration. “Declarations of Independence” was curated by Doug Mayo, associate librarian for the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, and was made possible by a gift from Valerie and Barry Boone of Dixon, Calif., and family. This 30-minute tour is held at 2:30 p.m. on July 2. Entry is included with an admission ticket.
  • A Celebration of the Centuries takes guests on a musical journey with Timothy Seaman, Ouida Archinal and Peter Budnikas as they celebrate the Fourth of July with music from the landing at Jamestown, to the victory at Yorktown, through the Civil War and into the 20th century as played on hammered dulcimer, guitar, flute, psaltery and other instruments. The concert can be heard at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4 at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. A $4 ticket is required for this concert in addition to museum admission.

    For more information on additional festivities during the Fourth of July visit http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/visit/summer/summer-events.html.

    Programs and exhibitions at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum are supported by the DeWitt Wallace Endowment Fund.

    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 in The Revolutionary City and through the award-winning Revolutionary CityTM presentation. 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 Hotels feature conference spaces and recreation activities from spa and fine dining to world-class golf. 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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