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March 24, 2005

Museums of Colonial Williamsburg offer engaging, hands-on 2005 family programs

The Museums of Colonial Williamsburg are offering an exciting medley of interactive programs this year to complement three new exhibitions: the patriotically themed “Principles of Freedom,” featuring a rare “Stone” copy of the Declaration of Independence; and two delightful folk art displays, “Outside In: Folk Sculpture for the American Landscape” and “Treasures of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum.” Related program offerings in 2005 include discovery tours, hands-on activities, dramatic presentations, thought-provoking lectures and even musical concerts, supplementing the museums’ daily focus tours, ongoing curatorial and conservation tours, and annual holiday activities.

“Collaboration between Colonial Williamsburg’s museums and the Historic Area has produced a tremendous variety of fun, relevant and innovative programs for our guests,” said Patricia Balderson, manager of museum education. “Our goal is to provide engaging and educational fare that delights guests of all ages.”

Family-friendly programs for 2005 include:

  • Art Adventures–10:30 a.m. Saturdays, March 19, 26, April 2, 16, 30, and May 14. Explore the galleries on this family-friendly tour and create a work of art to take home. 60 minutes.
  • Art Stop–2:30-4 p.m. Fridays, June 3-Aug. 26. Enjoy the galleries and produce an artistic souvenir based on a daily theme during this family drop-in art program.
  • Explore Folk Art-10:30 a.m. Saturdays, June 4-August 27, Sept. 3, 17, Oct. 1, 15, 29, Nov. 12. Craft your own artwork during this activity geared for families. 60 minutes.
  • From Plats to Maps–1-2:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Learn how cartographers used plats to create maps by helping a colonial surveyor draw a plat with period instruments.
  • Map Quest & Map Quest for Kids!–3 p.m. Wednesdays, every other week through Sept. 28. Journey through the exhibition “Degrees of Latitude” and discover what maps teach us about the past. 60 minutes.
  • (New!) Principals of Freedom–10:30 a.m. Fridays, June 3-Aug. 26. Visit the new exhibition about the Declaration of Independence and make your own patriotic souvenir.
  • Stitch Detectives–1-2:30 p.m. Sundays, June 5–Aug. 28, Wednesdays, Oct.5. 19, Nov. 2, 16, 30. Take a “behind the scenes” look into the textile storage drawers and discover your creativity with a hands-on project.
  • Wee Folk–11:15 a.m. Wednesdays. Get your little ones involved through stories and activities in the galleries. This program is geared to children ages 3-7. 45 minutes.

    In addition to regularly scheduled family programs, Colonial Williamsburg will offer two special family weekends – “Spring Break for Families,” featuring Wee Folk at 11:15 a.m. and Art Stop from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Friday, April 1, and Art Adventure at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 2; and “National Children’s Day” from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, featuring music, games and gallery activities for the entire family.

    Gallery tours of current exhibitions include: Focus on Furniture, 2:15 and 3:15 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in “American Furniture: Virginia to Vermont;” Focus on Maps, 2:15 and 3:15 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays in “Degrees of Latitude;” and Who, What & Ware, 2:15 and 3:15 p.m. Sundays & Mondays in “Identifying Ceramics.” Meet the Curator/Conservator Tours, 2:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from March to May, introduce guests to Colonial Williamsburg staff that research and care for museum antiques.

    The Museums of Colonial Williamsburg include the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. The Folk Art Museum is closed for re-location and will open its new site adjacent to the Wallace Museum in October 2006. The Wallace Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is included in any multi-day Colonial Williamsburg admission ticket or by separate museums ticket. For information call (757) 220-7724.

    Media Contact:
    Sophia Hart
    (757) 220-7272



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