CW Planner

A Congressional Curriculum

Join James Madison for a crash course in government from some of history’s greatest philosophers and thinkers.

A Determined Spirit

When Charlotte, an enslaved woman on the Mount Vernon estate, is beaten twice, she takes her case to Mrs. Washington to find justice.

A Patriotic American

Elizabeth Braxton, wife of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, reflects on the changes, challenges, and consequences faced by her family during the Revolution.

American Indian Life Series

A different program each day will examine a specific aspect of American Indian history, society, and role in the American story.

Arboretum Walk: Griffin Campus

Find out about Colonial Williamsburg’s Arboretum and the native and exotic trees and shrubs that make up its collection, some of which are uncommon in commercial landscapes.

Colonial Williamsburg's Rare Breeds Program

Learn about the rare breeds of livestock that live at Colonial Williamsburg.

Coopering Basics

Participants will learn some of the basic skills involved in making a bucket. This will include shaping a stave and how to use a brace and bit.

Cost of War

Colonel George Washington discusses the Seven Years' War and its high cost on combatants and non-combatants alike.

Cry Witch

Question witnesses, weigh evidence, and determine the guilt or innocence of "the Virginia Witch." Not appropriate for young children due to subject matter and intense emotion.

Donor Visit with a Nation Builder

Museum members and donors who contribute $250 or more annually to the Colonial Williamsburg Fund are invited to visit with a Nation Builder.

Drawing With a Compass and Rule

Craftspeople have used math to create works of art. With a simple straight edge and compass, we will demonstrate exercises used to create simple geometric forms.

Dye Day at the Weaving Shop

Join us as natural dyes and dye recipes of the 18th century are recreated to achieve a spectrum of dazzling colors.

Embroider Your Way to Organization!

Join the Milliners to learn two of the basic embroidery stitches and use hand-dyed wool yarns to embroider a copy of a thread case from circa 1795.

Every Child Taught to Sew

Learn a variety of stitches and how they were used in the 18th century.

Fire a Flintlock Musket

Fire live rounds at a target from two different reproduction 18th-century flintlock firearms used during the Revolutionary War. Your own transportation is required.

Freedom's Paradox

Explore the paradox of the institution of slavery and the movement for independence in a 60-minute walking tour that begins and ends at the Randolph Yard.

Ghost Walk Junior

Calling guests of all ages! Enjoy this 45-minute ghost tour of traditional spooky stories with a Colonial Williamsburg flavor. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Haunted Williamsburg

Brave centuries of scares, from 18th-century colonial ghost stories to creepy modern-day encounters!

Highland Jubilee

In this interpretive concert, the Jug Broke Theatre Co. plays the tunes, songs, and poetry of Scottish origin that would have been heard here in Williamsburg.

Intersections

The Williamsburg community comes to life in this street theatre experience exploring the daily lives of ordinary people during extraordinary times.

Loquacious Lucy, Queen for a Day

When Lucy, a loquacious enslaved child, learns that her friend has been sold, her father must teach her hard lessons about slavery and instill in her the pride of her ancestors.

Measure of a Man's Worth

While conversing with Major James Innes, Benjamin, an enslaved carriage driver, gradually learns what the revolution has in store for enslaved men and women in Williamsburg.

Meet the Gardener

Garden volunteers answer questions about growing flowers and vegetables in the Historic Area.

Mistakes of a Night

The Hardcastle family is thrown into disarray when mistaken identities, drunken hijinks, and two suitors trouble the peace and quiet of their old-fashioned country estate.

My Story; My Voice

Witness a compelling story from the life of an 18th century person, and then hear from the actor interpreter as they share how they discover and bring to life a voice from the past

Nation Builders Discuss Religion

Join two Nation Builders as they discuss various views and opinions of religion.

Palace Exploration

Experience the grandeur of royal government in Virginia just before its collapse. Explore the first floor of the residence of Virginia's last royal governor at your own pace.

Plane Talk Workshop

Join us for an in-depth, hands-on tour and demonstration of hand planes–one of the traditional woodworker’s most indispensable tools.

Pride not Prejudice

Join members of the Gender and Sexual Diversity Research Committee to explore some of the exciting research they have uncovered.

Queen’s Menagerie

Inspired by a journal entry of John Wesley in 1767, a dreamlike story takes us through the menagerie of Queen Charlotte as an 18th-century opera.

Rediscover Custis Square

Take a guided tour and talk with archaeologists in the field about the current archaeological investigations at John Custis IV’s four-acre home and early 18th-century gardens.

Revolutionary Points of View

Step back in time to the eve of the American Revolution, and there are just as many opinions about war and independence as we hear about politics and religion today.

Small Cellar Stick

Join the Tin Shop in exploring the unique properties of tin-plated iron by creating a practical lighting device, a cellar stick.

Talk of the Town Walking Tour

With an 18th-century Williamsburg resident, as your walking tour guide, experience the events that changed both the people who lived here and the course of our nation’s history.

The Necessity of Order in Battle

Witness a demonstration of tactics that are crucial to success in combat.

The Peddler's Opera

The Peddler’s Opera serves as a hilarious morality play to show the downfalls of profiting off a tragedy.

The Rebuilding of Charity

Charity, a female inmate at the Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds, shares her journey from admittance to release.

To Hang a Pirate

Join with us in a trial of a member of the crew of Blackbeard the pirate that actually occurred in Williamsburg in 1719. Hear the evidence and make a judgment!

Visit a Nation Builder

Step into the past with a Nation Builder. Through stories, discussion, and questions, explore the hopes, choices, and challenges they faced.

Voices of Their Hands

Discuss the lives of enslaved tradespeople on this walking tour. Hear from our historic tradespeople discussing their experiences interpreting skilled laborers and their work.

Walk through History with a Nation Builder

Experience the 18th-century community of Williamsburg and its echoes through time with one of our Nation Builders on this walking tour.

Weaving Workshop

Try your hand at weaving in this class for all levels of experience.

What Holds the Future

This program dramatizes the experience of enslaved servants right before they are auctioned off to raise money for the war effort.

Women at Work!

Join us for a walking tour discussing the often-surprising realities of women’s labor, skills, and rights in 18th-century Williamsburg and the Colonial Atlantic World.