DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum facts for kids
Entrance, DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum at the Public Hospital of 1773
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| Established | 1985 |
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| Location | Colonial Williamsburg, 326 West Francis Street, Williamsburg, Virginia |
| Type | Art gallery |
| Visitors | 250,000 (2014) |
The DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum (DWDAM) is a fascinating place in Williamsburg, Virginia. It's a museum that shows off amazing British and American art and everyday objects. These items were made between 1670 and 1840.
This museum is located right next to the historic area of Colonial Williamsburg. It was started thanks to a big donation in 1982. The money came from DeWitt Wallace and his wife, Lila Bell Acheson Wallace. They were famous for creating Reader's Digest magazine.
The Wallaces gave $12 million to help rebuild the first public hospital in America, called the Public Hospital of 1773. They also wanted to build this art museum. The museum is connected to the hospital by an underground walkway. It first opened in 1985. Since then, it has grown to include the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum.
The museum has many different collections. These collections show what life was like when the United States was first being formed. You can see furniture, paintings, silver, old coins, pottery, tools, fabrics, glass, maps, and even old weapons. All these items are part of the huge collection at Colonial Williamsburg.
Exploring the Museum
You enter the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum through the Public Hospital of 1773. This hospital was the very first place in the Colony of Virginia to help people with mental health challenges. Inside the museum, there's also a restaurant where you can grab a bite. Plus, there's the Hennage Auditorium, which hosts interesting talks and musical shows.
Two Museums in One Place
In 2006, the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum moved. It used to be on S. England Street, but now it shares a building with the Wallace museum. Even though they are in the same building, both museums keep their own names. Together, they are known as the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg.
In 2014, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation announced a big plan. They decided to add more space to the two museums. This $40 million expansion started in April 2017 and opened in 2019. It added 65,000 square feet of new space. It also created a new, easier-to-reach entrance on Nassau Street.
Who Were DeWitt and Lila Wallace?
DeWitt and Lila Wallace were very important people. In 1922, they published the first issue of their magazine, Reader's Digest. This magazine was special because it collected and shared interesting articles from many other magazines. People loved the idea, and soon Reader's Digest became one of the most popular magazines in the world.
Laurance Rockefeller was a good friend of DeWitt Wallace. Laurance's parents were the first people to give a lot of money to start Colonial Williamsburg. Because of this friendship, DeWitt Wallace also became a major supporter of the Colonial Williamsburg project. The Wallaces even asked Laurance Rockefeller to join the board of directors at Reader's Digest.
The Wallaces loved visiting Colonial Williamsburg. They had been regular visitors for over 50 years before they decided to become major financial supporters. The museum finally opened in 1985. This was after DeWitt Wallace passed away in 1981 and Lila Wallace in 1984.
