DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum facts for kids
Entrance, DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum at the Public Hospital of 1773
|
|
| Established | 1985 |
|---|---|
| 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 special place in Williamsburg, Virginia. It's a museum that shows off beautiful and useful objects. These are known as "decorative arts." The museum focuses on British and American art from the years 1670 to 1840.
This museum is just outside the historic area of Colonial Williamsburg. It was started thanks to a generous gift from DeWitt Wallace and his wife, Lila Bell Acheson Wallace. They were the people who created the famous magazine, Reader's Digest. The Wallaces gave money to rebuild America's first public hospital. They also funded the museum, which is connected to the hospital by an underground path. The museum first opened in 1985. It has since grown to include the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum. A new street-level entrance was added in 2019.
Contents
What Can You See at the DeWitt Wallace Museum?
The DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum has many different collections. These items help tell the story of the early United States. You can see furniture, paintings, and silver objects. There are also coins, ceramics, and tools. The museum displays textiles, glass, maps, and even old weapons. All these items are part of the permanent collection of Colonial Williamsburg. They show what life was like between 1670 and 1840.
Exploring the Museum Building
You enter the DeWitt Wallace Museum through or under the Public Hospital of 1773. This hospital was the very first public facility for mental health in the Colony of Virginia. It's an important historical site. Inside the museum building, you can find a restaurant. There is also the Hennage Auditorium. This space hosts interesting lectures and musical performances.
Sharing Space with Folk Art
In 2006, the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum moved. It joined the Wallace museum in the same building. Even though they are in one building, they are still two separate museums. Together, they are known as the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. In 2014, Colonial Williamsburg announced a big expansion. This $40 million addition opened in 2019. It added a lot more space and a new, easier-to-reach entrance on Nassau Street.
Who Were DeWitt and Lila Wallace?
DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Acheson Wallace were the generous founders of this museum. In 1922, they published the very first issue of their magazine, Reader's Digest. This magazine became incredibly popular around the world. It was known for carefully choosing and compiling articles from many other magazines.
Laurance Rockefeller was a long-time friend of DeWitt Wallace. Laurance's parents were key supporters of Colonial Williamsburg. Because of this friendship, DeWitt Wallace became a major financial supporter of the Rockefeller's project. The Wallaces also asked Laurance Rockefeller to be a director at Reader's Digest. The Wallaces loved visiting Colonial Williamsburg. They had been regular visitors for over 50 years before they became big supporters. The museum opened in 1985. This was after DeWitt Wallace passed away in 1981 and Lila Wallace in 1984.
