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December 2023 by Grant Fifield
Great museum and though outside reenactment campsite is small it was well done. My only regret was going too late in the day. With kids the outdoor stuff is most interesting and kid friendly. Inside is more adult focused but there was one exhibit where you can type in what liberty means to you and the kids enjoyed that because they show up on electronic lanterns hanging on the tree in the exhibit. If you go with young kids, just set your expectations. Everything is stroller friendly. Would definitely go again without the kids to read more signs.
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October 2023 by J W
Excellent museum with a very well laid out path through history up to just after the declaration of Independence was signed. The guns were the highlight because frankly, who doesn't like them?You really gain an appreciation for what our ancestors went through to gain independence. Highly recommend.
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October 2023 by Taylor Bentall
Overall, it’s really cool to visit and if you don’t know anything about it then I suggest you watch the intro video at the start. We did the combo pass for Jamestown/Yorktown and it comes out to a few dollars cheaper than buying individually, and you can visit for 7 days. Honestly, you won’t need to come back but it’s at least an option.The museum portion has so much information that it’s information overload. They have a few cool displays and there was more interactive stuff for kids than Jamestown.If I were to do it again, I would spend more time outside talking with the people in the settlement and village than in the museum.
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October 2023 by Suzanne Leonard
When visiting the Williamsburg area, this museum is a must see. Yes, it is smaller in scale and scope than the Historic Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg attractions, but that alone makes it unique. You can hit all of its treasures in half a day or, if you're a "read it all" museum goer, stay longer. The exhibits in this museum are presented so very well - truly one of the most interactive, creative, and meaningful museums I have been through. The videos were AMAZING (watch both offerings - they are fantastic). If the weather is poor, the trip here for just the inside is great, but if the weather is in your favor, enjoy the outdoor encampment as well. We got to hold and smell Revolutionary rations, see medicinal cures and tools, and ask questions about farming of the era. Super informative time-period actors were there to help us along the way. And they fired muskets and a canon while we were there.
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September 2023 by Larry Henry
The museum is very well laid out and expertly presented. All of the museums and tours in the area do a very good job at presenting how the countries of Spain and England influenced the early government, cultures, laws, and trades of the early settlers, but could not dictate or control the human will. The story is very well presented of how their early influence affected the course of the development of a new nation, being modified by the commoners in the new land, developing their own culture of human acceptance and endurance and governance. The museum grounds also provide live interactive reenactments of trades, family life, cultures, and military practices. It is well worth the time spent to tour the campus.
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July 2023 by O “Love to travel” H
This is an amazing historical place, well organized, well maintained and well built. I have never seen a museum with so many video presentations throughout the museum. Outside area was so cool with the natural garden, chickens running around and little historical presentations. Plus, they are members of museums4all.
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June 2023 by Firewife Tutumom
This museum is amazing!!!! A must visit for anyone with kids or the history lover? it's an amazing experience for the whole family. My kiddos like museum and history so this visit was a one of a kind experience. They loved everything about it. From the staff dressed up in colonial outfits to the stories they had to share. Very educational wish more kids could experience this.
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April 2023 by Joe B.
Gives excellent information on the American Revolution and is easy to understand. Re-enactments are fun, and there are some hands-on activities for children. Free for local residents.
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March 2023 by Jim G.
Gives an excellent well rounded history of what led to the American Revolution and how it was a truly global conflict as other nations helped in the forming of the United States. Also, gave history related to native Indians and slaves involvement in the revolution on both sides of conflict. Using the app and doing the individual tours on the app helped focus the information from specific points of view, that was very interesting.Not sure how someone gave a review upset about the portrayal of the founding fathers. Seeing how it was the only review that thought that, the person must be sensitive to any honest portrayal of great yet flawed humans. With that said there weren't any glaring negative things said about the founding farmers. Thomas Jefferson himself would have told you that all humans are flawed.
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December 2022 by Dani C.
We had an absolutely fantastic time here! The intro video is welllll worth watching. The museum is very informative and walks you through the stages of the way. Such a good job. History lesson time: In the 1760s, the British government tried to take more control over the colonies. A major reason was the French and Indian War. Britain defeated France in the war in 1763, but the war was very costly. Afterward, Britain decided that its American colonies should help to pay its debts.Taxation without Representation: To raise money, Britain forced the colonies to pay new taxes. In 1765 the British lawmakers, called Parliament, passed a law called the Stamp Act. The act put a tax on legal papers, newspapers, and other printed items. The colonists protested. They were especially angry because Parliament was taxing them even though they had no representatives in Parliament. Because of the protests, the British government ended the tax in 1766.In 1767, however, a British official named Charles Townshend got Parliament to pass several new tax laws. The Townshend Acts taxed tea, lead, paint, paper, and glass coming into colonial ports. These taxes made the colonists even angrier.Boston Massacre and the Tea Party:To keep order, the British government sent soldiers to Boston, Massachusetts. On March 5, 1770, British soldiers fired shots into a crowd. Crispus Attucks and several other Americans were killed. This event became known as the Boston Massacre.On the same day as the Boston Massacre, Parliament did away with most of the Townshend Acts. They kept a tax on tea, however. Then, in 1773, Britain passed a law that allowed a British company to sell tea more cheaply than colonial merchants. On December 16, 1773, colonists boarded British ships in Boston Harbor and threw their cargo of tea into the water. This event became known as the Boston Tea Party.Intolerable Acts:The British government then passed laws that were even harsher. The colonists called them the Intolerable Acts. The strongest of these acts closed the port of Boston until the colonists paid for the tea they had ruined. Massachusetts was put under military rule.The colonists realized that the colonies had to act together. In 1774 representatives from every colony except Georgia met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The meeting was called the Continental Congress. The representatives called on Britain to cancel the Intolerable Acts. The British government answered by sending in even more troops.Let the War Begin: The colonist formed groups of soldiers called minutemen. The minutemen were to be ready to fight "at a minute's warning."In April 1775, Britain sent a force to seize the colonists' military supplies in Concord, Massachusetts. Paul Revere and William Dawes rode through the countryside to warn the colonists that the British soldiers were coming. On April 19, a group of minutemen met the British in Lexington. After a short fight, the British moved on to Concord. Another group of American soldiers forced them to turn back. The Battles of Lexington and Concord began the American Revolution.The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in May 1775. It brought together the military forces of the colonies to form the Continental Army. It put George Washington in charge of the army. Washington spent months preparing his troops for battle.Meanwhile the first major battle of the war took place at Bunker Hill. The British captured Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775, but they lost so many soldiers that the colonists claimed victory. The battle encouraged the colonists.Fighting for Independence: On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. With this document, the 13 colonies became the United States of America.In the summer and autumn of 1776 the British forced George Washington's troops out of New York. The Americans were driven across New Jersey into Pennsylvania. On Christmas night, however, Washington crossed the Delaware River to return to New Jersey. He had 2,400 troops with him and won important battles at Tre
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December 2022 by Shannon M.
Three hours wasn't enough time to see this delightful history museum. The tours were well done and the details were exquisitely presented. I'd definitely return the next time I visit Virginia.
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November 2022 by Tim P.
The founders of this great country would be rolling over in their graves if they knew how they were being portrayed. It's just sad how politically correct the descriptions are. You can't judge the people of the past by todays standards. It's clear this museum has a skewed perspective of the early colonists. History is not pretty but there is no need to degrade the people of that time. Definitely NOT worth the $18 I paid for admission. Go to the battlefield and pass this place on by.
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September 2022 by Gary H.
They did an AMAZING JOB here! We really enjoyed the self guided tour. The props and information was incredible. I believe you can learn something new every time you go there. Teachers need to take there kids here. Not only is the information inside interesting, they have an outside that is set up in the American Revolutionary setting. Employees with very informative information on how it was back then to live. Great Job!
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August 2022 by 67LHW
One of the best museums I have ever been too. Wow, we visited the area and while we were leaving saw the sign and decided to stop. So thankful we did. We loved the homestead that was set up and enjoyed all the staff interactions with us. Then inside what a beautiful well put together museum. It wasn't just walk in look, so many interactive exhibits which kept the kids occupied and interested....One of my favorite stops on our trip.
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August 2022 by The local Yokle
Huge place with lots to see and explore. They have cannon firings a few times a day its super loud bring hearing protection for kids. The museum was very large taking a couple hours to walk through. Give yourself plenty of time to explore this place!
