Visit : Accessibility Details

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Accessibility Details

Before You Visit Colonial Williamsburg

The Visitor Center is fully accessible, including the theater where the film "Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot" is shown. An usher will direct you to a convenient location in the theater.

In recognition of our accessibility limitations, Colonial Williamsburg offers visitors with disabilities discounted admission tickets, available at the Visitor Center. Tickets are required at most places of exhibition in the Historic Area. You may also obtain information here about wheelchair rentals, parking next to the Historic Area, and other services to enhance your visit. Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are located on the main floor of the Visitor Center.

In addition to the Visitor Center, Colonial Williamsburg operates the following information offices:

• Gateway Building

  (open seasonally) Wheelchair accessible; near the Palace Bus Stop in the Historic Area.

• Greenhow Lumber House

  Three entrance steps, no railing; three steps at exit, no railing; in the Historic Area.

• Merchants Square - Information Station

  Fully wheelchair accessible; family rest room equipped for visitors with wheelchairs.

• Secretary's Office

  (open seasonally) Six curved entrance steps, no railing; in the Historic Area.

• Bus Service

  Colonial Williamsburg operates a bus system connecting the Visitor Center, the Historic Area, hotels, restaurants, and the Merchants Square shopping area. Several of the buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts. An admission ticket is required to use the bus system.

  Folding wheelchairs may be used on any bus but must fit on the floor between the seats, per DOT regulations. Drivers may assist in loading wheelchairs only on the lift-equipped buses, which are available at the Visitor Center and at any of the regular bus stops around the Historic Area. Tell the first bus driver you see that you need a bus with a lift, and he or she will call for one on the radio. Additional information on bus service is available at the Visitor Center.

  A wide bridge "from the present to the past" connects the Visitor Center to a footpath of about 3/4 mile, which leads to the Historic Area. The path is accessible for wheelchairs, but maneuvering is difficult at times, with loose gravel in places and one sharp incline.

Hotel Accommodations

Colonial Williamsburg operates four modern hotels and also offers lodging in historic colonial houses. The Williamsburg Inn, Lodge, Woodlands, and Governor's Inn offer a variety of accessible guest rooms and baths. Facilities for persons with physical impairments vary. Rooms may include queen canopy beds, ramps, bathtub seats, roll-in showers, hand-held shower nozzles, and closed-caption televisions. The following items are also available for borrowing from the front desks:

• TDD machines
• Portable battery-operated strobe light fire alarms (Colonial House rooms are equipped with strobe light fire alarms)
• Amplifier hand sets
• "Shake-awake" alarm clocks

Please state the nature of your disability and your specific needs when reserving accommodations. Hotel reservations may be requested online or by writing to:

Reservations Manager




Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
P. O. Box 1776
Williamsburg, Virginia 23187-1776

Accommodations may also be reserved by calling 1-800-HISTORY. If you have additional questions concerning information for visitors with disabilities, please write.

Colonial Williamsburg Exhibition Sites

Most exhibition gardens in the Historic Area are accessible to visitors with disabilities. Paths are made of brick, marl, or gravel; sidewalks are brick. Benches are located at intervals throughout Colonial Williamsburg. Water fountains and cold drink vending machines are also found throughout the Historic Areas. Refer to "This Week " for exact locations.

Pictorial interpretations of inaccessible areas are available to visitors with impaired mobility at the Apothecary, Capitol, and Randolph House.

• Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum

  Entirely wheelchair accessible, including rest rooms.

• Apothecary

  Two entrance steps and a threshold, no railing; wide doorways.

• Bassett Hall

  Wheelchair accessible rest rooms in reception building; theater open-captioned with hearing assistance available upon request; three entrance steps to house; portable ramp available; first floor available only (no elevator); grounds easily accessible but nature trails not recommended for visitors with wheelchairs.

• Blacksmith

  At ground level. Ask costumed staff person to direct you to the level side entrance to the exhibit area.

• Brickmaker's Yard

  (open seasonally) A gravel path with considerable slope leads to the yard.

• Brush-Everard House

  (open for special programs) Four entrance steps, no railing; six steps at exit, no railing; gardens accessible.

• Bruton Parish Church

  One low step to churchyard at Palace green entrance; one step into church; wide doorways; inside entrance into nave ramped.(Active parish with regular services; church not a Colonial Williamsburg site.)

• Cabinetmaker

  Building situated in ravine, two entrances; rear entrance accessible via sloping path, seven entrance steps into building, no railing; other entrance accessible only by sloping gravel path; one entrance step into building.

• Capitol

  Graded entrance at south gate; four steps to piazza, no railing; no steps from portico into building. Wheelchair lift located at the south entrance. First floor accessible.

• Carpenters

  (at Randolph Property) No entrance steps; grounds fairly accessible at interpretation location.

• Colonial Garden

  Completely accessible outdoor exhibit.

• Courthouse

  Four wide stone steps to a platform, one additional step into building.Wide entrance door.

• DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum

  Fully wheelchair accessible, including restrooms; ramp in west exercise yard; five front entrance steps with railing; passenger elevators.

• Geddy House and Foundry

  Four entrance steps into house, no railing; portable ramp available for manually operated wheelchairs only; ramp into foundry; yard and garden accessible.

• Governor's Palace

  Seven wide steps, no railing; wheelchair lift located at west entrance for first floor accessibility only; west advance building wheelchair accessible; ticketed guests may bypass building tour and visit approximately four acres of formal gardens without encountering steps.

• Gunsmith

  Wheelchair accessible; ramp in rear behind forge building; five entrance steps with railing; narrow door, small shop; outdoor forge accessible, no steps.

• Harness and Saddlemaker

  Two entrance steps, no railing; small shop; can often be observed from outside through window.

• Magazine and Guardhouse

  Lower level of Magazine accessible; nineteen steep, winding steps with railing inside Magazine; nearby rest rooms equipped for visitors with wheelchairs.

• Mary Stith Shop

  (open for special programs; seasonally) two entrance steps, no railing.

• Milliner

  Five entrance steps, partial railing; wide doorway.

• Play Booth Theater

  (Open seasonally) Audience at ground level. See schedule of stage performances in the " This Week at Colonial Williamsburg."

• Powell House

  (open seasonally)

  Four entrance steps, partial railing; yard and garden accessible; outbuildings have one or two steps; permanent ramp located at rear entrance of main house for first floor access only.

• Printing Office

  Numerous steep steps with railings; alternate entry located west of the steps; ask costumed staff person on site for directions.

• Public Goal (jail)

  Two steps to entrance, two more to yard, no railings; seven steps with railing to house; tour follows uneven route through several building levels; dim light.

• Public Hospital

  Fully accessible; permanent ramp located in west exercise yard.

• Raleigh Tavern

  Five steps with railing into tavern; wheelchair lift at rear entrance for first floor access only; wide doorways; spacious rooms.

• Randolph House

  Four entrance steps, no railing; lift available at north end of attached kitchen allows access to first floor of house via enclosed walkway; wide doorways; spacious rooms.

• Shoemaker

  Two entrance steps, no railing; small shop.

• Silversmith

  Four entrance steps, no railing; small shop.

• Tenant House

  Not Accessible.

• Wetherburn's Tavern

  (Open for special programs)

  Six entrance steps with railing; wide doorways, spacious rooms; grounds and garden accessible; outbuildings have one or more steps, most may be viewed through windows from outside.

• Wheelwright

  No entrance steps, no railing; wide doorway; small shop; some interpretation can take place outside.

• Wigmaker

  Five entrance steps with railing.

• Windmill, Cooper, and Rural Trades

  (Part of Randolph property)Grounds where most of interpretation takes place easily accessible; basket-maker, cooper, and farm activities at ground level; 18 steep, narrow steps to top of windmill.

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• Wren Building, College of William and Mary

  Nine entrance steps with railing, wheelchair lift in rear for first floor access only; wide doorways, spacious rooms; college yard accessible; access to building via heavily traveled intersection.

• Wythe House

  Five steep entrance steps, no railing; wide doorway and hall; gardens, stable, and kitchen accessible; outbuildings have one or more steps, most may be viewed from outside.

Colonial Williamsburg Restaurants

Be sure to state the nature of your disability when you make dinner reservations so that a table in a comfortable location may be reserved for you. If there are entrance steps, waiters and waitresses are available for assistance. Dinner reservations are required at the Williamsburg Inn, Lodge, Cascades, and King's Arms, Campbell's, and Shields taverns and may be made at the Dining Desk at the Visitor Center or by calling (757) 229-2141; please specify special needs.

Campbell's and King's Arms do not have wheelchair accessible ramps or bathrooms. Campbell's, Shields, and King's Arms do have delivery driveways where guests who need closer access than parking lots offer may be dropped off.

• Chowning's Tavern

  Wheelchair lift available to main level from rear of building. Accessible rest room on main level. No elevator; garden dining with no steps, weather permitting; three steps into tavern; partial railing. Located in Historic Area. No accessible parking nearby.

• Christiana Campbell's Tavern

  No ramp or elevator available; no accessible rest rooms; ten entrance steps with railing; wide doorways, spacious rooms; rest rooms in basement down several steep steps; located in Historic Area; accessible parking available.

• Golf Clubhouse Grill, Gold Course

  Nine steps to second-floor grill; dining service in ground-floor cocktail lounge, one step via east entrance; rest rooms (not equipped for wheelchairs) on second floor.

• Golf Clubhouse Grill, Green Course

  Accessible. Equipped rest room.

• Huzzah!

  Restaurant and restrooms accessible; no parking close by; tables are booth seating; two tables suitable for wheelchairs.

• King's Arms Tavern

  No ramp; no elevator; no accessible restrooms; garden dining with no steps for luncheon and refreshments, weather permitting; six steps with railing into tavern; rest rooms (not equipped for wheelchairs) on second floor; wide doorways, spacious rooms; located in Historic Area; accessible parking across the street.

• Shields Tavern

  Ramp at rear entrance; no elevator; garden dining with no steps, weather permitting; five entrance steps with railing into tavern; equipped unisex rest rooms on first floor; wide doorways, spacious rooms; located in Historic Area; accessible parking across the street.

• Wallace Gallery Cafe

  Fully accessible; offers lunch and light refreshments; admission to the Gallery required.

• Williamsburg Inn Regency Dining Rooms and Lounge

  Accessible parking; no step to upper dining room; three steps to lower dining room, which serves breakfast, luncheon, and dinner; no steps to Regency Lounge, which offers a light lunch; accessible rest room on first floor near Gift Shop; permanent ramp at East Lounge entrance.

• Williamsburg Lodge Bay Room, Cafe, and Garden Lounge

  Accessible parking; ramped walkway from north parking lot; accessible rest room on lower level; elevator to lower level.

Shopping at Colonial Williamsburg

• Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, Sign of the Rooster

  Accessible.

• Colonial Post Office

  Two steps into store, no railing.

• Craft House, Inn

  No steps to garden shop; one step to main sales area.

• Craft House, Merchants Square

  Permanent ramp in rear; three steps with railing to main entrance.

• DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum

  Accessible.

M. Dubois Grocer

Three steps into small store.

• Everything Williamsburg

  Accessible.

• Golden Ball

  Four entrance steps, no railing; small shop; located in the Historic Area.

• Gift Shops

  In the Williamsburg Inn, Lodge, Governor's Inn, Woodlands Conference Center, and Woodlands Hotel and Suites; no entrance steps.

• Golf Pro Shops

  Gold Course-one step via Gold Clubhouse east entrance. Green Course-accessible.

• Greenhow Store

  Three entrance steps, no railing; located in the Historic Area.

• Mary Stith Shop

  Four entrance steps, no railing; small shop; located in the Historic Area.

• Raleigh Tavern Bake Shop

  Two steps into bake shop, no railing; located in the Historic Area.

• Prentis Store

  Six entrance steps with railing; located in the Historic Area.

• Tarpley's Store

  Five entrance steps with railing; ramp at rear entrance; located in the Historic Area.

• Tazewell Club Sport Shop

  Accessible. Elevator to equipped rest room on second floor.

• Visitor Center Bookstore

  Accessible.