Civic Season at the Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, June 19 – July 3, 2025
Connect with the past. Take action in the present. Shape the future.
Civic Season activities are offered daily, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Thursday, June 19 – Thursday, July 3, and are free with museum admission.
Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown join museums and historic sites across the country to host Civic Season, a series of civics-related programs and events to engage younger generations in the role of American democracy.
Civic Season is a time to explore your story – and how it connects to our nation’s complex past – through events, activities and resources from credible sources.
Take part in a conversation café, decipher an escape room, vote on the most relevant grievance from the Declaration of Independence, and share your wish for America’s future.
“What is your wish for America’s future?”
In the lobby of the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown and the Great Hall at Jamestown Settlement, visitors can share their wish for America’s future in 10, 50 and 100 years. The large wall of wishes is part of a national campaign organized through Made By Us.
Stop by Nick & Mary’s Conversation Café
Come explore how civics plays an everyday role in our lives through community building and creating spaces of belonging. Take a seat at one of our tables, read the Conversation Café menu, and pick a civic conversation starter. Appetizers get people comfortable talking, entrées begin deeper conversations and desserts are short and sweet endings.
Whet your appetite for table talk by exploring the ‘Patrons & Patriots: The Legacy of Nick and Mary Mathews’ special exhibition. Nick and Mary’s hard work and civic mindedness created a dining dynasty and helped launch the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.
You can find the Conversation Café in the Grand Corridor just outside of the “Patrons & Patriots” exhibition.
Escape Rooms
We’re organizing a community food festival, “Around the World in 80 Plates,” but someone is stealing the ingredients! Teams will have 45 minutes to solve puzzles and unlock the missing food items to save the festival.
There are two versions of the escape room. One is suited for families and the other, designed for adults, is a bit more challenging.
One session of each of the escape rooms will start on the hour and half-hour, beginning at 10 a.m. Please sign up to participate in the escape room at the visitor services desk near the main lobby.
Dissent & Protest Project
The Declaration of Independence records many grievances against King George III and Great Britain. Vote on which one you think is most relevant today. Then, engage with real-world First Amendment civic dilemmas and decide what should happen along a spectrum between protecting a protest and placing limits on a protest in each scenario.
The Dissent & Protest Project is located in the Grand Corridor.
Community Helpers Day • Saturday, June 21
Learn about the helpers throughout our community. Local groups will provide information about their organizations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Explore the principles of civic engagement in action through the support these groups provide to our region.
Chips, Dips & Civics Trivia Night • June 25
Join us at Precarious Beer Project, 110 S. Henry St., Williamsburg, June 25, 6-8 p.m., for chips, dip and an exploration into America’s civic legacy, testing what you know and discovering how the past still speaks to the world today. Prizes and munchies await! Learn more and registration
The following groups are eligible for free admissions:
*Local residents – The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation offers free admission to residents of James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg, including William & Mary students, with proof of residency. Free admission for local residents.
Military – Free museum admission to veteran, active duty, reserve and retired military personnel and up to three direct family members with military identification on Yorktown Day, October 19 (historical observance); Veterans Day, November 11; Jamestown Day, May 13 (historical observance); and Memorial Day.
Museums for All – The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation offers free admission to those receiving food assistance (SNAP Benefits) through a partnership with Museums for All, a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Association of Children’s Museums. The offer is valid for individuals and families through SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) and includes up to four visitors per EBT card. Learn more about Museums for All.
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