CEO: Colonial Williamsburg must be outsourced to survive

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Associated Press

CEO: Colonial Williamsburg must be outsourced to survive
46 minutes ago

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) — Colonial Williamsburg will outsource many of its commercial operations and lay off workers in response to declining attendance and long-running financial challenges, the living history museum’s top official announced Thursday.

The nonprofit foundation that operates the attraction is in final negotiations with four outside companies that will manage its golf operations, retail stores, much of its maintenance and facilities operations and its commercial real estate, President and CEO Mitchell Reiss said.

“For a variety of reasons - business decisions made in years past, less American history being taught in schools, changing times and tastes that cause us to attract half the visitors we did 30 years ago - the Foundation loses significant amounts of money every year,” he wrote.

A foundation statement said 71 jobs will be eliminated by year’s end, and another 262 employees may choose to work for the contract companies, which agreed to hire and retain eligible employees for at least the next year.

Read more: https://apnews.com/82b3b959f01d4c0c8b8e01b977538c6c

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Colonial Williamsburg to outsource many of its commercial operations in an effort to cope with declining attendance.

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[LisaM]

1. "The less American history taught in schools...."

Bingo.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Heart breaking. Loved going there, although I haven't been there since 2003.

[Tanuki]

5. Same here. I went there twice, years ago. It's a great place to visit,

and there is also a Busch Gardens theme park nearby. I was living in Boston when I went, and got to Williamsburg on Amtrak. You can still do that. Maybe Williamsburg ought to work on publicizing themselves more. I haven't thought about it for a long time, but reading this makes me feel like I'd like to go again.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. This can't compete with amusement parks and internet games. It's a slow paced place

and when I've been there in the past you could just walk in from the village and pay nothing to wander around.

[exboyfil]

4. Our school system still does 2 years of

American History (2nd half of 8th grade, 9th grade, and 1st half of 10th grade). We also have Government for a semester in 10th grade (this can be taken later if desired as well).

I wish we lived near Williamsburg. It is a fascinating place to visit. We do have some local museums which are visited, and we have Living History Farms about two hours from us (occasionally the younger students do that for a field trip).

In 12th grade I debated at Williamsburg (it was the big national winter tournament east of the Mississippi).

[lunasun]

6. I loved the time I stayed there but I have to say it's been twenty years

I wonder what the commercial operations will change to run a profit

[matt819]

7. Move it to China

Or hire H1B Chinese or Indian workers to portray the American founders of America.

Or how about moving it to Ken Ham's park in TN. That's failing, and they have the space. Sure, it isn't Colonial, and it isn't Williamsburg, and they'll want a more prominent role for slavery, but hey, it'll be outsourced.

[Yonnie3]

8. I was raised in the Williamsburg area.

I left in the late 60s, but visited regularly until my parents moved away around 1990.

Some random recollections:

Our summer entertainment was to ride our bikes into town and watch the tourists.

Many years ago Colonial Williamsburg Foundation fought tooth and nail not to pay any local taxes and lost that battle amidst incorrect predictions of doom and gloom.

The Rockefellers funded much of the restoration and it was rumored that they rewarded various important people with positions in the Foundation requiring no work.

The restored town is now surrounded by amusement parks, factory outlets, cheap hotels, resort hotels and upscale housing developments. I wonder how these other businesses are doing.

[OldRedneck]

9. I realize this is a non-starter, but . . .

. . . how about turning the colonial area into a national park?

Of course, under Trump and the GOP, we likely will be converting national parks into condo developments.

[Igel]

10. I went there as a kid.

It was great. Still have the guide book that my father got me.

Thing is, reducing the content will reduce the attraction.

Too many are only interested in what produces pride or outrage.

[Blue_Tires]

11. Jesus Fucking Christ why can't these people leave my state alone??

[nikibatts]

12. Nobody care about history. That's why we are in the place we are in this country.

[amrita73]

13. National patrimony shouldn't have to beg

Less education in history, I think, is a contributing factor for the
current state of everything (Trumpland).

[oberliner]

14. Or just shut it down

That's how the market works.

[politicat]

15. Oh, no. They're doing some critical experimental history of under represented people.

I follow quite a few of their clothier and blacksmith and tinsmith blogs. I live well over 1000 miles away, so visiting is rare to never. If I could subscribe/Patreon, I would.

Their artisans have figured out multiple material culture processes that we didn't know prior to a few gifted artisans sitting down and working it out.Humanity has always lost technology every year, usually because we figure out a better way, but there are times when a lost technique really, really matters because the new technique just cannot be used.

They've got a woman blacksmithing -- which women did with regularity -- and the process to build her fire-safe stays (corset/bra/back support of the time and critically necessary) let us figure out how the type of leather stays used by poor women were made. We never knew before, because nobody preserved the leather stays used by a poor woman. Which also tells us a lot about people like Thomas Paine, who was a stays maker before he became a radical writer. What got him fired up? Maybe it was seeing the horrific conditions in which his fellow people - male and female - worked and lived.

I know it's a fairly faint hope, but maybe Virginia will take it over as a state park?

[csziggy]

19. That is wonderful!

I've only followed historical embroidery sites such as the work on the Plimouth Jacket: http://www.plimoth.org/jacket

But I would be interested in the blogs you mention. Could you post links to them?

[politicat]

21. Okay - mine are mostly costuming and garment construction.

http://twonerdyhistorygirls.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-blacksmith-can-be-stylish-too-c-1775.html

2NHG use Williamsburg for most of their experimental history. writers with a deep respect for history.

http://makinghistorynow.com/category/historic-trades/
The official blog, but...

http://couturecourtesan.blogspot.com
A CW artisan (now past artisan I think)

http://koshka-the-cat.blogspot.com
Another

http://wearinghistoryblog.com
Now a patternmaker, mostly 20th c, but with a backlog of techniques

http://costumerscloset.blogspot.com
British, full range

[csziggy]

22. I've known plenty of costumers - Rennaissance types and SCA people

As well as the theater crowd here (FSU has a good sized theater school). A few of them are also into embroidery, mostly to embellish their costumes in authentic ways.

Thanks for the linksto the blogs - I'll check them out!

[moonscape]

16. So sad. Like many here, I have childhood memories of

Williamsburg, and as an adult, I took my elderly mom there for 10 days. It was off-season, a very quiet, lovely vacation with much daily walking (okay, strolling!) there and in the environs.

I didn't realize until reading the article that it is the largest living museum in the world.

[Paula Sims]

17. From my perspective, that of an annual visitor, they had no choice

My husband and I drive over 1000 miles each way to vacation there for a week. We have been doing it for 30 years. It's nice to get away, see the country (driving through lots of red) and just getting away from it all. Unlike beaches and other places to vege out, we take in historical lectures and demonstrations you really can't see anywhere else in the US in terms of quantity or quality. They tell the real history - warts and all -- not some sanitized right-wing version. Their interpreters that play Jefferson, Madison, Washington encourage education and other librul stuff.

That said, they had to do "something". My husband and I didn't agree when they put in the skating rink, the musket shooting range, or the grass (long debate on that one) but they were bleeding. They're run by a right winger, Mitchell Reese, who at first was pushing a Donald Trump like attitude but, according to many workers, has changed - history first. The previous administration spent money without having reliable estimations of inflow and President Campbell had his beloved "Rev City" - a hokey "reenactment" that no one but he liked. Over 15 years that cost the Foundation and the Corporation millions. Recent changes include moving the Lodge to the Marriott System (visitors can now get Marriott points) and upgrading the method of presentation.

It's almost the only fully functioning living museum where you can get immersed in history. We are donors (not much) and regular visitors. Things change and it's a grand place. They know their competition and are working with them to preserve this major landmark in Colonial History.

Oh, and it's not that small, It's at least 1mile x .75 miles and good morning and evening exercise. We love it there.

[RobinA]

18. I haven't been there since the '60's

and was not a huge fan, but I've always heard it was a mob scene these days. Had one of the best meals I've ever had in my LIFE at the King's Arms Tavern when I was all of 10. I have had a few opportunities to go back over the years, but rumors of crowds, prices, and the fact that it isn't really real made me decide to go elsewhere. Still, I hope historical places don't start falling by the wayside. Jamestown, unlike Williamsburg, is a place I love and need to get back to. Haven't been since evidence that the settlement was NOT in the river has surfaced.

[Paula Sims]

20. We love Jamestowne and the information.

There are two Jamestowne s- the reenactment and the actual site. Both are worth seeing.