bassett hall

The staff change the house and grounds to mirror the time of year the Rockefeller's would have been there. It really is a look into the family's use of the house when they lived there. The family history is very interesting and the staff are very knowledgeable. Leave some time to walk the grounds.

This is a great place to start your visit to Colonial Williamsburg, even though it is not part of the colonial part of town. It provides insight into the role the Rockefellers played in the development of the restoration. In addition, the interior is as it was when the Rockefellers spent the spring and fall there, with an eclectic collection of folk art that Abby Rockefeller was an ardent fan of. We had the added benefit of being there on a cold and snowy day, so it was just the three of us plus the guide touring the rooms. Fee is included in your fee for all sites.

Very well maintained and artfully decorated building. Super knowledgeable tour guide took us to every corner of the building.

The Rockefellers made Colonial Williamsburg happen and enjoyed coming to town for the Spring and Fall seasons. The house is furnished as authentically as possible although with few pieces owned by the Rockefellers. The gardens are very nice. Well worth a visit.

Your interest will likely depend on your age. The house is frozen as it was when the Rockefellers lived there. It may remind you of your mom's kitchen, or your grandma's, unless you're under 30, in which case it's just a retro house.

We've been visiting Colonial Williamsburg for years bypassing Bassett Hall since it was a little out of the way. Big mistake! Make this your first stop after the Visitors Center to learn how the now Colonial Williamsburg was restored/rebuilt through the vision and generosity of the Rockefeller's. Learn about the family and their long time involvement in Williamsburg. The home is just as it was in 1930 as if they just walked out leaving everything in its place. Start your tour in the adjacent building and see the 15 minute film. Then take the excellent tour of this historic home. Allow about an hour.

I was surprised by the Rockefeller's Williamsburg home. I expected one more example of conspicuous consumption, but this was 180 degrees away from that: a rather modest home decorated with very homey art and furnishings. The story of how the John D., Jr. got involved in colonial preservation and how they became true members of the modern community is worth hearing.

I promised myself that we would stop in here on our next visit and I’m glad we did. There is a nice introduction move that you should see first. The home is dressed as it would have been in the 40s. Our guide was very informative and knowledgeable. I highly recommend this slight diversion if you have the time.

This is a wonderful historic venue in CW. The tour guide was excellent and very enthusiastic about the building and its rich history. Most of the focus is on the Rockefellers. The tour guide made me feel as if she was a personal friend of Mr. and Mrs. Rockefeller. Great!

This was a wonderful tour. I was very thankful for the generosity of this family to Williamsburg. It was a delight!

This was our first tour of Bassett Hall. I have been to the Colonial city a few times but I never had a full understanding of the roll that The Rockefellar's played in the rebirth of Colonial Williamsburg. Our tour guide, Sandy, was wonderful. She knew a lot about them and was happy to share her info with the rest of us. What an amazing story and a needed tour to help put the entire local colonial puzzle together.

We took the shuttle from the Visitor Center to the Capitol stop first thing in the morning. It was not busy and we did the tour there. Then we walked the two blocks to Bassett Hall. We checked in the reception office and watched the film. The film was actually well done with actual footage of John D Rockefeller, Jr. and Abby Rockefeller. It gave background on how the fundraiser from William and Mary College conceived of restoring Williamsburg and got JDR, Jr. to give money ....and more money, until the gifts totaled more than $60 million (that would be more than $1 billion in today's world). The film also gave background on how the Rockefellers made Bassett Hall one of their homes.We had a fantastic tour then, made very interesting by the gentleman who was the guide. I am sorry I don't recall his name, but he is memorable, as he is blind and can answer every question imaginable, giving great detail. Make sure and ask about the folk art painting in the most conspicuous spot at the stairway! The house is a departure from all the Colonial Williamsburg tours and buildings, as it is furnished in the style of the 1940's. There are a few more recent pieces, but the changes made by JDR, Jr.'s second wife in the 1950's have been removed. (Abby Rockefeller died in 1948 while JDR, Jr. died in 1960).It was just a little walk then to Duke of Gloucester Street to enjoy the colonial buildings.

Our guide Chuck White, was informative, personable, and with his stories made the place and vision Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller had for Williamsburg come alive. They were amazing people and we are fortunate that they preserved the history of Williamsburg as they did.

Bassett Hall is located off York Street on the eastern edge of the Historical district. A convenient parking lot is available adjacent to the house. Opening is limited to Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9-5. Start at the information center to schedule your tour and to view a video about the founding of Colonial Williamsburg, the Rockefeller family's involvement and their home at Bassett Hall. The house tour provides a window on the life of this incredibly wealthy family, their wish to fit in to the local community and Mrs. rockefeller's dedication to the collection of Folk Art. Our guide was a wealth of information and the tour allowed for a look back to the 20th mid century lifestyle prior to television.

We visited Bassett Hall last Saturday. They have a great movie before the tour on how the restoration of Williamsburg. The staff were great. They really know and love the home. The home contains all the family furniture (not period furniture). The kitchen is adorable. The butlers pantry area is one I would kill for. The grounds surrounding the home are beautiful.