Museums at W&L

Museums at Washington and Lee University

The Museums at Washington and Lee University (Museums at W&L) advance learning through direct engagement with the collections and facilitate an interdisciplinary appreciation of art, history, and culture. The Museums at W&L consist of the University Chapel & Galleries, the Reeves Museum of Ceramics, and Watson Galleries. Works from the ceramics, art and history collections are also on view in several campus buildings.

spring and summer hours  

Thursday — Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As of June 1, the University Chapel & Galleries and Watson Galleries will close to the public for the summer. The Reeves Museum of Ceramics will remain open.

Free admission and all are welcome. 

Museums at Washington and Lee University

P: 540-458-8768
E: museums@wlu.edu

Visit the Museums

Plan Your Visit
Visit on your own or with a group, reserve a space for an event, or find out how you can help support our mission.
About the Museums Events and Exhibits Support the Museum

Learn with the Museums

University, K12 and Community
The Museums at W&L hold exhibitions, lectures, classes, and events throughout the year. These events, along with the collections, provide ample opportunities to integrate museum learning into academic life.
University Students University Faculty Community and K12

Explore the Collections

Online Resources
The Museums at W&L is committed to making the collections more accessible for viewing and research.
Online Database and Exhibits History of the Collections Policies and Requests

Museum Highlights

Check out the latest programming and announcements from the Museums at W&L!
Listen and Reflect at Watson Galleries "Inscapes" pairings by WLU Students
"I felt drawn to this piece because the blooming yellow centrality reminded me of a garden bursting forth with life. The splatters of yellows on green and purple feel explosive and full of energy, but the surrounding muted blues and greens balance out this feeling into something slower, more dignified. This harmony led me to choose a song that feels the same, hopeful and swelling with life that moves along a measured, growing path.”
Listen to Amelia’s pairing
Artful Yoga Select Mondays @ 10 AM/Watson Galleries
Looking for ways to unwind and practice self-care? Join the Museums for Artful Yoga, a class inspired by the abstract and colorful art of Evelyn Dawson. Offered in partnership with The Museums at W&L and Generals Athletics, Artful Yoga is open to students, faculty, and staff and will be held at Watson Galleries. Classes will be held from 10-11:00 AM on Monday, Mar. 1, Mar. 15, Mar. 29 and Apr. 12.
Details and Register
Alumni Highlight Check out what some of our alumni are doing in the field!
Featuring India Dial, an Art History major and Museum Studies minor, now working for Christie’s Auction House in New York City as a Junior Specialist in the Decorative Arts Department, specializing in Ceramics and Asian Works of Art.
Meet India Dial

Museums at W&L

The Museums at W&L offer opportunities to engage with the museums year-round.

W&L students help install a temporary exhibit on Latin American art.

W&L students help install a temporary exhibit on Latin American art.

01 / 14
Museum studies students install an exhibit of artwork in Leyburn Library.

Museum studies students install an exhibit of artwork in Leyburn Library.

02 / 14
WLU students installing Modern Arts Goes Pop exhibit

WLU students installing Modern Arts Goes Pop exhibit

03 / 14
Teachers take a tour of Lee Chapel and Museum to learn about opportunities for school group visits.

Teachers take a tour of Lee Chapel and Museum to learn about opportunities for school group visits.

04 / 14
Teachers participate in a museum activity designed to engage students with the scientific equipment located in Lee Chapel’s museum.

Teachers participate in a museum activity designed to engage students with the scientific equipment located in Lee Chapel’s museum.

05 / 14
Students from a local middle school learn about and taste historic hot chocolate during an afterschool program.

Students from a local middle school learn about and taste historic hot chocolate during an afterschool program.

06 / 14
Children attending a family day get a lesson in handling ceramics

Children attending a family day get a lesson in handling ceramics

07 / 14
Inspired by the paintings around them, children create works of art at the Reeves Museum.

Inspired by the paintings around them, children create works of art at the Reeves Museum.

08 / 14
Student Working with Artifacts
09 / 14
Students Cataloguing Work in Reeves Collection

Students catalog work in the Reeves Center.

10 / 14
Reeves Interior Gallery Doors
11 / 14
Reeves Exterior
12 / 14

Erich Uffelman, Cincinnati Professor of Chemistry, and his summer research students Lindsay Burns, Victoria Andrews and Sam Florescu, all ’15, taking spectrographic readings of a painting by Louise Herreshoff in the Reeves Center.

13 / 14

Professor of Chemistry Erich Uffelman (left) and Jennifer Mass, senior scientist at the Winterthur Museum (center), led an Art History 288 class on analysis for Ron Fuchs, Reeves Center curator (right).

14 / 14

Museums at W&L in the News

News from the collections, exhibits, galleries, and more

News

All Museum News