Virginia Musical Museum

The Virginia Musical Museum on Richmond Road is one of Williamsburg's more distinctive and offbeat attractions — a lovingly curated collection of vintage musical instruments, music boxes, player pianos, and early recording technology that tells the story of how humans have made and preserved music across centuries.

For families with musically curious children, this is a genuine gem. The collection goes well beyond standard instrument displays: many pieces are operational, and seeing a mechanical music box or player piano perform without human hands is the kind of experience that sparks genuine wonder in kids who've grown up with digital music. The contrast between a hand-cranked 1890s music box and a modern speaker system is a concept that lands viscerally rather than abstractly.

The museum keeps more intimate hours than major Williamsburg attractions — closed Sundays, shorter Saturday hours — and its modest size means a visit is 1-2 hours rather than a full day. It works well as a morning stop before afternoon theme park plans, or as a rainy-day alternative when outdoor attractions aren't viable.

This isn't a must-visit for every Williamsburg family — but for households where music is part of daily life, or where children play instruments and want to understand where modern music technology came from, it's a surprising and rewarding detour.