Williams College Campus Tour
Architecture, history & things to do near Williams College (Williams)
Why Walk Williams College Campus
Williams College sits in Williamstown, Massachusetts, a village of 7,000 people in the northwest corner of the state, surrounded by the Taconic Range and the Green Mountains. The campus centers on Main Street, with West College (1790) as the oldest building. Thompson Memorial Chapel, a Richardsonian Romanesque stone chapel, anchors the north end. The Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA), housed in a building with an 1846 octagonal rotunda and a modern addition by Charles Moore, holds over 15,000 works. Hopkins Observatory, built in 1838, is the oldest astronomical observatory in the United States. The '62 Center for Theatre and Dance, designed by William Rawn Associates, opened in 2005. The surrounding Berkshire landscape offers hiking on trails including the Appalachian Trail, which passes through town.
About Williams College
Founded
1793
Type
Private liberal arts college (nonsectarian)
Setting
Williamstown, Massachusetts, in the Berkshires of the state's northwest corner, near the Vermont and New York borders. The campus sits along Main Street (Route 2), with Mount Greylock—the highest peak in Massachusetts—rising to the south.
Enrollment
About 2,000–2,100 undergraduates, plus two small graduate programs: an MA in art history (the Williams-Clark program) and an MA in development economics (the Center for Development Economics).
Mascot
The Ephs (pronounced "Eefs"), nicknamed for the college's benefactor Ephraim Williams. The school mascot is the Purple Cow.
Free Williams College Campus Tour with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free Williams College campus tour with audio narration. Explore Williams College Museum of Art, Thompson Memorial Chapel, Hopkins Observatory, plus hidden spots like Hopkins Forest and The Clark Art Institute, at your own pace without booking a group tour.
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Must-See Spots at Williams College
- •Williams College Museum of Art — over 15,000 works in a building combining an 1846 octagonal rotunda with a postmodern addition by Charles Moore
- •Thompson Memorial Chapel — a Richardsonian Romanesque stone chapel (1904) with a tower, carved stone details, and stained glass
- •Hopkins Observatory — the oldest astronomical observatory in the United States (1838), now housing a planetarium and historical instruments
- •Spring Street — the charming main commercial street of Williamstown with shops and cafés, running through the heart of campus
Signature Architecture
- •Chapin Hall — 1912 assembly and concert hall designed by Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson; its columned brick facade hosts convocation and concerts.
- •Thompson Memorial Chapel — Completed 1904 in Gothic Revival stone, also by Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson; its tower and stained glass anchor the central campus.
- •Sawyer Library / Stetson Hall — The current Sawyer Library opened in 2014, connected to the 1923 Stetson Hall; it is the main academic library on campus.
- •'62 Center for Theatre and Dance — Performing arts complex opened in 2005, designed by William Rawn Associates; houses the MainStage and other theaters.
- •Williams College Museum of Art (Lawrence Hall) — Housed in the 1846 Lawrence Hall, originally an octagonal library; free admission and a collection of roughly 15,000 works.
Hidden Corners of Williams College
- •Hopkins Forest — a 2,600-acre forest owned by the college with hiking trails, ecological research stations, and mountain views
- •The Clark Art Institute — just down the road, this world-class museum houses Impressionist paintings and is set in a landscape designed by Tadao Ando
Notable Alumni
- •James A. Garfield, 20th U.S. President (class of 1856)
- •Stephen Sondheim, composer and lyricist (class of 1950)
- •Steve Case, AOL co-founder (class of 1980)
- •George Steinbrenner, New York Yankees owner (class of 1952)
- •Elia Kazan, film and theater director (class of 1930)
- •Dominick Dunne, writer and journalist (class of 1949)
Campus Traditions
- •Mountain Day: on a Friday each fall, the president cancels classes—announced by ringing the chapel bells—and students hike Stone Hill or nearby peaks.
- •Winter Study (January term): a one-month period where students take a single immersive course or pursue an independent project.
- •First Days and convocation in Chapin Hall to open the academic year.
- •The Williams–Amherst rivalry, one of the oldest college rivalries in the U.S., contested across many sports each year.
Where to Eat Near Campus
- •Tunnel City Coffee on Spring Street, a longtime student coffee shop
- •Pappa Charlie's Deli on Spring Street, known for sandwiches named after visiting celebrities
- •Spice Root, an Indian restaurant on Spring Street
- •'6 House Pizza, a local pizza spot on Spring Street
Did you know? Williams gave rise to the modern alumni movement: in 1821 a group of graduates formed the Society of Alumni, generally cited as the first general alumni society of any American college. Separately, the school's "purple cow" identity traces to its 1907 humor magazine, named for Gelett Burgess's famous "I never saw a Purple Cow" rhyme.
Visiting Williams College
The Office of Admission runs scheduled information sessions and student-led campus tours during the academic year; reserve in advance through the admission website, as availability is limited around exams and breaks. The campus is compact and easy to walk, centered on Main Street (Route 2) and the shops of Spring Street. The admission office is at 988 Main Street, with visitor parking nearby and in lots off Spring Street. The Clark Art Institute and MASS MoCA (the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, about 6 miles away in North Adams) are common add-on stops.
Walking Tip
The campus and town are intertwined — everything is walkable within 15 minutes. Start at West College on Main Street, visit the museum, then walk to Thompson Chapel. The Clark Art Institute is a 10-minute walk east.
Best Time to Visit
Fall (September-October) for Berkshire foliage — among the finest in New England. Summer for the Williamstown Theatre Festival (one of America's premier summer theaters). Winter is snowy with nearby skiing at Jiminy Peak.
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