Colonial National Historical Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Colonial National Historical Park |
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Yorktown Victory Monument, near Yorktown, Virginia
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 Colonial National Historical Park
Location in Virginia
Colonial National Historical Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | York and James City counties and Williamsburg, Virginia, USA |
| Nearest city | Williamsburg, VA |
| Area | 9,349.28 acres (37.8352 km2) 9,271.30 acres (3,751.96 ha) federal |
| Established | December 30, 1930 |
| Visitors | 3,335,060 (in 2014) |
| Governing body | National Park Service and Preservation Virginia |
| Website | Colonial National Historical Park |
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Colonial National Historical Park
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| Nearest city | Jamestown, Virginia |
| Built | 1607 |
| Architect | Peterson, Charles; et al. |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000839 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
Colonial National Historical Park is a special place in Virginia, managed by the National Park Service. It protects many important sites that tell the story of early America. You can explore where the first English settlers landed and where the American Revolutionary War ended. More than 3 million people visit this park every year to learn about its rich history.
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Exploring the Park's Main Areas
Colonial National Historical Park is made up of several unique areas. Each one offers a glimpse into different parts of American history.
Drive Through History: The Colonial Parkway
The Colonial Parkway is a beautiful road that connects three very important historical places in Virginia. It's about 23 miles (37 km) long. This scenic drive links Jamestown, Yorktown, and Colonial Williamsburg. It's a great way to see the historic "Historic Triangle" of Virginia.
Jamestown: Where America Began
At the southern end of the Colonial Parkway, you'll find Historic Jamestowne. This is the actual spot where the first permanent English settlement in North America began in 1607. You can see the remains of the original fort and learn about the early colonists. There's also the Jamestown Glasshouse, where you can watch glassblowing demonstrations. Right next door is Jamestown Settlement, a living history museum run by Virginia, which shows what life was like back then.
Yorktown Battlefield: Winning Independence
At the northern end of the Colonial Parkway is the Yorktown Battlefield. This is where the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War took place. In 1781, the British Army was defeated here, which helped America win its independence.
You can visit the Nelson House, built around 1724. It might have been used by the British commander, Cornwallis, during the battle. The old earthworks, which are like dirt walls used for defense, have also been restored. The Moore House is another important spot. This is where the surrender talks happened in 1781. Nearby, you can also visit the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown and the Yorktown Riverwalk Landing.
Green Spring Plantation: An Old Farm's Secrets
Green Spring Plantation was once the home of Sir William Berkeley. He was a colonial governor of Virginia for a very long time. He used his plantation as a kind of experimental farm. He tried to find new ways for the colony to make money, besides just growing tobacco or trading furs.
Much of the Green Spring site has been untouched since the American Civil War (1861–1865). This makes it a very exciting place for archaeologists. They hope to find many interesting things there, just like they have at Jamestown Island.
Cape Henry Memorial: The First Landing Spot
The Cape Henry Memorial is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. This is the place where Captain Christopher Newport and the future Jamestown colonists first landed in 1607. It was their first stop before sailing up to establish Jamestown. You can visit this memorial, which is on a Navy base.
How the Park Was Created
The area was first named Colonial National Monument on July 3, 1930. It officially opened on December 30, 1930. A few years later, on June 5, 1936, it was renamed a national historical park.
The National Park Service and Preservation Virginia (an organization that helps protect old places) work together to manage the Jamestown National Historic Site. Preservation Virginia owns about 22 acres (8.9 ha) of the original 1607 fort area. The National Park Service owns the rest of the island, which is about 1,178 acres (477 ha). This larger area includes more archaeological sites from the expanded town and old plantations.
Both Colonial National Historical Park and Jamestown National Historic Site are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized as very important historical places in the United States.
