Jamestown Settlement facts for kids
Recreated interior of James Fort
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| Established | 1607 |
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| Location | Jamestown, Virginia |
| Type | Living history museum |
| Public transit access | Williamsburg Area Transit Authority Route 6 |
The Jamestown Settlement is a special museum in Virginia. It's a "living history" museum, which means you can see history come alive! It was started in 1957 to celebrate 350 years since Jamestown, Virginia was founded.
At the museum, you can explore a copy of the first James Fort from the early 1600s. There's also a recreated Powhatan Native American village. You can even step aboard life-sized copies of the three ships that brought the first English settlers to Virginia: the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. The museum also has indoor exhibits with cool displays and artifacts.
The Jamestown Settlement is right next to Historic Jamestowne. This is the actual spot where the first successful English settlement in North America began on May 14, 1607. Historic Jamestowne is managed by the National Park Service and the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation. This foundation works to find old artifacts and learn more about the original fort.
Other nearby history sites include Colonial Williamsburg and the American Revolution Museum in Yorktown. These places tell the story of Virginia and America after Jamestown. The Colonial Parkway connects all these important historical spots. The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation is a state group that helps run the Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown battlefield.
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Why Jamestown Became Important Again
In the late 1700s, people became very interested in Jamestown's history. They wanted to protect the old site. In 1893, some land on the island was given to Preservation Virginia to help save it. This included the old church tower.
In the early 1900s, a seawall was built to protect the area. People thought the original 1607 fort was lost underwater. But in 1996, archaeologists from the Jamestown Rediscovery project found the old fort! This was a very exciting discovery.
In 1907, a big event called the Jamestown Exposition celebrated 300 years of Jamestown. It was held in Norfolk, Virginia, because it was easier to get there.
Jamestown Festival Park: The Beginning
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By 1957, it was possible to hold a big celebration right at Jamestown, Virginia. This was for the 350th anniversary of the London Company settlement. The National Park Service and the state of Virginia created new attractions. These included a rebuilt Glasshouse, a Memorial Cross, and a visitors center.
The Colonial Parkway was also finished in April 1957. This road connects the Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. It even included a land bridge to Jamestown Island.
The 1957 celebrations lasted from April to November. Over a million people visited! Important guests like the British Ambassador and U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon attended. Full-sized copies of the three ships that brought the colonists were built. These ships were the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery.
A big highlight was the visit from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on October 16, 1957. Queen Elizabeth even brought a copy of the Magna Carta for people to see! Other events included army and navy shows, air force flyovers, and ship christenings.
400th Anniversary Celebrations
The Jamestown Settlement museum got much bigger and better in the early 2000s. This was for the Jamestown 2007 celebration, marking 400 years since Jamestown was founded. A special exhibit called "The World of 1607" showed what Virginia was like back then. It featured rare items borrowed from museums around the world.
New permanent exhibits were added, and the old ones were updated. A new movie was also made to introduce visitors to the settlement's story. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited the Jamestown Settlement again on May 14, 2005. This was part of their two-day trip to Virginia. They also visited the state capital in Richmond and Colonial Williamsburg. About 1,200 guests and school groups attended the event.
What to See at Jamestown Settlement
Museum Galleries
The Jamestown Settlement has galleries filled with many objects from 17th-century Virginia. These items help tell the story of the nation's beginnings. The museum's collection shows objects from the Powhatan Indian, European, and African cultures. These cultures all came together in Virginia in the 1600s. More than 500 artifacts are on display at any time.
Living History Areas
In the Living History areas, you can "journey to the past." You can explore copies of a Powhatan Indian village and the colonial fort from 1610-1614. You can also go aboard the copies of the three ships that sailed from England in 1607. In these outdoor areas, people dressed in old costumes show and explain what daily life was like in early Jamestown. They might show you how to cook, build, or farm like the early settlers.
Special Events
The museum often holds special events related to colonial times. These can include military re-enactments, old-fashioned trade fairs, and talks. They also celebrate important anniversaries. For example, "Jamestown Day" celebrates the founding of the settlement. "Pocahontas Imagined" remembers the 400th anniversary of Pocahontas's death. An American Indian Intertribal Powwow is also held there each October.
Nearby Attractions
On Jamestown Island itself, you can visit Historic Jamestowne. This site is run by the National Park Service and Preservation Virginia. The Jamestown Rediscovery project has found many artifacts here. Archaeological work is still happening, with ongoing digs and reconstructions. You can also see the Jamestown Glasshouse nearby.
Gallery
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Recreated house
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Recreated houses
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Recreated guardhouse interior
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Recreated wooden church interior
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Reconstruction of the Susan Constant
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Reproduced original ships
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Recreated Powhatan town
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See also
In Spanish: Jamestown (Virginia) para niños
- Jamestown, Virginia
- Historic Jamestowne
- History of the Jamestown Settlement (1607–1701)
