Categories: Arts & Culture; History & Heritage; Local Highlights
Overview. Thirteen years before the Pilgrims set foot on Plymouth Rock, 104 members of the Virginia Company expedition made landfall at Cape Henry on the shore of what is now Virginia. Soon, they moved inland up the James River, to a spot where the water was deep enough to moor their ships close to the shore. Here, in 1607, they established the first permanent English settlement in the new world -- Jamestown. This is the land of legends -- of John Smith and Pocahontas, of the "Starving Time," when only 60 of 500 residents survived a harsh, famine-ridden year, of struggles with the Algonquian tribes and their chief, Powhatan. Eventually, Jamestown prospered by raising tobacco, a commodity much in demand back in Europe, and became the first capital of the Virginia Colony. Once the seat of government shifted northeast to Williamsburg, Jamestown's importance waned. Today, only the Old Church Tower, built in 1639, remains of the community's original buildings. Jamestown is now a unit of Colonial National Historical Park, and is co-administered with the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA). Jamestown is linked to Yorktown by the Colonial Parkway, which also passes through Williamsburg. This 23-mile scenic drive, which begins near the visitor center, prohibits use by commercial vehicles and enforces a leisurely speed limit of 45 miles per hour. The Jamestown Visitor Center stands at the edge of the original town site. Here, you can view an informative film on the history of the area and take in museum exhibits. Stroll around the island or drive along the loop road where interpretive markers will increase your understanding of the settlement. The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities conducts ongoing archaeological research into the original town and fort sites, and the public is encouraged to watch their efforts as they excavate foundations and search for artifacts. Near the entrance station at Glasshouse Point, you can visit a recreated glass-making operation. Glass-blowers in period costume produce bottles and bowls just as their counterparts did almost four centuries ago. The Commonwealth of Virginia maintains a museum complex, Jamestown Settlement, near the entrance to Jamestown Island. There, you can explore re-creations of the Virginia Company's three ships, the Discovery, the Susan Constant, and the Godspeed, as well as replicas of Fort James and an Algonquian Village. Living history demonstrations are an ongoing attraction, and there is a museum and cafe on site. This facility is not part of the National Park Service.
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