The site of America’s oldest colony, this historical park offers an intriguing perspective into the lives of the country’s first settlers.
Jamestown National Historic Site, also known as Historic Jamestowne, is the site of the first permanent English settlement in the United States. Set within Colonial National Historical Park, the site is the location of continuing archeological investigations. Walk around the ruins of the colony, learn about important archeological discoveries made on the site and attend craft demonstrations.
Observe costumed glassblowers at work in the Glasshouse, located just beyond the entrance to the park. Glassblowing was one of the first industries attempted by the English in North America. See the interpreters make glass in the traditional way, just as colonists once did. See completed glass pieces for sale in the gift shop. Look for the brick remains of the colony’s original glass furnace.
Get oriented to the park at the Visitor Center. Watch a short movie tracing the history of Jamestown, chronicling developments from its establishment to when the capital of Virginia was ultimately moved to Williamsburg. Sign up for one of the regular ranger-led guided tours of the park.
View some of the centuries-old artifacts that have been discovered on the Jamestown site at the Archaearium. This remarkable museum is home to more than 2,000 artifacts, including the largest collection of Colonial-period Native American artifacts in Virginia. Examine everyday objects including utensils, glassware and toys, as well as the skeleton of a colonist.
See archeologists working at the 1607 James Fort excavation site, as they continue to dig up evidence of colonists’ and Native Americans’ culture and history. Most of the Jamestown colony is buried below ground, but you can see the 17th-century tower of a brick church. Just behind the tower find the Memorial Church, an early 20th-century recreation of the original.
Jamestown National Historic Site is open daily, with regular holiday closures and occasional closures for poor weather. General admission tickets include entrance to the nearby Yorktown Battlefield. Find Historic Jamestown on Jamestown Island at the western end of the Colonial Parkway. Learn what life was like for the first English settlers in North America at Historic Jamestowne.
