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My family and I recently visited Historic Jamestowne in Virginia. I would like to share my observations and thoughts about that visit.
Welcome Center
The Welcome Center was the starting point of our visit.
It is a modern building with all the typical amenities, gift shop, restrooms, and dining facilities. It has a theater with shows starting every thirty minutes. You can start or end here to review what you have seen and experienced.
Park Rangers serve as guides and provide short talks on various aspects of the Island. They are knowledgeable, friendly, and are open to your questions. After their talks you can walk around and view the site.
Background
Jamestown, founded in 1607 and named for King James, was the first successful permanent English settlement in what would become the United States. Unfortunately, the company chose to build its settlement on “a disease-ridden, bug-infested” swampy island with no source of fresh water.
The Virginia Company operated Jamestown. Private investors financed the company. They expected the colonists to discover a valuable commodity, or a route to East Asia, which would make the enterprise profitable. The Indigenous people occupied the site. These people were the Powhatan lead by Wahunsenacawh, whom Europeans often called “Chief Powhatan”. It did not take long for the colonists to run into trouble. Within weeks, a force of several hundred Powhatans attacked the settlement.
Settlers built a three-sided fort (Swamp side, James River side, and forest side). A replica of that fort was based on information from the archaeologists.
The belief was that the attack would come from the forest side. The Indigenous people attacked from the forest side.
Tobacco
In 1612, a settler named John Rolfe experimented with tobacco seeds and developed a marketable crop that the colony could export to England. King James I later gave the Virginia Company a monopoly on tobacco, making the trade even more profitable. The company hoped that more women in the colony would encourage the Jamestown men to settle down, rather than return to England after making money. In 1619, the Virginia Company created a program that encouraged single women to travel to Jamestown.
Role of Archaeologists
Archaeologists played a key role in the reconstruction of Jamestown. Along with the remains of three bulwarks used to strengthen its defense, archaeologists also found the remnants of five churches (one built on top of the remains of the preceding church); row houses, including a structure that appears to be the governor’s house; a blacksmith shop; and barracks, among other features.
Reproductions used similar style bricks.
Other Artifacts Recovered by Excavations
This includes pipes (for smoking tobacco) and Apothecary jars. Apothecaries would stock drug jars with herbs, spices, and ointments for patients to take away.
Capital Moved
The settlement existed for one hundred years as the capital of the Virginia colony. The capital moved to Williamsburg in 1699.
Other Historical Attractions in the Area
If you want to do things in chronological order, I suggest you start with Jamestown and then go to Williamsburg, and end with Yorktown. The Battle of Yorktown was the last battle of the Revolutionary War.
Discounted Historic Triangle Pass
You can visit all Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, and Yorktown with an America’s Historic Triangle Ticket.
You can get a discounted America’s Historic Triangle Ticket here.
Heads Up to Veterans Over 62
Veterans aged sixty-two and over are eligible for a free Interagency Senior Lifetime Pass for national parks. This pass provides free lifetime access to national parks and other federal recreation sites for US citizens or permanent residents aged sixty-two or older. The passes are good for you and your family. This writer, his wife, and two daughters saved $60.00 at Jamestown by having this pass.
Here is the link for obtaining the pass:
Free Entrance to National Parks for Current Military, Veterans, and Gold Star Families
Other Sources
This link has information on historic Jamestown:
Historic Jamestowne Part of Colonial National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)
This link has more information on the shape of the Fort at Jamestown
Reconstructing James Fort – Historic Jamestowne
This link has more information on the diseases the Jamestown settlers faced and why.