The Jamestown Settlement is located in Virginia, west of Williamsburg. This historical recreation of the original Jamestown Settlement offers visitors a chance to see what life would have been like for the European settlers and Native Americans of the 17th century. Numerous activities are available to educate visitors about this important period of history. The Jamestown Settlement opens daily at 9 a.m. Admission is $14 for adults and $6.50 for children ages 6 through 12.
The museum at the Jamestown Settlement provides an introduction to the history and events that shaped this settlement. The documentary film, “1607: A Nation Takes Root,” plays every half hour in the museum theater and introduces visitors to the Virginia Company, the Jamestown Colony and the complex relationships between the native Powhatan Indians, the English colonists and, later, the first Africans. Throughout the 30,000-square-foot gallery, visitors will find exhibits, small theaters and artifacts from 17th century Virginia, Europe and Africa.
In the recreated Powhatan Village, visitors can get a firsthand look at what life would have been like for the Powhatan Indians, the tribe that the infamous Pocahontas belonged to. The village features historically accurate homes, crops and a ceremonial circle. Historical interpreters are available to explain how the tribe would have carried out their day to day activities. Sometimes, these interpreters can be spotted carrying out some of these activities, such as preparing food, weaving cordage, making tools and crafting pottery. Visitors can try their hand at many of these activities themselves, such as grinding corn.
Pieces of the Jamestown Settlement have been recreated to give visitors an immersible experience of what these first settlements in Virginia were like. The recreation of James Fort includes an Anglican church, court of guard, dwellings and storehouse. Historical interpreters can sometimes be found carrying out day-to-day activities of the 17th century, such as blacksmithing, sewing, cooking and growing corn and tobacco. Visitors can put on historically accurate pieces of armor from the time or play popular games of the period, such as ninepins, known today as bowling. Docked nearby are recreations of the three ships that brought settlers here, the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. Visitors can climb aboard these ships and explore the sailor’s bunk or try their hand at steering.
