This confusing setup has a bunch of national park land adjoined to a privately owned historical site. Focusing only on the national park site, I found a visitor center with an introductory movie. While I was perusing the exhibitions right outside the theater, they managed to close it and lock it without letting me know the movie was starting. Which is a little irksome, but may have worked out for the best as I got to the outdoor site and managed to get a run of it and take some pictures just as a weather front was heading in. Some people had traveled from Michigan to tour the area, which I think was a good decision for them as you don't get this kind of history up there. The national park site has some ruins and signage after crossing a boardwalk over the swamp. While not huge in scope; I spent maybe an hour on the site in total, it gives you a feel for the challenges that settlers would have faced. The signage provides compelling information for visitors of all ages, and the views of the waterfront and nearby ferry are majestic as well. You'll get a sense of historical nuance with a lot of players in the area, and an aesthetic experience as well. There is a wildlife drive and this place does have a parkway running to Yorktown, albeit currently not fully open due to major construction. I did not have time for everything the area has to offer on this passing visit, but there is a lot regardless of how much time you have. read more

See all

September 2024- I visited the historic & original Jamestown , the colony was established there in 1607. Jamestown is remembered for its iconic historical figures like Pocohontas and Captain John Smith. In the Visitor Center, there is a small museum exhibit of Jamestown. The admission to explore all of Jamestown requires the purchase of two tickets since Jamestowne managed by two separate organizations, Preservation Virginia (Jamestown Rediscovery) and the National Park Service (Colonial National Historical Park). This can be very confusing when entering and getting admission inside Jamestowne. Entrance inside the visitor center & museum as well as the grounds are free for active military and their families, who get free passes to all the national parks. Standard fee is $15. An additional ticket of $15 is required to purchase by ALL (even with a free military entrance pass to all National Parks). It was worth it to me and a fair price to pay. Jamestowne was a fascinating visit to walk through the well maintained and reconstructed historical buildings & ancient ground of Jamestown. I like how they reconstructed Jamestown to show how it appeared during colonial times and showcased the ruins of the old church within its duplicated replica. I spent most of my time in the church, drinking in the views by the River, and walking through the grounds of Jamestowne. We ended our visit at Jamestown by going to the Archaearium, the archaeology museum, last. It covers the history of Jamestown 1607-1624. There was so much unknown information uncovered there about Pocahontas and the dark history of the colonists during times of famine. 1609 - 1610 was a dark and horrific time period of cold winter weather & starvation for the colonial settlers of Jamestowne. Many starved to death, some resorted to cannibalism of dead corpses or killing the living for food to survive. They reserved a room about this dark period and restrict the use of cameras & taking photography/ videos of that area in the museum out of respect for the remains of the dead in the room. Very macabre yet still fascinating. There were many areas we did not have time to explore due to time constraints and our travel agenda, yet we made the best of what little time we had there. read more

See all

Great experience! A must see! I learned so much, too! The staff was extremely knowledgeable and answered all My questions with ease. read more

Although you have to pay two fees to enter (part private and part federally owned), the trip to historic Jamestowne is worth it for history buffs. Kids might be a little let down, but you can't beat standing amongst the timbers, sights, and spirits of the first permanent English colonies. read more

See all

I was disappointed the whole thing was not part of the federal parks system like it used to be. You have to pay extra to see the church and the fort areas. We came back in 09 and all of it was part of the main ticket fee. The information in the museum and along the trails was good. The glass blowing area and glass blower were very nice. read more

Lots of history here. It's a great place to explore. There is an extra fee to explore the church, Pocahontas, & Captain John Smith statues. read more

See all

A good introduction to America's first permanent English settlement. There is clear signage along the Colonial Parkway and main roads leading to the entrance. The drive itself is scenic.The Jamestowne Visitor's Center should be your first stop if you are interesting in how our country was founded. This center serves as the gateway to America's first permanent English settlement. There is plenty of parking conveniently located near the main entrance, making access easy for visitors of all mobility levels. The lot is tree lined with plenty of shady spots. It is a single story building. The staff was welcoming, knowledgeable, and eager to assist with questions, tickets, or recommendations for exploring the area. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a history enthusiast, their enthusiasm for Jamestown's story enhances the experience. Inside, there is a small round theater that offers a short film explaining the history and the area. There is a series of Exhibits to the right as you enter. The exhibits are thoughtfully arranged, featuring interactive displays, artifacts from archaeological digs, and engaging historical narratives. The museum area covers the struggles and triumphs of early settlers, with artifacts including tools, weapons, and personal items from the 1600s. The center also offers a well-curated gift shop and a theater with an informative introductory film. If you have the time, there is a walkway to the actual settlement. Overall, the Jamestowne Visitor's Center is a very good way to start exploring America's original colonial past. read more

See all

Highly recommend. Amazing how far we have come since then. But by the grace of God. I love to learn history and this was very informative.

So much to see and learn about here at Historic Jamestown. Pretty interesting to see the spot where America basically began. Took a road trip here with my boyfriend since he really likes learning about our nation's history and I'm glad we made the drive out. What an amazing feeling to be in the place that I learned about when I was in a kid in elementary school. I just imagined as I stared out to the river a ship arriving to the new world and wondering what was seen when they first arrived here. There were so many different sights to see, from a cemetery to statues of John Smith and Pocahontas. I really liked how the archeologists excavated many of the things from long, long ago. I would have liked to learn more about the real events that took place and wish I had a better understanding of why the Europeans enslaved people and killed the Indians who were living in "America' first. This is a pretty cool spot to check out and make a road trip to to learn about the earlier times in America. read more

See all

Maybe this isn't for everyone, but personally I enjoyed visiting the "historic" island of Jamestowne where the original settlement was once based, versus the more touristy reenacted Jamestown (complete with ships) that is a short drive away. In many ways driving around this mostly deserted island has the feeling of being on hallowed ground. There are many places to stop here, but a huge portion of this island is pretty much a long looping drive (or a shorter version for those who are on a tight timeline) that takes you to various areas/parts of the island where notable events took place. But the real draw for me was always how you have to use your imagination to really think of what might have transpired back in the formative days when the English first settled these parts and the Native Americans who lived and walked into the woods. I don't know if this is a place you bring little kids to as they might not take to the idea of sitting through what feels like a patch of woods all day, but I do think there is SO much here that is fascinating and it's totally worth exploring for those who are really into history. There's a tranquility here that definitely takes you back to simpler times, when the origins of what we see today all first started. I also noticed many people riding bikes here, which is also another good way to enjoy the scenery. read more

Where it all began in 1607... The first permanent English settlement in America. Although Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts is a much bigger tourist attraction, Jamestown was established 13 years earlier than the famous landing on Plymouth Rock. I was excited to visit Historic Jamestown to learn about those early colonists. At Historic Jamestown you will learn that it was originally called James Fort, and as you wander around the site you see parts of buildings, monuments to John Smith and Pocahontas, a church still standing from 1617, and a cemetery. The museum was closed when I went. There are a lot of informational posts that teach about early life in Jamestown. The downside is that although these educational posts do mention that Pocahontas was kidnapped and the Jamestown colonists did massacre Native Americans for no apparent reason, it doesn't really dig into all the details. At this point those details shouldn't be glossed over, but should be expounded on. There is another historic site called Jamestown Settlement (which is actually in Williamsburg) that you must pass to get to Historic Jamestown. Do not be fooled into stopping there. Keep going until you get to Historic Jamestown. read more

See all

Historic Jamestowne is one of the most breathtaking sites I've ever been to. Imagine that you're in the same spot where the first permanent English settlement was in the Americas. It would give you chills, knowing that you set foot on the same soil as did those back in 1607. Absolutely amazing. I visited historic Jamestowne while I was road tripping around Virginia, as the entrance fee gets you into both Yorktown and here. Plus, it's near colonial Williamsburg, so you can really make it a whole weekend, exploring Virginia and America's historic lands. Jamestowne is really special. Many would say that there isn't much to the area, as it's just an open space that looks out to the Chesapeake. But that's the beauty of this place! I love that much of it hasn't been built on, as it really preserves such an iconic site. There is a memorial church, statues of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith and a building where you can see artifacts. I would highly recommend visiting Jamestowne if you're a fan of history. Such an unforgettable experience! read more

See all

We crossed a pedestrian bridge (after some turtle and frog watching) and the had a great archaeological tour of the Jamestown fort where we learned about the first colony in the Americas, saw where Pocahontas was married, etc. Highly recommend. read more

If you like history this is a must see. We had a beautiful day and thought it was a good day to get out. My daughter has babies so we had to use a stroller. The fort area was amazing but it was a little hard with a stroller to get around. Getting to the fort area was easier with the boardwalk and paved walkways. The church was beautiful and it was great seeing one of the first colonies in North America. read more

See all

What a wonderful learning experience for children and adults alike. Cannot wait to revisit non restrictions. Being able to see more docents available would be informing. The docents the were there where very informative and engaging with all. read more

If Colonial Williamsburg is Disneyland for history buffs, Historic Jamestowne is an old-school, Coney Island-esque park with a vintage wooden roller coaster famous in roller coaster circles. My point is (if the analogy fell apart) it's very down to earth and focused on excavating the history beneath our feet. Even though we went on a drizzly day, it was very interesting to see the markers and read the plaques to see what has been discovered. read more

See all

This was really cool for history fans and worth the stop by. My only complaint is I'm not sure why Historic Jamestowne and Jamestown Settlement are two different establishments because it's not obvious what the difference is from the sites, I had to read reviews. I only had time for one of them, and I went with the historical site (this one). It was a lot more thorough than I expected it to be and also a lot busier (parking lot really filled up, consider coming earlier in the day rather than later). They have the foundations of some of the sites, a rebuilt fort structure, a map with different historic stops along the way, an archaeological museum, and a pretty thorough informational museum section in the main building. So a lot to do! There are also like 3 tours you can join throughout the day, but I only did one with re-enactor "John Rolfe" (Pocahantas's husband, although the actor was much older than the figure when he died, but I could suspend disbelief) which was really worth it and highly recommended. There are signs around, but the guide really described everything and made jokes and kept it entertaining before we went out on our own. The fort setting was fun, you could really put yourself in what it must have been like as you look onto the giant James River. They even had a time appropriate British Flag (pre-Ireland's addition.) The archaeological museum's most memorable part was about the cannibalism and display of actual skeletons (creepy and fascinating) but also discussed how excavations gave them information and about the native tribes. The info center in the visitor's center had a movie that was a nice intro, not very in depth. They also had a timeline of Virginia history and a lot more info if you want to soak it all in. Decent gift shop; there's a cafe on site that actually kinda sucked (every sandwich was trying to be super fancy when I just wanted like turkey). I'd recommend coming to this site. It estimates spending like 2 hours here but I spent more. Worth the visit! read more

See all

Jamestowne is a historic site in east Virginia and is home to the first permanent English settlement established in 1607. read more

See all

Jamestown was great, lots of things to do here and to look at. Bunch of history here as well, it was a lot of fun

Another of the big 5 historic attractions in the Williamsburg area, this an actual location from the early days of Jamestown. This site is a bit of a mishmash in that part of this attraction is managed by the national parks, and other parts are managed by a non-profit called Preservation Virginia. There are various things to look at and do here including a somewhat confusing museum about Jamestown, a cool artifacts museum, assorted memorials, and a few ruins. This site would only warrant 4 stars in that there's not a whole lot to see amongst the ruins (basically building foundations), but what makes this a 5 star attraction were the talks given by the Preservation Virginia staff. They provided fascinating info about this site....the real location of James Fort! You are standing where history was made. Try to get a multiple site ticket as that will defray the cost of admission significantly. read more

Visited Jamestowne over the weekend and it was AMAZING! If I could give Will (and the site) extra stars I certainly would! I have visited many historical sites and interacted with many guides but Historic Jamestowne was by far one of the best! Will literally tells the history with a twinkle in his eyes... it doesn't get any better! I am a descendant of two lines who arrived in Jamestowne, one in 1609 and the other a Jacobite prisoner of the King in 1716... I was told "Welcome Home" "Welcome Home genetic material" and I felt like he really meant it! read more

Historic Jamestowne - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Jamestown, Virginia

Much different experience than Williamsburg- overall we liked it much better, especially that they had both some inside museum and outside portions (it rained 3/5 days of our vacation ). I liked that there was more to read and learn. We also loved being able to explore the ships and really visualize what it would've been like to travel to the US in the 1600s. Definitely recommend visiting the Jamestown Settlement. read more

My wife and I visited here a couple weeks ago and as someone that loves history, I really enjoyed it and the drive along the water to get there. I just wish they had a lot more about the Native Americans. read more

If I could choose one word to summarize my visit here, it would be surreal. Historic Jamestowne was a surreal experience. Surreal because this was the Jamestowne I read about in my elementary school books and learned about in countless classes after that. I stood where the settlers ate, laughed, prayed, and endured unimaginable hardships. I stood over the four-centuries-old graves of people with untold stories and untimely deaths. I looked down on an active archaeological excavation, with unearthed brick and fragments and objects yet to be catalogued or cleaned. The site of the first landing was nothing but a sign; a large tree straight ahead from it even blocked the view of the river. It was a very quiet, unassuming place for such critical events in our country's history. But it was all there, and to me it really did have this sort of otherworldly feel to it nonetheless. The Archaearium on site is a museum devoted exclusively to objects found in the area, and it is fascinating. (It is also a well needed, air conditioned respite on hot days!) There are personal items, an entire well, skeletons, preserved corn, pots, weapons, armor, and all sorts of things on display. I found the facial reconstructions based on the skeletons/DNA to be quite fascinating. You literally stare history right in the face! Overall, it was truly a remarkable experience. The grounds are well cared for, and once there you really have free reign of the whole place. Spend as much or as little time as you like anywhere on site. FYIs: there is a small cafe located on site. If you decide to go to the glass blowing facility, be sure to get a separate ticket when you buy your Jamestowne tickets, because they do not sell tickets at the glass blowing facility. There is not a ton of shade or shelter-wear sunscreen/being umbrellas/stay weather aware! read more

See all

Phenomenal experience. The settlement is under constant excavation with archaeologists consistently working on different portions of the settlements. The NPS has the settlement crawling with knowledgeable volunteers who are passionate about the topic. There are two museums on site. The first one in the visitors center (directly when you arrive) is great. It provides a breadth of information on the settlement. It includes a general timeline of the development and thereafter struggles of Jamestown. The second museum is situated right outside of the settlement, approximately where the ship first landed and is an archaeological museum. This is where most of the Jamestown artifacts are. This extremely modern museum, is not only gorgeous but designed in an extremely smart way - it is balanced to where it rests above the below remains of one of the first state houses in US history! An architectural feat. Take the guided tour if possible, or go on ones own and ask a volunteer any questions you have. It's a positively lovely experience. read more

Historic Jamestowne - Statue of John Smith with the recreated 1607 and historic 1609 church in background. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Jamestown, Virginia

See all

The actual site of the original Jamestown Fort just discovered less than 30 years ago. Very little remains and artifacts are still being recovered. There are only a few things to see such as wells and reconstructed structures, but the museum did have a good number of artifacts. Ticket options for Jamestown as well as everything within the historical triangle are confusing. Bundles, multi-day options and some are free if you have a National Park pass and some aren't. This is the actual historic area, but the reconstructed fort with historical interpreters is at Jamestown Settlement, and it isn't within walking distance. Once you sort it all out it is a fun place to visit. read more

This place was SO INTERESTING ! very well done and we had a lot of fun doing archaeology activities and listening to living history. We walked around and saw the church Pochantas married John Rolfe in! We had a great time! Also two things we went in January and do not have kids and still really enjoyed it! read more

Historic Jamestowne - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Jamestown, Virginia

I thought this was going to be a place with colonial dressed people, but it's more of a historical/archaeological site. I was somewhat disappointed when they told me this at the visitor center, but I was already there so I paid admission and went on my way. (Btw, Williamsburg is the place for colonial dressed people!) I did 2 (free) tours...one one of the archaeological finds and another of the flora at the site. Meet at the obelisk on the hour for the tour. Both tours were great, I especially enjoyed the plant tour given by this bald guy (he pointed it out and even had a nickname which I forget). Since both tour guides are archaeologists, they were very invested in their finds and excited to share/explain things with the group. For the archeological tour, the woman dug up an artifact that was on display, so that was cool. The guy who gave the flora tour was super energetic and his tour was enjoyable all around. I went on Jamestowne Day and it was during a heat wave so it was extremely hot. There isn't much shade so if you're going in the warm months, bring a hat and water! read more

Historic Jamestowne - Meet at the obelisk on the top of the hour for a free tour - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Jamestown, Virginia

This is worth the stop to get a view of the actual place where the first settlers landed and walk on the land of the first settlers. There are original artifacts on display, recreated structures that honor the past and demonstrate an accurate portrayal of history as evidenced by the archeological findings. I love that they had indoor museums, live people acting out a living history demonstration and explaining things for all audiences to understand. It's a family friendly place, there's a restaurant near the water where you can eat or get a cold drink and sit outside watching the ferry go by. The air smells like freshwater near the bank of the waterway, and it's so peaceful to walk by the waters edge to take in the sounds, smells, and breeze. Inside the museums, there were QR codes you can look up to watch videos on youtube of what you were looking at. There's really so much to see and take in, but it will probably take a couple of hours if you take your time. And, the bathrooms were clean, workers were helpful, and parking was easy. Also, if you're in the military you get in free! read more

Wow! What a wonderful piece of American history! I LOVED Historic Jamestown (NOT to be confused with Jamestown Settlement, which is a living history museum and is not the site of the original settlement. Both have separate fees). James Fort was constructed by English settlers in the spring of 1607. The Jamestown Rediscovery Project, begun in 1994 by Dr. William Kelso, has located over ninety percent of the 1607 fort on land (some lost to the river due to erosion). This takes a lot of time to see (bring your walking shoes and some water) and I would highly recommend taking one of the tours. I caught the end of one and learned a lot, wish I would have started from the beginning. So much history, a well thought out place, lots of markets indicating what is what. I'd start by heading toward the church first and then looping around (so, take a right). That way you can get the feel of how it progressed. Also, do go to the museum. There are tons of artifacts, even a body that they dug up! Very interesting stuff here. Do not miss this!! And stop by the glassblowing house on your way out. The site was privately owned in the early part of the 20th century and the river and weather were eating away at Jamestown. Many thought the location of the original fort was now within the river itself. Around 1900 a sea wall was built to protect the site from further erosion. In addition to the church, brick remains of two dozen or so foundations that were built later are found to the east, where the town grew outward away from the fortress walls. The site lay mostly dormant until a few years ago when an archeologist from the college of William and Mary thought the fort may not be completely lost to the James River. Since the remains of the fort were first discovered, over a million artifacts have been discovered and cataloged. Many of the most interesting items are on display at a new museum about 100 yards away from the active dig site. The outline of the original fort and building foundations are shown in the diagram. read more

See all

IF, and hopefully you don't have to make this choice although if you do it's fairly easy, you only have time to see one site in the Historic Triangle area this is the one that you should do bar none. Yes I'm saying that you should skip Yorktown (quasi-irrelevant) and skip CW (mostly fake reproductions along with tickets being grossly overpriced) and skip the other Jamestown place as that while nice is fairly Disney-ish in how they choose to interpret things. Yes my friends, this place is the one that mixes it right in terms of price, historical authenticity and accessibility. A few noteworthy highlights: Make time for the movie in the visitor center. It's short and does a good job giving you a quick synopsis of what the 1607ish era would have been like for Smith and the first group of settlers. Take some kind of a tour. If you are a wonk, there are tours done once or twice a month (in season I believe) that are actually led by Dr. Kelso himself or by his #2. Sure they cost an extra $30 dollars or so but you are getting the stories and information from the source. If you can't do that then your next best bet is to hope that Ranger Jerome is working that day and to take one of the 45 minute Ranger led tours. He is fantastic in both his knowledge of the subject and in particular with his delivery. Don't forget to stop and watch the glassblowers before or after you visit the fort. A+ Give yourself time to enjoy this place as it is spread out over a fairly large area and if you take a tour, go to the Archeology Museum, walk the well marked grounds and visit the glass blowers you could very easily spend at least four to five hours here. (They do offer a Junior Ranger Program for kids but you must buy the booklet in the gift shop. It's cheap and looks cool but it's not free or on the NPS website like most are.) read more

While visiting Colonial Williamsburg, we decided to make a side trip to Historic Jamestowne. This is the site of the first English settlement in America. The Visitor Center has a number of displays containing artifacts from the settlement. A short movie provides context about the history of the site and the life and times of the people who were there. What I found particularly interesting is the detailed timeline describing the history of the settlement. As for the settlement itself, it is a short walk from the Visitor Center. The settlement site has statues of John Smith and Pocahontas and the one-hundred year-old Tercentennial Monument, an obelisk (like the Washington Monument) that commemorates the 300th anniversary of the settlement (1907). In addition, there is the Memorial Church which abuts the tower of the original 17th century church. The rest of the site is primarily archaeological digs and finds. The Archaearium has thousands of artifacts from the site on display. Historic Jamestowne is a nice place to visit if you're interested in archeology and the history of the earliest English settlement in America. read more

See all

Take the archeological tour. Justin is wonderful and fields questions with additional information relative to what your inquiry is. He didn't make it feel like a script and had general interest in the telling of the facts rather than through rose colored lenses. This is a tour of what was found in an area of Jamestowne that gave faces to peak behind the story of the lost Fort James due to river bed erosion myth. How they survived, how they interacted with the Virginian Indians, how they fell and then stood back up. There are limited indoor exhibits as most of the sites are outdoor. Bring an umbrella for rain or sun protection as well. The museum that sits nearest to the site of the original statehouse has displays all the archeological finds. It spins the tales of a more accurate representation of the harshness and the resilience of those who came to the new world hacking their lives out of the wilderness with limited tools and supplies and resources. At the visitor center there is a introductory movie playing every 30 minutes and an indoor exhibit as well. Don't miss the air conditioned on site cafe to cool down or grab a bite. The Quinoa salad with vegetables and gazpacho cup of soup hit the spot. It was a fabulous retelling of the history of 1607 from the remains found in Virginia of the first permanent English Settlement of the New World. read more

Historic Jamestowne - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Jamestown, Virginia

See all

Where America started....in 1607! What a fantastic place. MUST take a 1 hour tour. Plan to allow 5 hours here. Read Jessica H.'s review!!!!! read more

Historic Jamestowne - Museum - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Jamestown, Virginia

I have been coming here every couple years or so for pretty much my whole life and it never fails to be interesting - even after the 15th time! There is so much to see that you can easily make a half-whole day trip here, especially when combined with Yorktown. What I generally do is head to Jamestown in the morning before it gets crowded, then get lunch in Yorktown and see the battlefield in the afternoon. Even that is a packed schedule. The museum as you walk in is pretty ok, but I wouldn't spend too much time there as the real gem is the fort itself and the Archaerium (I butchered that spelling). You can easily spend an hour or two in the Archaerium itself, and the fort and surrounding area can take some time. Try and catch a tour, if nothing else because they are pretty fun and the tour guides are great at answering questions. read more

This is the real Jamestowne. Don't be tricked by going to the other one (settlement and historic ship). It is worth attending the guided tour. The most informative and entertaining tour I've been to. read more

This place was really neat, and it literally feels like you are stepping back in time to that original settlement of Europeans in the area.

Absolutely loved our visit to Jamestown. Spent hours here and fully immersed myself in the history that is America's oldest successful English settlement. There's quite a bit to see and do, from spending time in the museum looking at artifacts, watching a movie, and listening to live reenactors, to walking around the island to see all the history such as the fort, tombstones, building ruins, monuments, and the view out to the river. We also listened to some archaeologists who shared more history of the site and how they have been able to piece together the information - it was absolutely incredible to hear. I will definitely come back here some day, undoubtedly when my kids are a bit older to appreciate everything. read more

See all

I was looking forward to this visit my entire vacation. The visitor's center museum was just ok compared to the settlement's museum. The archeology tour was very interesting, and the exhibits in the museum on the site were well done. I was actually moved by the human remains that made the whole place more real. I wish there was a more detailed map or an audio tour or something. I wanted more info and at my own place. More details are especially needed in new town. I zipped right through there because I had very little knowledge of what I was looking at. Some shade on the footbridge would be good. I was soaked with sweat before I even made it to the site. read more

Went there once it was a historical journey. They show y'all how they would cook. And defend the land,And more !