Jamestown National Historic Site

Jamestown National Historical is a part of Historic Jamestowne, site of the First Permanent English Colony in North America. The National Historic Site consists of 22.5 acres on the western end of Jamestown Island, which includes the original site of the 1607 fort and statehouse site of the late 17th century. In 1893 the owners of the Island, Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Barney, donated this plot of land to the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA). For over 100 years the APVA has been protection and preserving America?s birthplace.

In 1934 the rest of the 1500 acres of Jamestown Island were acquired by the National Park Service as part of Colonial National Historical Park. Since that time the National Park Service and APVA have jointly administered Historic Jamestowne. Only the Church tower remains of the original Jamestown, but visitors can still walk the site of James Fort and James City proper.

Today, through the Jamestown Rediscovery Archaeological Project and the discovery of the remains of the 1607 James Fort, the APVA continues to shed new light onto the early story of Jamestown and its settlers. This ongoing archaeological project continues to delve more deeply into the strata of history exposing various features like fortifications, buildings, wells, and over 500,000 artifacts. Each new find tells a timeless story of struggle, endurance, disease, starvation, success and failure.

Visit Historic Jamestowne and step back into history by walking the same grounds as John Smith and Pocahontas. Visit the Memorial Church, which sits on the very site of the 1617 church. Walk the streets of James City and see the foundations of homes, taverns and industrial complexes. For it is from Jamestown that we as Americans can trace who and what we are as a people and as a nation. It is from here that the first permanent English settlement laid its roots in 1607. It is from here that the first representative legislative assembly in North America met in 1619. It is from here that three continents came together as Europeans encountered American Indians, and later brought enslaved Africans to this land. As the seat of Virginia government Jamestown became the focal point of Bacon?s rebellion in 1676. Come visit America?s birthplace!

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