Jamestown

Jamestown settlement was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. It was established by the Virginia Company as “James Fort” May 4, 1607.  It was considered “permanent” despite a brief abandonment in 1610.  Jamestown served as the Capital of the colony from 1616-1699, 83 years in total.  The area was home to the Paspahegh tribe who was soon wiped out in near three years due to disease, starvation, and warfare.  Over 80% of the colonist died due to these same causes in the year of 1609-1610.  Jamestown was one of three of the three locations which comprised the Historic Triangle of Colonial Virginia alongside with Williamsburg and Yorktown.  Jamestown is now a living history museum who, as a part of the Colonial National Historical Park foundation, seeks to educate the present generation by learning from our past.

When you walk through the visitors center at Jamestown you step back in time to the early 1600’s during the foundation of this great nation.  You encounter colonists wearing clothes which are handmade and completely unique living in tents and man made make shift houses.  You walk through the India village and see how life was 400 years ago.  As chickens being chased by small children run in front of you you can actually lay down in a Natives tee pee and feel the deer fur they use as rugs and blankets.  You make corn mash from hand and even are allowed to hold the Natives weapons of choice, all being made out of genuine materials just like they were made of over four centuries ago. 

As you continue on your journey back in time you encounter colonists practice loading and cleaning muskets and cannons.  You view demonstrations and are shown how each advanced machine works.  A daring colonist even allows you to hold an unloaded musket to give you a better grasp about how heavy and sturdy these weapons truly are (some over 20 lbs). 

This awe inspiring trip comes to a grand crescendo when you find yourself at the shoreline of the settlement where the James River starts.  You stand in amazement as 1/3 replicas of the actual ships the original colonist stayed on during the duration of their voyage are but only steps away.  As you eagerly climb onto the first ship you imagine yourself as a pirate or a scalawag on adventures on the opened sea.  You then come to the realization that these men had no idea where they were going, who they would encounter, or where their next meal would come from. Through actually seeing, touching, and experiencing these sites you inherit a much clearer understanding of what life was like for the men and women who founded this country.

Jamestown settlement is an extremely effective historical site at relaying information to the public about the past.  Because Jamestown is living history viewers’ attention is grasped and held the entire time you are there.  The artifacts and replicas used at Jamestown portray what 1607 was like. The cast members who are in character are extremely knowledgeable and helpful in relaying information as well as depicting what life was like back then.  If you ever find yourself on the peninsula of Virginia Jamestown in a must see for everyone of all ages and backgrounds.