Recently, my family and I visited Jamestown Settlement in Williamsburg, VA. This is separate from historic Williamsburg but something you should definitely add to your list of places to visit when you are in Williamsburg.
Jamestown Settlement is located near the site of the original Jamestown Colony. Jamestown Settlement is a museum and replica of America's first permanent English colony, founded in Virginia in 1607.
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| photo courtesy of Jamestown Settlement |
Once you purchase your tickets inside the visitor center, you make your way through the galleries that are divided into three major sections. The first gallery introduces visitors to pre-17th-century Virginia. The second gallery explores the relationship between Virginia’s colonists and the native Powhatans. The third gallery provides an overview of the political, social and economic development and expansion of the Virginia colony during the 17th century.
Next visitors travel outside to the Powhatan Indian village. The village has several houses, a crop field and a ceremonial circle of carved wooden posts. Historical interpreters discuss and demonstrate the Powhatan way of life.
Once you leave the Powhatan village, you walk toward the waterfront that has re-creations of the three ships that transported the original Jamestown colonists to Virginia in 1607 – the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. Kids and adults will love being able to board the ships and explore them.
Once you leave the waterfront you travel into the re-created James Fort, that has homes, a church and other buildings that historical interpreters demonstrate tasks of the time period.
We really liked that everything was hands on at Jamestown Settlement. Visitors can talk with the historical interpreters and learn more about the settlement. I really liked how the interpreters asked the kids questions and helped them learn more about the time period.
For more information: www.historyisfun.org
Location: 2110 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185
Cost: $17.00 adults, $8.00 ages 6-12. Value-priced combination ticket with Yorktown Victory Center: $21.25 adults, $10.75 ages 6-12. Discount for groups of 15 or more. Children under 6 are free. Parking is free.
Disclosure: My family and I received complimentary tickets to visit Jamestown Settlement in order to facilitate this review.