Settlement FAQs

how long does jamestown settlement take

by Karine Bernier Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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We recommend you plan at least two hours for your visit, but many visitors end up staying longer when they see how much history is actually here. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes as the Historic site is about three-quarters of a mile long. There are shade trees and benches along some of the pathways.Oct 23, 2019

Can you do Jamestown and Yorktown in one day?

You do need at least two days to get the full experience, but three are recommended. As you make your plan, consider the driving time between sites, which can be up to 40 minutes. We recommend doing Yorktown and Jamestown in the same day, and then doing Colonial Williamsburg on its own day.

Is Jamestown Settlement worth visiting?

Historic Jamestowne is known for being the site of the first colonial settlement in America, and this is why it's worth a day trip. A visit to Virginia's most historic locations can yield a wealth of information and give visitors an appreciation for on which the country was founded.

Whats the difference between historic Jamestown and Jamestown Settlement?

Historic Jamestowne is the location of the fort, originally settled in 1607. It is run by the National Park Service. The Jamestown Settlement is a privately-owned interpretive center. It is on Jamestown island but is not the site of the original fort.

Can you visit Jamestown without a ticket?

Historic Jamestown is part of Colonial National Park, part of the National Park Service, so an admission fee or a National Park Pass is required.

How much does it cost to go to the Jamestown settlement?

general admissionAdult (16 & over)$30Child (15 & under)Free

How long does it take to walk through Colonial Williamsburg?

To fully experience Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia you need about two to three days. With that, you can visit the all the shops, city sites and homes.

Is Jamestown Settlement indoors?

14 answers. Parts of the museum are indoors and part are outdoors. All of the interactive parts are outdoors.

Can you walk around Colonial Williamsburg for free?

No. You do not need a pass to go to the Colonial area. You can go and walk the area, and even eat in Chownings or King's Arms Tavern. You can also visit the market square area, and shop stores in both places.

How do you tour Jamestown?

Your visit to Jamestown Settlement will start at the large visitor's center. Once you purchase your tickets (or check in with your multi-site, multi-day pass) and pick up a map, you'll be directed to the exhibit area.

Do you have to pay to walk around Jamestown?

over a year ago. No just waling around town is free as is tour of the Sir Christopher Wren building at the College of William & Mary.

How long is the Jamestown ferry ride?

approximately 15-20 minutesHow long is the ride on the ferry across the river? The ferry takes approximately 15-20 minutes to cross the river one way.

What is free at Jamestown?

Free admission includes general admission and special exhibitions at Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Separate ticketed programs do not qualify for free admission. Learn more and visit the two museums!

Why should you visit Jamestown?

Together with Historic Jamestowne, Jamestown Settlement is a living history museum that tells about the lives of the first colonists, as well as the Indigenous peoples who lived in this region before the British arrived. Jamestown Settlement is an interesting weekend getaway if you are in Virginia.

Is everything open at the Jamestown Settlement?

Colonial National Historical Park is open daily, year-round with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, December 25th, and January 1st. On these days the gate and all park buildings and grounds on Jamestown Island will be closed to visitor access.

How do you tour Jamestown?

Your visit to Jamestown Settlement will start at the large visitor's center. Once you purchase your tickets (or check in with your multi-site, multi-day pass) and pick up a map, you'll be directed to the exhibit area.

What time does Jamestown open?

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Discover the world of 17th-century Virginia, from the arrival of English colonists in Jamestown in 1607 to the cultural encounters and events that planted the seeds of a new nation, through gallery exhibits, films and outdoor living history. Open year-round 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Christmas and New Year's days.

Why was Jamestown chosen as the site for the Jamestown settlement?

The site for Jamestown was picked for several reasons, all of which met criteria the Virginia Company, who funded the settlement, said to follow in picking a spot for the settlement.

When was Jamestown moved to Williamsburg?

In 1699, the government and capital were moved from Jamestown to Middle Plantation, renamed Williamsburg. People continued to live on Jamestown Island and owned farm lands, but it ceased to be a town. Today, Jamestown Island is a historic site, though there is still a private residence on the island.

Why did the Powhatan Indians leave Jamestown?

During the attack 350-400 of the 1,200 settlers were killed. After the attack, the Powhatan Indians withdrew, as was their way, and waited for the English to learn their lesson or pack up and leave.

What would happen if the Powhatan Indians didn't help the English?

If not for the Powhatan Indians help in the early years, the settlement would most likely have failed, as the English would have died from the various diseases or simply starved.

How many settlers died in the Powhatan colony?

In April 1644, Opechancanough planned another coordinated attack, which resulted in the deaths of another 350-400 of the 8,000 settlers.

Why did Captain Newport leave the Powhatan Indians?

On June 22, Captain Newport left for England to get more supplies for the new settlement.

What caused the death of the settlers?

Not long after Captain Newport left, the settlers began to succumb to a variety of diseases. They were drinking water from the salty or slimy river, which was one of several things that caused the death of many. The death tolls were high. They were dying from swellings, fluxes, fevers, by famine, and sometimes by wars.

How to continue Jamestowne?

If you are so inclined, after you walk through Historic Jamestowne, you can continue your visit by doing the Island Drive. There’s a short loop and longer loop option, neither of which are very long. Both are clearly marked, just follow the signs from the Visitor Center parking lot. As you make your way around the island, interpretational signs will provide more information about what went on there.

Where can I buy Jamestown Settlement tickets?

You can purchase Jamestown Settlement tickets ahead of time online or at the large Jamestown Settlement visitor center. There are a variety of multi-day and combination tickets available (some are “web only” specials). Historic Jamestowne tickets are good for seven consecutive days and also cover admission to Yorktown Battlefield at the other end of Colonial National Historical Park.

How many ships were there at Jamestown?

Once you’ve had your fill of the Jamestown Settlement indoor exhibit galleries, you can make your way to the outdoor exhibits. There you’ll find re-creations of the three ships that brought 104 settlers to Jamestown, the Susan Constant, Discovery, and Godspeed. When we were there, all three ships were open for visitors to climb aboard and poke around. Living history interpreters answer questions about the ships and what the voyage may have been like.

What ships did the Jamestown settlers use?

They have full-scale models of the three ships that brought the first settlers to Jamestown (Susan Constant, Discovery and Godspeed) as well as re-creations of James Fort and a Powhatan village. Historical interpreters are on hand to answer questions about many aspects of what life was like at Jamestown, from cooking to weapons and armor.

How many times did the Ambler Mansion burn?

This ruin is all that remains of the Ambler Mansion. Originally built in about 1750, it burned three times before it was abandoned in the late 19th Century. Photo: Plan, Ready, Go

Where are the archaeological finds in Jamestown?

Archaeological discoveries they have made over the last 25 years are on display at the Voorhees Archaerium at Historic Jamestowne. Items there include coins, personal items, armor and even human remains. I highly recommend both visiting Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestowne if you can.

What was the first permanent English settlement in the New World?

Jamestown, founded in 1607, was the site of the first permanent English settlement in the New World. From that tiny colonial foothold in North America came so much of the good (representative government) and the bad (slavery, conflict with Native Americans) that makes up American history.

When did the English colonists arrive in Virginia?

Discover the world of 17th-century Virginia, from the arrival of English colonists in Jamestown in 1607 to the cultural encounters and events that planted the seeds of a new nation, through gallery exhibits, films and outdoor living history. Enjoy the museum safely with new protective protocols .

What time does the American Revolution Museum open?

Open year-round 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Christmas and New Year's days. Outdoor living-history areas open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In 2021, save on a value-priced combination ticket with the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown: $28.90 adults, $14.45 ages 6-12. Free parking. Buy Tickets.

What does the historic settlement give you?

4) The historic settlement itself gives you a feel for how people lived their daily lives, caught and grew food, delt with seasonal weather conditions and delt with visitor and invaders alike. Amazing to see how the first Europeans tried to survive and thrive in a new and very harsh land.

What are the parts of the Indian settlement?

There are two parts to the settlement. The first is a museum of the history of the area . The second is a reenactment of the actual settlement. there is an Indian village with people working the fields and making pottery. a woman gave us a detailed explanation of the houses. Then there is a fort where the colonists lived with several building to tour and craftsmen making leather and tin goods. Finally there are several ships that can be toured. We were lucky enough to see a demonstration of men climbing the masts to fix the sails. After that we toured the museum and saw many artifacts. Make sure you take about 3 hours to see all of this wonderful site.

Is Jamestown a good place to live?

Jamestown is an awesome place for both adult and kids!

Do you have to pay admission to visit Jamestown?

4) The two sites are nearby each other but, you must pay two admissions to visit each. The historic Jamestowne site is more for adults and the older crowd as it's truly a step back in our history and you should be into the past to get a feel for all that you will see and experince. It's visual - less hands on. The modern site and re-creations at The Jamestown Settlement are best for families and kids as they have hands on exhibits and villages and projects that keep the kids attention.

Is it easy to drive from Williamsburg to Jamestowne?

1) It was easy to drive from Williamsburg down to Jamestowne. Quick roads, easy signage and prompt parking and check-in across from the site.

Does the Colonial Highway have turn offs?

The Colonial Highway has turn offs along the way , with information about the sites in the area. We stopped at all the turn offs on our way back to Williamsburg.

Can you cancel a Jamestown settlement tour?

We recommend booking Jamestown Settlement tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 4 Jamestown Settlement tours on Tripadvisor

How long does it take to visit Jamestown?

Jamestown is the beginning of America. We recommend you plan at least two hours for your visit, but many visitors end up staying longer when they see how much history is actually here. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes as the Historic site is about three-quarters of a mile long.

What was the first permanent English settlement in North America?

Welcome to Historic Jamestowne, site of the first permanent English settlement in North America. Jamestown is a place of many beginnings representing the very foundations of whom and what we are as a people and a nation. There were other European settlements in America before Jamestown, but our language, the majority of our customs ...

What to bring to the settlers in the late spring?

During the late spring and summer months the "air is alive with a buzz" according to the settlers, so bring some insect repellant. And bring sun screen and plenty of water during the summer months as temperatures are often in the high 90's but seem like the 100's when you add the humidity.

Does Jamestowne have a cafe?

Historic Jamestowne has both snack and drink machines, as well as a cafe. Use this link to our "Where to Eat"web page.

plan your visit

Explore this interactive map to learn about all of the things to see and do at Historic Jamestowne, from visiting the Archaearium museum to seeing an active excavation.

tours & programs

Explore the James Fort site with an archaeologist who has troweled the ground, a Park Ranger who has studied the stories, or an educator who can bring the past to life.

family activities

Learn more about the fun and educational programs for our younger visitors.

hours & schedule

Find current operating hours and see what programs are offered this week.

events calendar

Check for upcoming living history events and other special days on the island.

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