Historic Jamestowne

Historic Jamestowne preserves and interprets the original site of America's first permanent English settlement, established on Jamestown Island in 1607. Jointly managed by the National Park Service and Preservation Virginia, this is not a recreation or a replica — it's the actual archaeological site where the story of English America began.

The centerpiece is the ongoing archaeological excavation of the original James Fort. Since 1994, the Jamestown Rediscovery project has uncovered the foundations of the original fort, over 2 million artifacts, and the remains of several early settlers — discoveries that have rewritten our understanding of the colony's earliest years. During dig season (typically spring through fall), visitors can observe archaeologists at work, ask questions, and watch history being literally unearthed.

The Archaearium is a world-class on-site museum that displays thousands of artifacts from the excavation in a climate-controlled gallery. Weapons, tools, ceramics, glass, personal items, and even the skeleton of a young soldier tell the intimate story of the colonists' daily struggles — hunger, disease, conflict with the Powhatan people, and the slow process of building a settlement in a hostile environment. The presentation is thoughtful and engaging, designed to make kids think about what life was really like for these settlers.

Beyond the fort site, the Jamestown Island loop drive covers 5 miles of the wider island, passing through marshland, forest, Civil War earthworks, and the ruins of the 1608 glassmaking facility — one of the first industries attempted in the New World. The iconic Pocahontas statue overlooks the James River, and interpretive signs at each stop provide historical context.

Historic Jamestowne works best in combination with the Jamestown Settlement across the road. Where Historic Jamestowne provides the authentic archaeological experience (this is where it really happened), the Settlement provides the living history context (what daily life looked and felt like). Together, they create one of the most complete and powerful family history experiences on the East Coast.