Ah, Jamestown. The granddaddy of English settlements in the Americas. A place where ambition met a rather unforgiving reality, and where the seeds of a nation were sown amidst hardship, disease, and surprisingly, a touch of political maneuvering. Let’s delve into this particular slice of history, shall we?
Town and fort established in the Virginia Colony
Fort (1607) and Town (1619)
Jamestown, Virginia. A name that echoes with the weight of colonization. It was the very first permanent English settlement to take root in what would become the Americas. Picture it: nestled on the northeastern bank of the James River, a mere 2.5 miles (about 4 kilometers) southwest of what we now know as Williamsburg. This wasn't a spontaneous arrival; it was the deliberate act of the London Company, who christened it "James Fort" on May 4, 1607, by the old calendar (which translates to May 14, 1607, if you're using the modern one). It was meant to be permanent, though it did have a rather dramatic brief abandonment in 1610. Before Jamestown, there were other attempts, of course. The Roanoke Colony, established back in 1585, springs to mind, though it famously vanished. Even with more supplies sent, the grim reality of the Starving Time between 1609 and 1610 claimed the lives of all but 60 of the original 214 settlers. When those survivors abandoned Jamestown, they were, by sheer fortune, met by a resupply convoy in the James River, prompting their return.
For a significant period, from 1616 to 1699, Jamestown held the prestigious title of the colonial capital. It was in August of 1619 that a rather pivotal, albeit grim, event occurred. The first recorded Africans arrived in British North America. They weren't brought by a typical slave ship, but rather on a British privateer flying a Dutch flag, docking at Old Point Comfort, not far from Jamestown. These roughly 20 individuals, taken from a Portuguese slave ship, were from present-day Angola. Their initial status was likely a form of race-based indentured servitude, working the tobacco fields. It wasn't until 1640 that the concept of slavery, as we understand it in the context of the British colonies, began to be formalized, and by 1660, it was firmly entrenched in Virginia's social fabric.
History, as it often does, left its mark. In 1676, during the tumultuous period of Bacon's Rebellion, Jamestown was deliberately set ablaze. Though rebuilt, its significance waned. By 1699, the colonial capital was relocated to what is now Williamsburg, Virginia. Over the 18th century, Jamestown gradually faded from its status as a settlement, transforming into an archaeological site. Today, it's a place of museums and historical sites, including the Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum in Yorktown. It forms one-third of the illustrious Historic Triangle of Colonial Virginia, alongside Williamsburg and Yorktown. The archaeological site itself, known as Historic Jamestowne, is a collaborative effort between the Jamestown National Historic Site and Preservation Virginia. The Jamestown Settlement, a living history experience, is managed by the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation, a state agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Settlement
Main article: History of Jamestown, Virginia (1607–1699)
See also: Timeline of Jamestown, Virginia; List of Jamestown colonists; and European colonization of the Americas
While Spain, Portugal, and France were quick to stake their claims in the New World, England’s approach was more measured. Decades after John Cabot's explorations, their colonial efforts were tentative, often ending in failure, most notably the enigmatic Roanoke Colony, which disappeared around 1590.
1607–1609: Arrival and beginning
The year 1606 saw English colonists set sail under the auspices of a charter granted by the London Company. Their destination: the New World, with the aim of establishing a colony. The fleet comprised three ships: the Susan Constant, the Discovery, and the Godspeed, all under the command of Captain Christopher Newport. Their journey was arduous, spanning four months and including a stop in the Canary Islands, followed by Puerto Rico. They finally sighted the American mainland on April 10, 1607.
Their initial landfall occurred on April 26, 1607, at a point they christened Cape Henry. Following instructions to find a more secure location, they ventured into the area now known as Hampton Roads and discovered an outlet leading to the Chesapeake Bay, which they named the James River in honor of King James I of England. On April 25, 1607, Captain Edward Maria Wingfield was elected president of the governing council. On May 14, he selected a site on a broad peninsula, approximately 40 miles (64 kilometers) inland from the Atlantic. This location was chosen for its strategic defensibility, owing to a curve in the river, and its proximity to the land, making it navigable and suitable for future piers. A significant advantage was its lack of habitation, as the leaders of the nearby indigenous nations deemed the site too infertile and remote for agriculture. The island itself was marshy and isolated, offering limited space, a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and brackish tidal river water that was far from ideal for drinking.
Adding to their challenges, the Jamestown settlers arrived during a severe drought, a fact later confirmed by research from the Jamestown Archaeological Assessment (JAA) team. Analyzing data from tree rings of ancient bald cypress trees along the Nottoway and Blackwater rivers, they determined that the period between 1606 and 1612 experienced the most severe drought in 700 years. This prolonged dry spell severely impacted the ability of both the Jamestown colonists and the Powhatan tribe to cultivate food and secure potable water.
Furthermore, the settlers arrived too late in the year to plant crops. Many among them were gentlemen or their servants, neither group particularly accustomed to the rigorous labor required to establish a viable colony. Among these was Robert Hunt, a former vicar of Reculver, England, who had the distinction of celebrating the first known Anglican Eucharist in what would become the United States on June 21, 1607.
The initial months were brutal. Before the arrival of supplies in 1608, accompanied by German and Polish craftsmen—who were instrumental in establishing the colony’s first manufactories, leading to glassware becoming a significant export—two-thirds of the settlers perished. Clapboard had already been sent back to England on the first returning ship. The arrival of more mouths to feed with the first and second supply missions, even with provisions, only exacerbated the desperate situation. It seemed highly probable that Jamestown would suffer the same fate as earlier English attempts, such as the Roanoke and Popham Colony endeavors, unless a substantial relief effort materialized. Adding to the precariousness, some Germans who arrived with the second supply, along with a few others, defected to the Powhatans, taking weapons and equipment with them. These defectors even conspired with the Powhatans to join a rumored Spanish attack on the colony. Fortunately, the timely arrival of Captain Samuel Argall in July 1609, aboard the larger ship Mary and John, thwarted the Spanish reconnaissance vessel La Asunción de Cristo and prevented the Spanish from gaining crucial intelligence about the colony's vulnerability. Don Pedro de Zúñiga, the Spanish ambassador in England, was actively seeking such information, along with spies, to persuade Philip III of Spain to authorize an assault.
The investors in the Virginia Company of London, naturally, were keen to see returns on their speculative ventures. With the second supply, their frustrations were palpable, and they conveyed their demands to the Jamestown leadership in writing. They insisted on proof of commodities sufficient to cover the voyage's cost, a lump of gold, confirmation of finding the South Sea, and the return of a member of the lost Roanoke Colony. It fell to the third president of the council, Captain John Smith, to deliver a rather blunt, yet necessary, wake-up call to the London investors, emphasizing their need for practical laborers and skilled craftsmen to foster self-sufficiency.
1609–1610: Starving Time and third supply
Following Smith's forced return to England due to severe burn wounds sustained during a trading expedition, the colony's leadership fell to George Percy, whose diplomatic skills with the native tribes proved inadequate. Meanwhile, those in London seemed to grasp Smith's message, evidenced by the third supply mission in 1609. This was by far the largest and best-equipped undertaking, featuring a newly constructed flagship, the Sea Venture, commanded by the experienced Christopher Newport.
On June 2, 1609, the Sea Venture set sail from Plymouth, England, leading a fleet of seven ships (towing two smaller pinnaces) bound for Jamestown. This fleet carried 214 settlers. Just over a month later, on July 24, the fleet encountered a ferocious storm, likely a hurricane, which scattered the ships. While some vessels managed to reach Jamestown, the leaders and the majority of the vital supplies were aboard the Sea Venture. The ship battled the tempest for three days before Admiral Sir George Somers intentionally steered it onto the reefs of [Bermuda] to prevent its complete destruction, allowing all aboard to reach safety. The survivors, including Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Gates, Captain Christopher Newport, Silvester Jourdain, Stephen Hopkins (who would later be a passenger on the Mayflower), and secretary William Strachey, found themselves stranded on Bermuda for approximately nine months. During this period, they constructed two new vessels, the pinnaces Deliverance and Patience. The initial plan was for only one vessel, Deliverance, but it became clear it wouldn't be large enough to transport everyone and the substantial amount of salted pork being sourced on the islands.
While the Sea Venture survivors were marooned in Bermuda, the situation at Jamestown deteriorated dramatically. The settlers faced widespread starvation due to the lack of additional provisions. During this harrowing period, desperation drove them to extreme measures, resorting to eating snakes and boiling leather from their shoes for sustenance. Of the original 214 settlers at Jamestown, only 60 survived. Disturbingly, there is historical and scientific evidence suggesting that the settlers resorted to cannibalism during this "Starving Time."
The ships from Bermuda finally arrived in Jamestown on May 23, 1610. The majority of the surviving colonists were on the brink of death, and Jamestown was deemed unviable. All were embarked onto the Deliverance and Patience, which set sail for England. However, their departure was dramatically interrupted on June 10, 1610, by the timely arrival of another relief fleet. This fleet was led by Governor Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr (whose name would later be bestowed upon the colony of Delaware). The fleet encountered the two departing ships as they were navigating down the James River, granting Jamestown a reprieve. The colonists referred to this day as "The Day of Providence." The fleet brought much-needed supplies and additional settlers, prompting the survivors to return to the colony, though a critical food shortage persisted.
Relations between the colonists and the Powhatans rapidly soured following De La Warr's arrival, escalating into open conflict. The Anglo-Powhatan War continued until Samuel Argall captured Wahunsenacawh's daughter, Matoaka, more famously known by her nickname Pocahontas. This capture eventually led the chief to agree to a peace treaty.
1610–1624: Rising fortunes
The initial years of Jamestown were marked by inconsistent progress. This was attributed to several factors: the aristocratic backgrounds of many colonists, a severe drought, and the communal nature of their labor. By 1613, six years after the settlement's founding, the Virginia Company's organizers and shareholders were growing increasingly impatient and desperate for the colony to become more efficient and profitable. Without explicit approval from the shareholders, Governor Sir Thomas Dale took the initiative to assign 3-acre (12,000 m²) plots to the colony's "ancient planters" and smaller parcels to more recent arrivals. This policy led to measurable economic improvement, and the settlers began expanding their cultivation onto lands traditionally belonging to local native tribes. The fact that this turnaround coincided with the end of the severe drought, which had begun before the English settlers' arrival, suggests that multiple factors, beyond the colonists' initial ineptitude, were at play.
Among the survivors of the Starving Time was John Rolfe. He had brought with him a stash of untested tobacco seeds, originally from Bermuda, where they had apparently been planted by shipwrecked Spaniards years earlier. In 1614, Rolfe achieved success in cultivating tobacco. This prosperity, coupled with his marriage to Pocahontas, ushered in several years of peace between the English and the native populations. Tragically, Pocahontas fell ill and died on March 21, 1617, during a public relations trip to England. Her father, Powhatan, passed away the following year. The leadership of the Powhatan Confederacy then fell to his brother, Opechancanough, a formidable warrior. As the English continued to encroach upon more land for tobacco cultivation, tensions with the natives escalated.
Due to the significant cost of the trans-Atlantic voyage, many English settlers arrived in Jamestown as indentured servants. In exchange for their passage, lodging, and food, they agreed to work for a period of three to seven years, with the promise of land or money upon completion of their service. Immigrants from continental Europe, particularly Germans, often came as redemptioners. They would pay for a portion of their voyage upfront and then borrow money or enter into a work contract upon arrival to cover the remaining costs.
The year 1619 marked a significant milestone: the first representative assembly in America, the General Assembly, convened in the Jamestown Church. Its stated purpose was "to establish one equal and uniform government over all Virginia" and to enact "just laws for the happy guiding and governing of the people there inhabiting." Initially, voting rights were restricted to men of English descent. However, on June 30, 1619, a pivotal event occurred: the Polish artisans initiated what is considered the first recorded strike in Colonial America, refusing to work unless granted voting rights. The court responded by granting the Poles equal voting rights on July 21, 1619. Following this resolution, the labor strike ended, and the artisans resumed their duties. This period also saw the institution of individual land ownership, and the colony was reorganized into four large administrative divisions known as "boroughs" or "incorporations," referred to by the colonists as "citties." Jamestown itself was situated within James Cittie.
The arrival of the first documented African slaves in English North America occurred in August 1619, aboard the frigate White Lion. Among them were an African man and woman, later named Antoney and Isabella. Their inclusion in the 1624 Virginia census marks them as the first recorded African family in Jamestown. Their son, William Tucker, holds the distinction of being the first documented African child baptized in British North America. Another early enslaved African at the settlement was Angela, who served Captain William Peirce.
After several years of increasingly strained coexistence, Chief Opechancanough, leading the Powhatan Confederacy, launched a decisive effort to eradicate the English colony. On the morning of March 22, 1622, coordinated attacks were launched against outlying plantations and settlements along the James River. This event, known as the Indian massacre of 1622, resulted in the deaths of over 300 settlers, approximately one-third of the colony's English-speaking population. Dale's development at Henricus, which was intended to include a college for educating the native population, and Wolstenholme Towne at Martin's Hundred, were effectively devastated. Jamestown itself was spared only due to a timely warning from a Virginia Indian employee, but there was insufficient time to alert the more distant outposts. Between 1608 and 1624, out of approximately 6,000 individuals who came to the settlement, only 3,400 survived.
1624–1699: Later years
In 1624, King James I revoked the Virginia Company's charter, transforming Virginia into a royal colony. Despite the severe setbacks, the colony continued its growth. Ten years later, in 1634, by order of King Charles I, the colony was administratively divided into eight original shires of Virginia, mirroring the system in England. Jamestown found itself located within James City Shire, which was soon renamed "County of James City," and is known today as James City County, Virginia—the nation's oldest county.
Another significant "Indian attack" occurred in 1644. In 1646, Opechancanough was captured. While in English custody, he was shot and killed by an English guard, an act carried out against orders. Following this event, the Powhatan Confederacy began a period of decline. Opechancanough's successor negotiated the first peace treaties between the Powhatan Indians and the English. These treaties stipulated a yearly tribute payment from the Powhatan to the English and confined them to designated reservations.
A generation later, during the unrest of Bacon's Rebellion in 1676, Jamestown was burned to the ground, though it was subsequently rebuilt. During the period of recovery, the Virginia legislature convened first at Governor William Berkeley's nearby Green Spring Plantation, and later at Middle Plantation. Middle Plantation had been established in 1632 as a fortified community situated inland on the Virginia Peninsula, approximately 8 miles (13 kilometers) away. When the statehouse burned down again in 1698, this time due to an accident, the legislature once more temporarily relocated to Middle Plantation. They were able to utilize the newly constructed facilities at the College of William & Mary, which had received its royal charter in 1693. Rather than undertaking another reconstruction at Jamestown, the decision was made to permanently move the colonial capital to Middle Plantation in 1699. The town was subsequently renamed Williamsburg in honor of the reigning monarch, King William III. A new capitol building and a "Governor's Palace" were erected in the ensuing years.
Aftermath and preservation
The move of the capital to Williamsburg marked the beginning of Jamestown's decline. Those in the immediate vicinity continued to attend services at Jamestown's church until the 1750s, after which it was abandoned. By the mid-18th century, the land was extensively cultivated, primarily by the Travis and Ambler families. In 1831, David Bullock acquired Jamestown from these families.
American Civil War
During the American Civil War, in 1861, Confederate William Allen, who owned Jamestown Island, occupied it with troops he had personally financed. His objective was to blockade the James River and prevent Union Navy access to Richmond, Virginia. He was joined by Lieutenant Catesby ap Roger Jones, who oversaw the construction of defensive batteries and conducted ordnance and armor testing for the Confederacy's first ironclad warship, the CSS Virginia, then under construction at the Gosport Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia during late 1861 and early 1862. Jamestown served as a base for a peak force of 1,200 men.
Later that spring, during the Peninsula campaign, Union forces under General George B. McClellan advanced up the peninsula from Fort Monroe with the aim of capturing Richmond. The Union forces took Yorktown, Virginia in April 1862, followed by the Battle of Williamsburg the subsequent month. In light of these developments, the Confederates abandoned Jamestown and the lower James River. Some of the forces stationed at Jamestown, along with crew members from the Virginia, relocated to Drewry's Bluff, a strategically important fortified position situated high above the river, approximately 8 miles (13 kilometers) downstream from Richmond. There, they successfully repelled the Union Navy, preventing its advance towards the Confederate capital.
Once under Federal control, Jamestown became a refuge for runaway slaves. These individuals were responsible for burning the Ambler house, an 18th-century plantation dwelling, which, along with the old church ruins, represented one of the few remaining vestiges of old Jamestown. When Allen dispatched men to assess the damage in late 1862, they were killed by the former slaves. Following the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, the oath of allegiance was administered to former Confederate soldiers at Jamestown.
Preservation and early archaeology
The years following the Civil War saw Jamestown return to a state of quietude. In 1892, Edward Barney purchased Jamestown. The following year, Barney donated 22.5 acres of land, including the ruined church tower, to the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, now known as Preservation Virginia. By this time, river erosion had significantly diminished the island's western shore. This led some visitors to believe that the site of James Fort had been entirely submerged. In 1900, with federal support, a sea wall was constructed to protect the remaining area from further erosion. Remarkably, the archaeological remains of the original 1607 fort, protected by this sea wall, were not discovered until 1996.
In 1932, George Craghead Gregory of Richmond is credited with discovering the foundation of the first brick statehouse (capitol) building, dating to approximately 1646, at Jamestown on land owned by Preservation Virginia. Around 1936, Gregory, an active member of the Virginia Historical Society, established the Jamestowne Society. This organization was founded to represent descendants of stockholders in the Virginia Company of London and descendants of individuals who owned land or resided in Jamestown or on Jamestown Island prior to 1700.
The U.S. Congress authorized and established Colonial National Monument in 1930. In 1934, the National Park Service acquired the remaining 1,500 acres (610 hectares) of Jamestown Island, which had been privately held by the Vermillion family. The National Park Service entered into a partnership with Preservation Virginia to preserve the area and present it to visitors in an educational capacity. On June 5, 1936, the national monument was redesignated as a national historical park and became known as Colonial National Historical Park.
Beginning in 1936, [J.C. Harrington] conducted excavations at Jamestown on behalf of the NPS. In 1954, John L. Cotter assumed leadership of field projects at Jamestown, with the site's 350th anniversary (1957) as a focal point. Cotter collaborated with Edward B. Jelks and Harrington on a survey of the area's colonial sites. In 1957, Cotter and J. Paul Hudson co-authored New Discoveries at Jamestown. Cotter, along with Jelks, Georg Neumann, and Johnny Hack, contributed to the 1958 report Archaeological Excavations at Jamestown.
Currently, as part of the Colonial National Historical Park, the Jamestown Island area hosts two heritage tourism sites dedicated to the original fort and town. Nearby, the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry service provides a vital link across the navigable portion of the James River for vehicles, offering passengers a view of Jamestown Island from the water.
Historic Jamestowne
Main article: Historic Jamestowne
In 1996, Historic Jamestowne experienced a resurgence in prominence with the initiation of the Jamestown Rediscovery project. This archaeological endeavor aimed to locate the remains of the original James Fort, with preparations underway for the quadricentennial of Jamestown's founding. The primary objective of this archaeological campaign was to uncover evidence of "the first years of settlement at Jamestown, especially of the earliest fortified town; [and the] subsequent growth and development of the town."
Visitors to Historic Jamestowne can explore the site of the original 1607 James Fort, the 17th-century church tower, and the location of the 17th-century town. An archaeological museum, the Archaearium, showcases many of the close to two million artifacts unearthed by Jamestown Rediscovery. Visitors can also partake in living history presentations led by park rangers and specialized archaeological tours guided by the Jamestown Rediscovery staff. It is also common for visitors to observe archaeologists from the Jamestown Rediscovery Project actively engaged in their work, as archaeological investigations at the site continue. As of 2014, archaeological work and related studies remain ongoing. Beyond their newsletter and website, new discoveries are frequently disseminated through the local newspaper, the [Virginia Gazette], based in nearby Williamsburg, and reported by other news media, often on a global scale.
Jamestown Settlement
Main article: Jamestown Settlement
Jamestown Settlement is a living-history park and museum situated 1.25 miles (2.01 kilometers) from the original colonial site, adjacent to Jamestown Island. Originally established for the 350th anniversary celebration in 1957, Jamestown Settlement is operated by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and largely funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia. The museum complex features a meticulously reconstructed Powhatan village, the James Fort as it might have appeared around 1610–1614, and life-size replicas of the three ships that carried the first settlers: the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery.
Commemorations
With the establishment of American independence by the close of the 18th century, Jamestown began to be viewed as a foundational site. Its founding in 1607 has been regularly commemorated, with significant events typically occurring every fifty years.
200th anniversary
The bicentennial of Jamestown, celebrated on May 13–14, 1807, was known as the Grand National Jubilee. Over 3,000 people attended the event, many arriving by vessels anchored in the river off the island. May 13 marked the opening of the festival, commencing with a procession to the graveyard of the old church, where an attending bishop delivered a prayer. The procession then proceeded to the Travis mansion, where attendees dined and danced that evening. Students from the College of William & Mary delivered orations during the festivities. An old barn on the island was repurposed as a temporary theater, hosting performances by a troupe of players from Norfolk. The event drew numerous dignitaries, politicians, and historians. The celebration concluded on May 14 with a dinner and toasts at the Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg.
250th anniversary (1857)
In 1857, the Jamestown society organized a celebration to mark the 250th anniversary of Jamestown's founding. According to the Richmond Enquirer, the chosen site for the celebration encompassed 10 acres (40,000 m²) on the very spot where some of the original colonists' houses were built. However, there is also speculation that the celebration was moved further east on the island, closer to the Travis family gravesite, to avoid damaging Major William Allen's corn fields.
Attendance was estimated to be between 6,000 and 8,000 people. Sixteen large steamships, gaily decorated with streamers, anchored offshore in the James River. Former US President John Tyler, from his nearby Sherwood Forest Plantation, delivered a 2.5-hour speech. The event also featured military displays, a grand ball, and fireworks.
300th anniversary (1907): Jamestown Exposition
Main article: Jamestown Exposition
The 100th anniversary of the Surrender at Yorktown in 1781 had ignited renewed interest in the historical significance of the Peninsula's colonial sites. Williamsburg, then a quiet town with shops and homes, was still commemorating Civil War events. As the new century dawned, attention shifted to the upcoming 300th anniversary of Jamestown's founding. The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (now Preservation Virginia) initiated the movement in 1900, advocating for a celebration to honor the establishment of the first permanent English colony in the New World at Jamestown, to be held on the 300th anniversary in 1907.
As plans for the celebration took shape, it became evident that the actual, isolated, and long-abandoned original site of Jamestown lacked the necessary facilities to accommodate large crowds. The original fort housing the Jamestown settlers was presumed to have been long ago claimed by the James River. The general area in James City County near Jamestown was also deemed unsuitable due to its limited accessibility in an era preceding widespread automobile use and before the advent of extensive rail travel.
As the tricentennial of the 1607 Founding of Jamestown approached, around 1904, despite the consideration of Richmond as a potential location, leaders in Norfolk, Virginia began a concerted campaign to host the celebration there. The decision was ultimately made to locate the international exposition along a mile-long stretch of waterfront at Sewell's Point, near the mouth of Hampton Roads. This site was situated approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) downstream from Jamestown, in a rural section of Norfolk County, Virginia. Its location offered accessibility via long-distance passenger railroads and local streetcar service, coupled with extensive frontage on the harbor of Hampton Roads. This latter feature proved exceptionally advantageous for hosting naval delegations arriving from across the globe.
The Jamestown Exposition of 1907 was one of the many world's fairs and expositions that were popular in the early 20th century. Held from April 26 to December 1, 1907, it attracted notable attendees, including US President Theodore Roosevelt, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, the Prince of Sweden, Mark Twain, Henry H. Rogers, and numerous other dignitaries and famous figures. A significant highlight was a major naval review featuring the United States' Great White Fleet. U.S. military officials and leaders were deeply impressed by the site's strategic potential, and the Exposition grounds later formed the initial section of the expansive U.S. [Naval Station Norfolk] in 1918 during World War I.
The U.S. Post Office issued a commemorative stamp series in 1907, marking the 300th anniversary of the Jamestown colony's founding.
350th anniversary (1957): Jamestown Festival
With America's increasing reliance on automobiles and improvements in road infrastructure, it became feasible to hold the 350th anniversary celebration directly at Jamestown in 1957. Although erosion had severed the land bridge connecting Jamestown Island to the mainland, the isthmus was restored, and new access was provided by the completion of the National Park Service's [Colonial Parkway]. This scenic route connected Jamestown to Williamsburg and Yorktown, Virginia, the other two components of Colonial Virginia's Historic Triangle. Significant improvements were also made to state highways. The northern landing for the popular Jamestown Ferry and a section of State Route 31 were relocated.
Extensive projects were undertaken by non-profit organizations, state, and federal agencies. Jamestown Festival Park was established by the Commonwealth of Virginia adjacent to the entrance of Jamestown Island. Full-scale replicas of the three ships that transported the colonists—the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery—were constructed at a shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia and displayed at a new dock at Jamestown. The largest of these, the Susan Constant, was accessible for visitors to board. On Jamestown Island itself, the reconstructed [Jamestown Glasshouse], the Memorial Cross, and the visitors center were completed and dedicated. A loop road was constructed around the island.
Special events included military reviews by the army and navy, air force flyovers, christenings of ships and aircraft, and an outdoor drama performed at Cape Henry, Virginia, the site of the settlers' initial landing. This celebration ran from April 1 to November 30, attracting over a million participants, including dignitaries and politicians such as the British ambassador and U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon. A highlight for many of the nearly 25,000 attendees at the Festival Park on October 16, 1957, was the visit and speech by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and her consort, Prince Philip. Queen Elizabeth II graciously loaned a copy of Magna Carta for exhibition. This marked her first visit to the United States since ascending the throne.
The 1957 Jamestown Festival proved so successful that tourist interest continued long after the official events concluded. Jamestown became a permanent attraction within the [Historic Triangle], drawing families, school groups, tours, and countless other visitors continuously ever since.
400th anniversary: Jamestown 2007
Main article: Jamestown 2007
In the early 21st century, extensive preparations were made for the quadricentennial of Jamestown's founding, including the development of new accommodations, transportation facilities, and attractions. Numerous events were promoted under the umbrella of [America's 400th Anniversary] and orchestrated by the Jamestown 2007 Commission. The commemoration encompassed 18 months of statewide, national, and international festivities and events, commencing in April 2006 with a tour of the newly constructed replica Godspeed.
In January 2007, the Virginia General Assembly convened a session at Jamestown. On May 4, 2007, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attended a ceremony commemorating the 400th anniversary of the settlement's arrival, echoing the honor they bestowed in 1957.
In addition to the Virginia State Quarter, Jamestown was also the subject of two United States commemorative coins celebrating the 400th anniversary of its settlement: a silver dollar and a gold five dollar coin, both issued in 2007.
2019 commemoration
In 2019, Jamestown, in collaboration with Williamsburg, Virginia, hosted a commemoration marking the 400th anniversary of three pivotal events in American history: the first meeting of the General Assembly, the arrival of the first Africans in English North America, and the first Thanksgiving.
In popular culture
- A fictional romantic adventure set in Jamestown, To Have and to Hold, achieved bestseller status in the United States in 1900. This novel was subsequently adapted into two feature films, released in 1916 and 1922.
- A highly fictionalized depiction of the Jamestown settlement is presented in the animated Disney film Pocahontas (1995) and its direct-to-video sequel, Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998). Among its inaccuracies, the settlement is shown near mountains, whereas it was actually situated in the Tidewater region.
- The feature film The New World (2005), directed by Terrence Malick, chronicles the story of Jamestown's colonization. While largely adhering to historical details, the plot focuses on a dramatized relationship between John Smith, portrayed by Colin Farrell, and Pocahontas, played by Q'orianka Kilcher. The film also features John Rolfe, played by Christian Bale. Many scenes were filmed on location along the James River (Virginia) and Chickahominy Rivers, and at Henricus Historical Park in Chesterfield County, Virginia.
- First Landing: The Voyage from England to Jamestown (2007) is a feature-length film documenting the 1607 arrival of English colonists.
- In 2017, Sky 1 premiered a new series set in Jamestown. Titled [Jamestown (TV series)], the show centers on the societal shifts brought about by the arrival of women to the settlement, sent to marry the male citizens. It is produced by the creators of Downton Abbey.
- The narrative of Bartholomew Gosnold and the establishment of Jamestown is presented in the 2018 musical To Look For America, written by Richard Digance and Eric Sedge.
- In the TV series For All Mankind, a fictional lunar base established by the United States in the lunar south pole region is named Jamestown.