Jamestown Settlement is the name often used to describe the first permanent British colony in North America established at Jamestown in the Virginia Colony in 1607.

In modern times, Jamestown Settlement is the promotional name used by the Commonwealth of Virginia's portion of the historical attractions at Jamestown. It is adjacent and complementary to the Colonial National Historical Park's attractions on Jamestown Island which are now promoted as Historic Jamestowne.

In addition to current programs, preparations are underway at both the Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestown for the Jamestown 2007 event celebrating the 400th anniversary of the founding.

History

Jamestown was somewhat forgotten and isolated after the 17th century, as the capital moved to Williamsburg. In the early 20th century, the 300th anniversary was celebrated at Sewell's Point on Hampton Roads due to the ease of transportation access. The Jamestown Exposition held there in 1907 attracted visitors from around the world.

However, 50 years later, roads and highways had improved greatly from 1907, and the celebration came back to Jamestown itself. Jamestown Festival Park was established at Jamestown, Virginia by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1957 to mark the 350th anniversary of the founding. Full-sized replicas of the three ships that brought the colonists, the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery were constructed at a shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, and docked at Jamestown.

At the same time at the National Park Service site nearby, the reconstructed Jamestown Glasshouse, the Memorial Cross and the visitors center were completed and dedicated.

Events for the 350th anniversary included army and navy reviews, air force fly-overs, ship and aircraft christenings and even an outdoor drama at Cape Henry, site of the first landing of the settlers. This celebration continued from April 1 to November 30 with over a million participants, including dignitaries and politicians such as the British Ambassador and U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon. The highlight for many of the nearly 25,000 at the Festival Park on October 16, was the visit and speech of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and her consort, Prince Philip. Queen Elizabeth II loaned a copy of the Magna Carta for the exhibition.

Today's features

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Although the 1957 celebration is long past, many of the attractions remained and some have been enhanced in the years since and are now known as Jamestown Settlement, the former Jamestown Festival Park features a new indoor museum as well as a working reconstruction of the settlement. The original replicas of the three ships that brought the colonists, the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery which had been constructed at a shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia have been rebuilt, and are still very popular with tourists, especially school groups.

The historical name "Jamestown Settlement" is reused by this key piece of the attractions for the Jamestown 2007 celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown in May, 1607.

See also

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• Colonial Parkway
• Colonial Williamsburg
• Historic Triangle
• Green Spring Plantation
• Jamestown Ferry

External links

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• Jamestown Settlement Official Webpage
• Jamestown 2007 website

History of Virginia | James City County, Virginia | Lost cities and towns | Pre-revolutionary history of the United States | Archaeological sites in the United States | Cities on the James River | James River (Virginia)