408th Anniversary of Jamestown Settlement

‘JAMESTOWN DAY’ AT HISTORIC JAMESTOWNE & JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT MARKS

408TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICA’S FIRST PERMANENT ENGLISH COLONY

 WILLIAMSBURG, Va., April 23, 2015 — On Saturday, May 9, Historic Jamestowne and Jamestown Settlement collaborate to offer a range of programs marking the 408th anniversary of the 1607 founding in Virginia of America’s first permanent English settlement.

“Jamestown Day” features Historic Jamestowne’s ongoing archaeological discoveries of the 1607 fort and one of Jamestown Settlement’s ships sailing in the James River. A variety of family-friendly programs on Powhatan and English weaponry, military and maritime demonstrations, and traditional music and entertainment will take place at both sites.

“Jamestown Day” is sponsored by Historic Jamestowne, site of the original 1607 settlement jointly administered by the National Park Service and Jamestown Rediscovery on behalf of Preservation Virginia, in partnership with Jamestown Settlement, a living-history museum of 17th-century Virginia administered by the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.

While there is separate admission to Historic Jamestowne and Jamestown Settlement, a four-site value ticket to Historic Jamestowne and Jamestown Settlement, as well as Yorktown Battlefield and the Yorktown Victory Center, is available on “Jamestown Day” and throughout the year. The ticket, available at Historic Jamestowne, Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center, is $35.00 for adults, $23.00 for ages 13-15 and $12.50 for ages 6-12 and offers seven consecutive days of admission to all four sites.

Jamestown Settlement

Virginia Tourism’s massive LOVE artwork will greet visitors upon arrival to Jamestown Settlement. An artillery salute will mark the mid-morning departure of the Discovery, a re-creation of one of the three ships that brought colonists to Virginia in 1607, to set sail in the James River. In conjunction with the “Working and Racing on the Bay: The Chesapeake Log Canoe” special exhibition, The Mariners’ Museum will present a program exploring the world of the Powhatan Indians and examine the culture’s  methods of travel, trade, hunting and fishing. The Virginia Living Museum will offer opportunities to see and touch examples of nature experienced by English colonists upon arrival in the New World.

Entertainment of the 1600s will be presented, as well as artillery demonstrations, military drills and Powhatan Indian and English weaponry. Visitors can enjoy a 17th-century fair with puppet shows, juggling and magic. Traditional music will be performed by David Gardner and Lynn Trott and Cliff Williams. Visitors can engage in a variety of diversions, such as hobby-horse racing and jousting, hoop rolling, and quoits.

Historic Jamestowne

“Jamestown Day” at Historic Jamestowne will feature tours, demonstrations and ongoing archaeological excavations of the 1607 James Fort, allowing guests to share in the moments of discovery while interacting with archaeologists on site. Guests can meet English colonist Anas Todkill, interact with American Indian interpreters, and see displays of American Indian and English archery.

A variety of ranger tours and programs highlighting the history of first settlement will be available throughout the day, including costumed glassblowers at the Glasshouse showing one of America’s first industries.

Separate Admission to Historic Jamestowne and Jamestown Settlement

There is separate admission to visit Historic Jamestowne and Jamestown Settlement. Free parking is available at both sites.

Admission to Jamestown Settlement, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, is $16.75 for adults and $7.75 for ages 6 through 12, and free for children under 6.

Open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Historic Jamestowne adult admission is $14.00 and includes Yorktown Battlefield. National Parks passes and Preservation Virginia memberships are accepted, but a $5.00 fee may apply for entrance to Historic Jamestowne. Children under age 16 are admitted free.

For more information about Historic Jamestowne, call (757) 229-4997 or (757) 898-2410 or visit www.historicjamestowne.org or www.nps.gov/colo.  For more information about Jamestown Settlement, call (888) 593-4682 toll-free or visit www.historyisfun.org.

MAY 9 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

HISTORIC JAMESTOWNE

All Day: Explore America’s Birthplace. Discover the story of Jamestown by touring the Visitor Center exhibition gallery and the Nathalie P. and Alan M. Voorhees Archaearium Museum, Memorial Church and archaeological site of the 1607 James Fort, and the waysides of New Towne.

All Day: Free Enterprise and Early Industries. Experience the work of craftsmen at the Glasshouse and James Fort site as they demonstrate glassmaking and iron smelting industries as practiced during Jamestown’s early years.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: “The Buried Truth.”  Share in the moment of discovery at the original 1607 James Fort. Meet the Jamestown Rediscovery archaeologists and learn about ongoing excavations and the latest discoveries.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Native Lifeways of the Chesapeake. Learn about the material culture and lifeways of the Tidewater Algonquians and their interactions with the settlers of Jamestown.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: A New Life in the New World. Learn firsthand about the trials of the first English settlers and their experiences exploring the Chesapeake from Anas Todkill, one of John Smith’s companions.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: New Happenings at the Archaearium. Join the curatorial staff and view American Indian artifacts from the archaeological collection and learn the stories of their discovery.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: “Preserving a Historical Treasure.” Join a member of the James River Association at the Ed Shed Preview Station as they discuss the history of the James River and current efforts to conserve this historical treasure.

11 a.m. & 1 p.m.: Archery Demonstrations. See American Indian bow demonstrations and learn of the military technology of the Powhatan and other Virginia Indians.

9:30 a.m. and 12 & 2 p.m.: Ranger Walking Tour. Take a guided Park Ranger tour to gain unique perspectives on the history of Jamestown.

10:30 a.m. and 1:30 & 3:30 p.m.: Archaeologist Walking Tour. Join an archaeologist for an in-depth tour of the 1607 fort site and learn about this season’s excavations and new discoveries. Tours continue on Sunday, May 10, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

MAY 9 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT

All Day: Explore Museum Galleries. An introductory film and expansive gallery exhibits, featuring more than 500 artifacts, tell the Jamestown story in the context of the Powhatan Indian, English and African cultures that converged in the 1600s.

All Day: Living-History Interpretive Demonstrations.  Visit the re-created Powhatan Indian village, 1607 ships and colonial fort where costumed historical interpreters present hands-on programs and demonstrations, including canoe-making, navigation and matchlock musket-firing.

All Day: Period Games.  Join in fun and games of the 17th century, including hoop rolling, hobby-horse racing, lawn bowling, ninepins, and quoits.

All Day: “Working and Racing on the Bay: The Chesapeake Log Canoe.”  An ongoing special exhibition in partnership with The Mariners’ Museum traces the evolution of the dugout canoe through the centuries. View black-and-white portraits of oystermen by photographer Glen McClure.

All Day: Visit the LOVE Sign.  See the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s massive LOVE artwork, extending 16-feet wide and six-feet tall, in the museum’s Quadricentennial Plaza, and share your “LOVE” of Jamestown Settlement. Visitors are encouraged to take a picture in front of the artwork and share it on social media using the special hashtag #LOVEVA.

9:30 a.m. and 1:15 & 4:15 p.m.: “Godspeed to Jamestown.”  A documentary from A&E Television Networks’ History® chronicles the 2004-2006 construction of Jamestown Settlement’s replica Godspeed.

10 a.m.: Discovery Sets Sail.  An artillery salute signals the departure of Discovery, one of Jamestown Settlement’s replica ships, from the ships’ pier to demonstrate sailing maneuvers in the James River through mid-afternoon. (Weather permitting.)

10 a.m. and 1 p.m.: Virginia Living Museum “Mini Museum”. Visitors will have opportunities to see and touch examples of nature experienced by English colonists upon arrival in the New World. (Weather permitting.)

10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.:  Children’s Puppet Crafts.  Children can decorate their own puppet and take part in an afternoon puppet show during Colonial Fair performances at 12:30 and 3:15 p.m.

10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.: Artillery. Drill with a falcon crew, and then cover your ears as historical interpreters fire the weapon. Behind Fort (Weather permitting.)

11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.: Comparative Weapons. Learn about the early relationship between Powhatan Indians and English colonists and take part in comparative demonstrations on weaponry.

11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.: “Riding in a Log Canoe.”  In connection with the special exhibition, The Mariners’ Museum will present a program exploring the world of the Powhatan Indians and examine the culture’s methods of travel, trade, hunting and fishing.

11 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.: 17th-Century Music by Lynn Trott & Cliff Williams.  Enjoy popular music of the 17th century on mandolin, guitar, flute and viola da gamba.

11:45 a.m. and 2 p.m.: 17th-Century Music by David Gardner.  A nationally prominent Scottish fiddle performer, David Gardner will perform popular sounds of the 1600s.

12:30 and 3:15 p.m.: 17th-Century Fair.  Music, juggling and magic culminate in a 1600s-style puppet show.