Historic Jamestowne

Maybe this isn't for everyone, but personally I enjoyed visiting the "historic" island of Jamestowne where the original settlement was once based, versus the more touristy reenacted Jamestown (complete with ships) that is a short drive away. In many ways driving around this mostly deserted island has the feeling of being on hallowed ground. There are many places to stop here, but a huge portion of this island is pretty much a long looping drive (or a shorter version for those who are on a tight timeline) that takes you to various areas/parts of the island where notable events took place. But the real draw for me was always how you have to use your imagination to really think of what might have transpired back in the formative days when the English first settled these parts and the Native Americans who lived and walked into the woods. I don't know if this is a place you bring little kids to as they might not take to the idea of sitting through what feels like a patch of woods all day, but I do think there is SO much here that is fascinating and it's totally worth exploring for those who are really into history. There's a tranquility here that definitely takes you back to simpler times, when the origins of what we see today all first started. I also noticed many people riding bikes here, which is also another good way to enjoy the scenery.

Lots of history here. It's a great place to explore. There is an extra fee to explore the church, Pocahontas, & Captain John Smith statues.

Although you have to pay two fees to enter (part private and part federally owned), the trip to historic Jamestowne is worth it for history buffs. Kids might be a little let down, but you can't beat standing amongst the timbers, sights, and spirits of the first permanent English colonies.

My wife and I visited here a couple weeks ago and as someone that loves history, I really enjoyed it and the drive along the water to get there. I just wish they had a lot more about the Native Americans.

We crossed a pedestrian bridge (after some turtle and frog watching) and the had a great archaeological tour of the Jamestown fort where we learned about the first colony in the Americas, saw where Pocahontas was married, etc. Highly recommend.

So much to see and learn about here at Historic Jamestown. Pretty interesting to see the spot where America basically began. Took a road trip here with my boyfriend since he really likes learning about our nation's history and I'm glad we made the drive out. What an amazing feeling to be in the place that I learned about when I was in a kid in elementary school. I just imagined as I stared out to the river a ship arriving to the new world and wondering what was seen when they first arrived here. There were so many different sights to see, from a cemetery to statues of John Smith and Pocahontas. I really liked how the archeologists excavated many of the things from long, long ago. I would have liked to learn more about the real events that took place and wish I had a better understanding of why the Europeans enslaved people and killed the Indians who were living in "America' first. This is a pretty cool spot to check out and make a road trip to to learn about the earlier times in America.

Where it all began in 1607... The first permanent English settlement in America.Although Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts is a much bigger tourist attraction, Jamestown was established 13 years earlier than the famous landing on Plymouth Rock. I was excited to visit Historic Jamestown to learn about those early colonists. At Historic Jamestown you will learn that it was originally called James Fort, and as you wander around the site you see parts of buildings, monuments to John Smith and Pocahontas, a church still standing from 1617, and a cemetery. The museum was closed when I went. There are a lot of informational posts that teach about early life in Jamestown. The downside is that although these educational posts do mention that Pocahontas was kidnapped and the Jamestown colonists did massacre Native Americans for no apparent reason, it doesn't really dig into all the details. At this point those details shouldn't be glossed over, but should be expounded on.There is another historic site called Jamestown Settlement (which is actually in Williamsburg) that you must pass to get to Historic Jamestown. Do not be fooled into stopping there. Keep going until you get to Historic Jamestown.

Historic Jamestowne is one of the most breathtaking sites I've ever been to. Imagine that you're in the same spot where the first permanent English settlement was in the Americas. It would give you chills, knowing that you set foot on the same soil as did those back in 1607. Absolutely amazing. I visited historic Jamestowne while I was road tripping around Virginia, as the entrance fee gets you into both Yorktown and here. Plus, it's near colonial Williamsburg, so you can really make it a whole weekend, exploring Virginia and America's historic lands. Jamestowne is really special. Many would say that there isn't much to the area, as it's just an open space that looks out to the Chesapeake. But that's the beauty of this place! I love that much of it hasn't been built on, as it really preserves such an iconic site. There is a memorial church, statues of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith and a building where you can see artifacts. I would highly recommend visiting Jamestowne if you're a fan of history. Such an unforgettable experience!

Jamestown was great, lots of things to do here and to look at. Bunch of history here as well, it was a lot of fun

The actual site of the original Jamestown Fort just discovered less than 30 years ago. Very little remains and artifacts are still being recovered. There are only a few things to see such as wells and reconstructed structures, but the museum did have a good number of artifacts. Ticket options for Jamestown as well as everything within the historical triangle are confusing. Bundles, multi-day options and some are free if you have a National Park pass and some aren't. This is the actual historic area, but the reconstructed fort with historical interpreters is at Jamestown Settlement, and it isn't within walking distance. Once you sort it all out it is a fun place to visit.