A visit to Jamestown actually consists to a visit to two separate - although closely located - spots. One is a recreation of the Jamestown settlement. The other is the site where the settlement was actually located. Both offer a look into the lives of those early settlers.
While many give the New England pilgrims credit for being the first settlers, the Jamestown settlers arrived in 1607, 13 years before the good men and women landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
The 1607 settlers made their homes on the bank of Virginia's James River and they called their colony Jamestowne.
Jamestown Settlement
The recreation of the original settlement includes replicas of the church and homes and has been duplicated right down to the smallest details of the settlers everyday lives. Small gardens brim with vegetables, straw stuffed mattresses and primitive dining tables and chairs are available for inspection.
Questions can be answered by any of the costumed interpreters who roam about. Many skilled craftsmen, also dressed in period costumes, ply their trades in the exact manner that the Jamestown settlers would have done 400 years ago.
In addition to the settlement, there is also a recreation of a Powhatan village. This recreation shows the way of the life of the native Americans that the Jamestown settlers would have encountered. The village includes reed covered houses, ceremonial articles, and even a dugout canoe. There are also plenty of costumed Native American interpreters available to answer your questions.
Replicas of the three ships that brought the settlers from England, The Susan Constant, The Discovery and The Godspeed, are also on display. Visitors can tour the ships, lie in the bunks, sit in the mess hall and get a feel for how crowded each of the ships must have been on the long journey from England to Virginia .
A museum features films about the settlers as well as artifacts discovered at the original settlement and important documents are artwork of the period.
A visit to the Jamestown Settlement is very kid-friendly, with lots of hands on exhibits and interesting things to see and do. Some, people, however, are looking for a more authentic experience.
One visitor from Florida said, "If you are looking for real buildings left by the settlers, Jamestown settlement is not your place. I am not sure why they call it "Jamestown Settlement." They didn't even settle in this location. If you are looking for a museum or and educational experience, this is a great place. The museum has a lot of information and small artifacts. The "settlement" shows you how the settlers had lived. We were looking for left over buildings. For this, go to Historic Jamestowne just a little further down the road'' .
Historic Jamestowne
Historic Jamestowne is the site where the settlers actually landed. Visitors can see archeological digs and view the foundations of the original buildings as well as the tower from the original church. Visitors can also observe as glass blowers, wearing period costume, demonstrate their skills .
The ruins of many buildings can be seen, and a stop at the museum where many artifacts found on site are on display will round out the visit.
A stop at both locations is the best way to ensure that you get the full experience of life in Colonial America.
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