Historic Jamestowne

10/21/2026

Thank you to our dear friends at Williamsburg History for bringing a great group of folks from various Williamsburg agencies and organizations out today to learn more about what our Jamestown Rediscovery team does here daily with archaeology, excavations, exhibits, and more!

10/16/2026

The staff of Jamestown Rediscovery celebrated fall today by repping their favorite college and pro football teams and carving some pumpkins!

A good time was had by all. And the Steelers and Ravens fans even managed not to have a fistfight on company time.

10/15/2026

A little over 30 years ago, Bill Kelso and a small team of archaeologists began a long-awaited excavation on Jamestown Island to look for evidence of James Fort, which was believed lost.

But the fort was not lost. Within 3 archaeology seasons, the team had uncovered enough evidence to prove the remains of James Fort existed on dry land near the church tower, changing the course of history.

Join us to hear from Dr. Kelso himself about the discovery and the biggest and smallest discoveries since, alongside current Director of Archaeology Sean Romo on Friday, November 6. Tickets are going fast! Get yours at historicjamestowne.org/talkingarchaeology

10/13/2026

Listen to the wind rustling through the trees and it's like you stepped back in time.

Fall is the perfect time to visit Jamestown, with all the walking tours, living history, and archaeology in action of the busy season, but with better weather. Plan your visit today at historicjamestowne.org

10/12/2026

Jamestown is located on Paspahegh land, in the region called Tsenacommacah, which once extended across 10,000 square miles from the banks of the James River north to the Potomac River and from the Atlantic Ocean west to the rolling hills of the piedmont that was ruled by Wahunsenacawh, called Chief Powhatan by the English.

The Paspahegh were one of some 30 tribes that made up the 16th- and 17th-century Powhatan Paramount Chiefdom. Descendants of the Powhatan tribes still live in the area today. They and their cultures have survived a violent colonial period and centuries of systematic discrimination. In total, there are currently 11 state-recognized Virginia Indian tribes, seven of which have also gained federal recognition.

Join Public Historian Mark Summers every Friday for The Powhatan & The English walking tour, which explores the complicated interactions between the two cultures. On select Saturdays, join Virginia Indian historic interpreter Daniel Firehawk Abbott inside James Fort. Find the full schedule at historicjamestowne.org/visit.



📸 Indigenous lifeways interpreter Daniel Firehawk Abbott engages families with stories of Indigenous life in the Chesapeake.

10/09/2026

In the early nineties, most people believed the site of James Fort was lost. But Dr. Bill Kelso and an enterprising team of archaeologists proved the world otherwise. Join us for an exciting special event featuring Dr. Kelso and current Director of Archaeology Sean Romo on Friday, November 6! They'll discuss archaeology past and present, the biggest finds of the last 32 years, and will answer questions from the audience.

This is a special, one-night-only program and tickets are limited! Get yours now at historicjamestowne.org/talkingarchaeology

📸 1 - Bill sharing a find with visitors; 2 - Sean and Bill chatting in 2025

10/08/2026

Please note: hours at the Archaearium Museum and Memorial Church will be adjusted slightly today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday), due to a private event. Please see the changes below. Exhibits in James Fort and all tours will be offered as usual. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

Thursday:
Archaearium Museum will close early at 3:30pm

Friday:
Archaearium Museum returns to regular hours: 9:30am - 5:00pm
Memorial Church will open late at 11:00am

To plan your visit, please go to historicjamestowne.org

10/07/2026

Would you like to work at Jamestown? Of course you would. That's clearly a trick question.

We're looking for a part-time associate for the new Dale House Cafe! Take a look at the job announcement and please consider applying. But only if you like working with awesome people in a beautiful and historically significant location.

Visit the real thing at Historic Jamestowne, explore the actual location and active archaeological dig, Jamestown Rediscovery, home of the first successful English settlement.

10/05/2026

Did you know October is Family History Month? What better way to celebrate than to research your family history and find that Jamestown connection! Get started using the genealogy resources on our website at historicjamestowne.org/genealogy.

Pretty sure you have a Jamestown ancestor? Learn more and get help with your research from the Jamestowne Society, whose members are descendants of early settlers who lived at or held government positions at Jamestown prior to 1700. Learn more about the Jamestowne Society at jamestowne.org.

📸 An early morning at Jamestown.

09/29/2026

Like much of the area, Jamestown experienced very high tides leading to flooding over the last week. In previous years, water levels this high would cover pedestrian walkways across the site, blocking access for visitors and staff and leading to the closure of the Archaearium Museum or, in the worst cases, the entire site. Fortunately, access was preserved this year, thanks to the new, raised pathway that was completed earlier this summer. Funded in part by a Virginia 250 Preservation Fund Grant and contributions from our generous supporters, the new pathway is about 3 feet higher than the old walkway and stayed dry throughout the storm. Thanks to the improved infrastructure, we were able to welcome hundreds of visitors to Jamestown during the storm and after.

The successful completion of the first phase of the new pathway is a major step in our efforts to preserve the original site of James Fort in the face of rising sea levels and is great news for the thousands of visitors coming here each year. However, frequent flooding like the type we experienced last week remains a threat to the archaeological record still hidden under the ground. We're continuing work with engineers and experts to find the best solutions so we can continue to research the important history here, preserve the natural environment of the island, and welcome visitors to America's Birthplace.