This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Founder’s District. All opinions are 100% mine.
We were recently able to visit Jamestown Settlement in Virginia and we had such a great time learning more about the first permanent English settlement. If you’re planning a trip to The Founder’s District then a stop at Jamestown Settlement should definitely be in your plans.
If you’ve ever watched the children’s movie Pocahontas then you have probably heard of Jamestown, Virginia. That movie is fictional but Jamestown and many of the people mentioned in the movie are real.
Jamestown Settlement
What is Jamestown Settlement? Jamestown Settlement is a living history museum in Virginia.
On our trip to Jamestown Settlement, we saw history come to life as we learned about the First Permanent English settlement that was started when the colonists arrived in 1607.
Things to Know Before Visiting Jamestown Settlement
During our trip, I found a few of the things that I think would be helpful to know about or do before visiting Jamestown Settlement.
Check Hours and Events
Before heading to Jamestown Settlement be sure you know the hours of operation and special events.
Jamestown Settlement is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm except on Christmas Day and New Years Day. The outdoor living history area has shorter hours, 10 am to 4:30 pm.
When planning your trip you might want to change the dates to be able to attend one of the events throughout the year or you may want to visit on a day without an event to hopefully avoid the crowds. Don’t worry even if there isn’t an event going on there is still a lot to do at Jamestown Settlement.
You might also want to check and see if there is a special exhibition when you’re visiting. If there is be sure to plan time into your day to see it.
Parking
When you’re traveling in a new area parking can be a big question. Parking at Jamestown Settlement is free and it’s a large parking lot, so parking is easy for any size vehicle, even a motorhome. If you visit during the busy season the parking lot may get full but when we visited there were very few cars and plenty of close-up parking.
Location of Jamestown Settlement
Jamestown Settlement is a living history museum and is located near the original Jamestown Settlement that was founded in 1607. While it’s not the exact location it is in the same area and gives you a great idea of what the area would have looked like when the English first arrived.
Plan for the Weather
The weather in Virginia can be both really hot and really cold so be sure to check the weather and wear seasonally appropriate clothes. I highly recommend comfortable shoes for the whole family. Also having bug spray and sunscreen is a great idea.
Bring the Stroller or Baby Carrier
The paths through the living history area are stroller friendly so if you’re visiting with young kids that will tire of walking easily, bringing a stroller is a great idea. You won’t be able to take the stroller on the ships but other than that you should be able to use it.
When we visited we didn’t bring a stroller so I put the baby in a carrier and that worked great as well since both of my older kids would rather walk.
There is More To Do Than You Think
There is more to do at Jamestown Settlement than you might think. With a large museum that has plenty of exhibits and videos as well as an outdoor living history area, you will find plenty to do for all ages. Be sure to plan 3-4 hours exploring (plan even more time if you want to read everything).
The Museum
The museum has tons of information with different displays and videos. When visiting with kids be prepared to skim information. We did the museum first then went outside for the living history. If you plan to arrive when they open, the museum is open for an hour or so before the outdoor living history area opens.
While there are tons of displays to check out in the museum here are a few things to make sure you don’t miss.
The Film
The film in the museum is definitely worth a watch. It is played every 30 minutes and gives you a great overview of the area and history of Jamestown.
The Maps
There are several different maps throughout the museum, these are a great way to understand a little bit more of how far they traveled and the distance between settlements in America. The maps are also a great way to talk to the kids about the settlement of Jamestown using visuals.
Learn About Pocahontas
One of our favorite areas in the museum was the section on Pocahontas. There was a lot of great information and it even talked about how Disney portrays Pocahontas in their film. Definitely, a section of the museum you don’t want to miss when visiting with kids.
Outdoor Living History Area
The living history area is organized into 3 different areas. When you exit the museum’s indoor gallery exhibits, you can choose a path to either go to the re-created English fort and ships or Paspahegh Town first. We started with Paspahegh Town and ended with the fort.
Paspahegh Town
In Paspahegh Town, you get to explore the Powhatan way of life. The town is a re-creation of what a Powhatan community was like in the 17th century. It is based on archeological findings as well as descriptions and illustrations created by the colonists.
Along with the re-creations of reed covered houses you will also find cook circles, a circle of ceremonial carved wooden posts, and costumed historical interpreters to explain and show you what life was like for Pocahontas and the Powhatan tribal group.
The Ships
The Ships’ Pier along the James River is home to re-creations of the three ships that brought the English colonists to Jamestown, America’s first permanent English settlement in 1607. The three ships are the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery.
Step aboard the ships and see what it was like for the men traveling from England to the new settlement. When we visited we were only able to board the largest ship, the Susan Constant.
The ships were a lot smaller than I thought they would be, especially when you find out how many men were aboard the ship.
James Fort
The James Fort is a re-creation of the Virginia Company of London’s 1610-1614 military outpost. The fort is a triangular shape surrounded by a wooden wall. Inside the James Fort are various buildings and structures including homes, an Anglican church, storehouse, governor’s house, and a blacksmith forge.
Historical interpreters can be found throughout the fort repairing metal objects, showing how a matchlock musket is fired (our favorite) and more. Depending on the time of year you visit interpreters may be doing other activities as well.
Enjoy Demonstrations of Period Activities
The re-creations of the ships and costumed historical interpreters were definitely highlights of our time at Jamestown Settlement. There are costumed interpreters in the Paspahegh Town, James Fort, and on the ships. Depending on the time of year you will probably see different historical interpreters doing different activities.
While some of the historical interpreters are in different areas to talk about different aspects of life, there are also some timed demonstrations that happen throughout the day. We really enjoyed the musket firing demonstration that happened a couple of times while we were there.
Ask Questions
We were very impressed with the Historical Interpreters we talked to at Jamestown Settlement. They know a lot so be sure to ask any questions you might have.
My daughter and I talked to a historical interpreter in the Paspahegh town and learned all about how they made coats with feathers and what the different colors of the feathers signified. It’s something my 4 year old is still talking about.
In the James Fort, we talked to one of the historical interpreters asking him all kinds of questions like, how much of a distance there would have been between the fort and the Indian village and several more.
We also asked him if he had any book recommendations for us to read to learn more about Jamestown and he suggested several titles and told us to look in the museum store because they have a lot of books. The gift store has a variety of books for adults and children to enjoy as they learn more about Jamestown.
Food Options
When traveling with kids one of the important things to know about is food. Food is not allowed in the museum or living history areas. You could pack a lunch and head out to the car to eat it or you can get food in the cafe. If you visit during the busy season be prepared to wait in line to get your food and then again to checkout with your meal.
Take it Slow
There is so much to see and do at Jamestown Settlement, so take it slow and enjoy your time there. We found that letting the kids find rocks and sticks, ask questions and take time to enjoy everything made the experience more fun for all of us.
Continue Learning at Home
After visiting Jamestown Settlement you can continue learning more at home with virtual learning experiences, recipes, and printables found on the Jamestown Settlement’s History at Home page.
Bonus: Do Some Family History Before You Visit
One final suggestion of something to do before you visit Jamestown Settlement is to do a little family history. Before our visit, we were able to find out that Jared and the kids are related to Pocahontas which made the experience even more fun. Not only were we learning about some American history we were learning about the kid’s 10th Great Grandmother.
Planning a Trip to Jamestown Settlement
We were very impressed with our time at Jamestown Settlement. It really is a place that has something for all ages. If you’re planning a trip to the Williamsburg, Virginia area you definitely don’t want to miss The Founder’s District.
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