jamestown
Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestown
Historic Jamestown
The original site of Fort Jamestown and surrounding area. Presently there is an ongoing archiological dig that is uncovering the remains of the fort which was at one time thought ot be lost to the course changes of the river. In 1607, a group of 104 English men and boys began a settlement on the banks of Virginia's James River. They were sponsored by the Virginia Company of London, whose stockholders hoped to make a profit from the resources of the New World. The community suffered terrible hardships in its early years, but managed to endure, earning the distinction of being America's first permanent English colony.
Jamestown Settlement is a recreation of Fort Jamestown, based on drawings and writings of the time. The area includes the various buildings, replicas of the 3 ships that brought the settlers here and a village of the local natives. Here actors portray what life in both the fort and in a recreated indian village would have been like.
The Susan Constant, the largest of the 3 ships that brought the new settlers to the new world. The ship was a cargo vessel which meant that the passangers on board had to remain in the cargo hold for the entire 4 1/2 months of the voyage.
This church tower was basically the only existing structure (1639) when the Park Service and the APVA began restoration. They have since identified the area of the original fort and many of the interior buildings and gravesites. Also the locations of the buildings that resulted from expansion from the fort to the surrounding area and an indian village have been identified.
The archiological digs are ongoing an more is being discovered constantly. The present dig has revealed a basment area of a building that was used for several purposes over the years including (assumed) baking oven, guest area and storage.
The Susan Constant, a to scale replica of the largest of the 3 ships that brought the new settlers to the new world. The ship was a cargo vessel which meant that the passangers on board had to remain in the cargo hold for the entire 4 1/2 months of the voyage.