Curious kids, hands-on history, and full-size ships you can climb aboard? Sounds great! If your family is planning a trip to Virginia’s Historic Triangle, Jamestown Settlement is a must-visit.
This family-friendly destination brings the story of America’s first permanent English colony to life through immersive exhibits and outdoor experiences that are perfect for curious minds of all ages.
Let’s GO! With half a day to spend, we headed to Jamestown Settlement to explore the beginnings of the first permanent English colony in America.
First: Which Jamestown?
There are actually a couple of places in Historic Triangle of Virginia that are named “Jamestown” and that can cause a little confusion.
- Jamestown was the first permanent English colony, founded in 1607.
- There are two historical areas in Jamestown and three separate tickets:
- Jamestown Settlement: This is a living history museum with recreations of the fort, Powahatan Village and ships.
- Historic Jamestown (You must enter via Colonial National Historical Park. Jamestown Discovery is inside the National Park.) The actual site of the James Fort with archeaological remains.
In this article, we will be focusing on Jamestown Settlement.
What You’ll See at Jamestown Settlement
Whether you’re brushing up on 1600s history or just looking for a fun and educational stop, Jamestown Settlement is the kind of place where learning and adventure go hand in hand.
Jamestown Settlement features a mix of indoor and outdoor experiences:
- Indoor Museum: Life-size visuals, artifacts, and history about Jamestown’s founding (we skipped this due to time).
- Living History Trail: Includes a recreated Powhatan village (Paspahegh Town), a colonial fort, and replicas of 17th-century ships.
Our Favorite Parts at Jamestown Settlement
Paspahegh Village: You can walk inside the dwellings and learn about how the Powhatan people lived.
Ships: Only one ship was open, but we climbed aboard, steered at the helm, and explored the cabin.
Fort: We saw blacksmithing, tried on armor, and watched cooking demos.
How much time do you need to visit the Jamestown Settlement?
Plan for 2–3 hours if you want to see it all. We spent a little over an hour outdoors and skipped the intro video and museum.
Tips from Kidding Around:
- No food is allowed inside, so pack lunch to eat in the car before or after your visit.
- Combine this visit with a visit to Historic Jamestown, a totally different site with lots more to see and learn.
Jamestown Settlement
Williamsburg, VA
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