Historic Jamestowne

Historic Jamestowne

One year ago today I visited Historic Jamestowne, the site of the first permanent English settlement in North America. I learned a lot and I am going to share my journal and photos with you and hopefully you will learn and enjoy Jamestowne too.

Jamestown Island is the site of the original Jamestown settlement. Since 1994 they have been excavating and found the original site of the original 1607 fort. They have a Visitor's Center where I learned about the history of Jamestown.

Then I wandered around to see the original fort area and the archeological excavations. It was originally a one acre triangular-shaped fortification and log pallisades have been placed on top of the original site to mark the boundaries.


I also viewed the reconstructed church where the Jamestown planters worshiped. The church tower is the oldest part that survives from the 17th century. Under the floor you can see the original foundation.

The sign says "The original framed church of 1617 was the first church on this site, and Jamestown's third church. It was within the 1617 structure that the first representative legislative assembly in North America convened from July 30-August 4, 1619. The first all brick church (of which the Old Tower was a part and whose foundations the present Memorial Church in a large part rests) was begun in 1639. The present Memorial Church was built in 1907."

Near the church is a 17th century burial site. According to the sign: "Since there is little natural stone in tidewater Virginia, tombstones were rare in 17th and 18th centuries. Almost all had to be imported, usually from England. Many people buried here after the 1680s were wealthy and their families could have afforded tombstones.

Nineteenth century reports indicate that many did and the graveyard contained many tombstones. Sadly, most of these have been lost, stolen or destroyed by ravages of time. " Only twenty-five tombstones remain. Some of these are not really tombstones merely grave markers erected in 1901 when excavations were conducted and the gave sites were found. The epitaphs are either from the original or from nineteenth century reports. It was pretty awe inspiring to see the final resting place of the men and women who founded Jamestown.


Other burial sites are close to the shore and the museum. There are grave sites of those men and women who died in the first year and a memorial to the early settlers.

Along the shore I viewed the site of the first landing.
Since 1607, the shoreline has eroded about 25 acres of this part of Jamestown Island. The original shoreline was close to the present edge of the river channel, somewhat more than 100 yeards offshore from the seawall.


Then to the Archearium museum to see the results of the excavations. It was very interesting to see all the objects they have found - including two full skeletons!