Historic Jamestowne needs to be on your itinerary if you’re planning a family trip to Virginia. This is the site of the original Jamestown settlement, where archaeologists are still uncovering the story of the first permanent English settlement in North America. For homeschool families and students of U.S. history, Historic Jamestowne in Virginia invites you to leave the textbook behind. Here you walk where American history really happened – and these are my favorite history lessons.
Part of Virginia’s Historic Triangle, along with Williamsburg and Yorktown, Historic Jamestowne is an easy stop on a Virginia road trip especially when contrasted with the Jamestown Settlement reconstruction. If you’re planning to visit all three, check out my 7-day Virginia road trip itinerary for a complete route. But first, here’s everything you need to know about visiting Historic Jamestowne: what you’ll see, how long to spend there, and what families should know before they go.
Links, info, hotels links check and updated Oct 2026
Affiliate disclosure: When you click and purchase a link in my post, I may earn an (small) affiliate commission on products, services, or travel bookings at no extra cost to you. If you want to help support this website, you need to accept the cookie pop-up for the link to be credited back to the site. Thanks in advance for the gallon of gas. 😉
Is Historic Jamestowne Worth Visiting?
Absolutely. Jamestown Colony was the first permanent English settlement in North America. The original location of the Jamestown Fort was thought to be lost until archaeologists began the Jamestown Rediscovery project in 1994. More is still being uncovered today with the on-site archaeologists continuing to dig and study the site today. This isn’t just old history; it’s still being discovered!
A family trip to Jamestown brings to life the stories they’ve heard about Pocahontas and John Rolfe; here you can learn the real story not the Disney version. These are the American history figures that you usually only read about. Combine this with a trip to nearby Williamsburg and Yorktown, and it’s a full American history lesson.
Jamestown Settlement vs Historic Jamestowne: What’s the Difference?
There are two Jamestown, Virginia attractions, and they are confusing! We’ve been and I’ve written about both must-see Virginia experiences multiple times… and yet, I still had to relabel the included Jamestown photos only minutes ago. The two Jamestowns are only minutes apart from each other yet offer a completely different perspective on American history.
HISTORIC JAMESTOWNE is part of Colonial National Historical Park and is administered by both the National Park Service and Preservation Virginia. At this original 1607 Jamestown location, you can take a guided tour of the site, visit with the archaeologists, see the archaeology museum, visit the Glasshouse, and drive around the island. This historic Virginia site is the authentic, history-being-unearthed site that makes a great complement to your trip to Jamestown Settlement.
Historic Jamestowne is further divided into two tickets and two areas; as if visiting Jamestown isn’t complicated enough already. The Historic Jamestowne National Park Service runs the NPS portion, visitor center, and bookstore, while the non-profit Preservation Virginia operates the Jamestown Rediscovery archaeological portion, including the James Fort site and Archaearium museum. For the full Historic Jamestowne experience, you’ll need both admissions.
JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT, in contrast, is a reconstruction of the fort away from the original historical site. The outdoor living-history museum has colonial interpreters who talk to you about their settlement while demonstrating their trades. Additionally, the Powhatan interpreters show you their village, canoes, and way of life. Outside are three rebuilt ships representing the vessels that brought the colonists to Virginia more than 400 years ago. Here, you are able to climb aboard the Susan Constant and learn what life was like aboard the ship. Not to be overlooked is the state-of-the-art indoors Jamestown museum which also has films to view and is as amazing as its sister American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.
~~~> Check out my other post about Jamestown Settlement for complete information about this additional stop on your road trip to Virginia.
What Will I See at Historic Jamestowne?
A visit to Historic Jamestowne covers a lot of areas. I suggest that you take a tour first and then tackle the areas based on what you were not shown previously. And go back to revisit what you missed. However, even if you can’t get a tour, you will see so much on a self-guided tour.
Historic Jamestowne Visitor Centre
Start your visit with the Visitor Center right off the parking lot. This is where you can get your tickets and get oriented before heading across the foot bridge to the Jamestown site. Add in some nature exploring by stopping to look for wildlife from the bridge. The Visitor Center also has restrooms and the museum store.
Archeology Dig Site
There may be multiple active archeology sites happening at the same time; check out the list of active Jamestown digs here. Archeologists on-site daily working on active excavation, research, and analysis at Historic Jamestowne.
Go take your family to see real life history; I love showing my kids awesome adults who love what they do. They are more than willing to answer your kids’ many questions, describe the process, and show you what they are currently finding.
Take a Jamestown Nature Walk
Don’t rush from the Visitor Center to the Jamestown for area. Stroll slowly along the path across the bridge and stop to look for animals including otters, muskrat, turtles and birds. We watched an otter swim by when we were there. It’s a beautiful, peaceful area away from the business of town and the rush between historic sites.
Archearium
The Jamestown archeology museum, the Archearium, houses on-site artifacts including armor, household objects, coins, and human remains. You should visit here after talking to the archeologists. Let the kids see where the excavated treasures end up. Plan for at least 45 minutes to explore this museum alone.
The James Fort and Jane’s Cellar
A quick look at this map will show you all the areas of the 1600 fort. It’s here that you will see graves, look inside the cellar where archaeologists found evidence of cannibalism during the Starving Time, and hear the stories of the settlers. Pay attention to the wooden spikes defining the area of the fort, and you can see how the land has eroded over time.
The Jamestown Glasshouse
Visit the Jamestowne Glasshouse where the American colonies first began manufacturing glass for England. The original glassmaking site is under a protected building nearby, but the current reconstructed Glasshouse allows for you to watch glassblowing using traditional techniques. There is also a small gift shop if you need some special souvenirs.
Jamestown Island Drive
When we arrived, it was several hours until the first tour, so we took this opportunity to drive around Jamestown Island. Choosing from the 3-mile or 5-mile one-direction driving loops, explore the land as the colonists would have seen when they landed. Along the way, there are pull-outs to read historical markers, see the landscape, and even park to get out and walk to the water. Be on the lookout for wildlife and look up for the bald eagles. We saw a pair as we were crossing over the bridge to get to the island.
I really feel that I understood the story of Jamestown better when seeing the island and how the land looked before it was settled. It’s an area most visitors would rush through, so it’s quiet. It’s worth slowing down and taking it in. See the drives on the Jamestown island map here.
How Much Does It Cost to Visit Historic Jamestowne?
Tickets to Historic Jamestowne are confusing because the site is operated by both the National Park Service and Preservation Virginia. This is a good website that explains the tickets in detail. Remember, this is different from the Jamestown Settlement site.
The National Park Service area requires a $15 Historic Jamestowne entrance pass for adults 16 and older; children 15 and under are free. This gives you access to the NPS portion of Historic Jamestowne, including the Visitor Center, footbridge, Jamestown Island, Glasshouse, and Island Loop Drive. The pass is also valid for Yorktown Battlefield for seven consecutive days, since both sites are part of Colonial National Historical Park.
Historic Jamestowne Preservation Virginia tickets will give you entrance to the rest of “Jamestown Rediscovery”. This ticket includes entrance into the 1607 James Fort, the archeological dig area, the Memorial Church, and the archeology museum. The current admission ticket is $15 for adults age 16 and older, $5 for children ages 6–15, and free for children 5 and under.
In summary, it’s a minimum of $15 per adult to visit the National Park Service portion of Historic Jamestowne, plus another $15 to see the Preservation Virginia/Jamestown Rediscovery portion, including the archaeology area and Archaearium. So if you want to see the entire Historic Jamestowne site, plan on $30 per adult.
If you have more US National Parks planned for the year, consider getting the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. If you have a fourth grader, check whether your family qualifies for the current Every Kid Outdoors program.
Prices checked October 2026.
Should I Visit Both Areas of Historic Jamestowne?
Are you now more confused than ever about how to spend your day at Historic Jamestowne? Yes! This homeschool mom travelers recommends that you see both areas.
The part of the park that myself and the kids most enjoyed was seeing the archeologists in action and seeing the fort as it lays today, still being uncovered. If your kids are super young, maybe skip this and the museum; we really liked it, but younger kids may not enjoy it.
How Much Time Do I Need to Spend at Historic Jamestowne?
During our Virginia family trip, we spent about half a day exploring Historic Jamestowne. For my kids’ ages and interest levels, I feel that was plenty. We did spend about an hour of that driving the road around the island and just wandering near the beach. It was a good way to get out kid wiggles! If you have younger kids, a couple of hours is probably sufficient.
The Historic Jamestowne areas are 9 AM to 5 PM in most areas with the entrance gate closing at 4:30 PM. The Island Loop Drive is open until sunset; this would be a great way to see some nature after a busy afternoon visit. There will be some driving involved to get to the Glasshouse and to take the island drive. Otherwise, park at the visitor center and walk everywhere.
Make sure you check out this map of Historic Jamestowne. I suggest you screenshot this map as signal on the island may be spotty.
Should I Take a Tour at Historic Jamestowne?
On the day of our visit, we participated in an excellent hour-long archaeology tour led by one of the resident archeologists. She gave us a brief history of the area but focused on the archaeological finds of the site, both previous and current. We discussed the church, burials, Jane’s cellar, and the fort.
Multiple park-led tours are available during the day on different topics. A history tour was available later the day we visited, led by a costumed guide. The Jamestowne tour schedule varies by day so check on their website before your visit. I highly recommend taking a tour if one is available during your visit, especially if your kids are interested in archaeology.
If you’re looking for a more personalized tour, there are exclusive Jamestowne tours through outside companies
Word of Caution
Historic Jamestowne is an archeological site, so expect lots of talk of skeletons and burials which have been unearthed. The famous Jamestown cannibalism is discussed in tours of Jane’s Cellar where remains of a teenage girl were found. Jane is the name given to the girl whose skull and leg bones were found in the cellar. Forensic examination found cuts, chops, and other marks on the bones that provide evidence she was cannibalized during the Starving Time.
Additionally, the actual remains and artifacts are displayed in the archaeology museum, the Archaearium, including Jane’s remains and other human skeletal remains.
Family Learning About Jamestown
Jamestown Rediscovery: Historic Jamestown, Dig Deeper – Amazing videos by the resident archaeologists talking about their work and current discoveries
This educational section of the Historic Jamestowne website has downloadable activities that would make the visit more memorable if you had already done some at home. They even have a section for teachers and people just learning at home.
Junior Rangers
Grab your Jamestowne Junior Ranger packet at the Visitor Center! As a self-guided booklet for them to complete during their visit to Jamestown, Junior Ranger packets are a great way to lead the kids through further learning.
As a disclaimer, I don’t expect some of my kids to do these anymore as they seem to actually keep them from reading and moving through even more material at educational opportunities. It doesn’t make you a bad travel mom if your kids don’t have a giant collection of Junior Ranger badges from around the United States.
Kid Books
Check out the list of Jamestown books on my Jamestown Settlement post, but also take this opportunity to learn about archaeology. However, I’m still working on finding some great books about archeology that aren’t just about digging up dinosaurs! Let me know if you find some.
Deep Dives into Jamestowne History
Historic Jamestowne was my favorite site during our family vacation and Virginia road trip. American history comes alive at this historic site, so take the time to lead the kids into further discussion. Homeschool moms, this is an excellent addition to your Classical Conversations Cycle 3 history studies or a focused-study about American history. There is a ton of information to continue reading about Jamestowne at home; go to the website.
- What is the significance of the James River? Trace it on the map.
- Why would this land have made this a good site for the settlers to land?
- Have you visited other types of archeological sites?
- How do you become an archeologist?
- What kind of history can you learn about the area where you live?
- Which artifacts would people find of our life in 300 years?
- What could have caused the erosion of the land to make the fort extend into the water currently?
- Why was this area good for the first glassblowing site? What materials did they need?
What Should I Visit Near Jamestown?
If you’re struggling to figure out the must-see stops in Virginia during your family trip, steal this “Ultimate Road Trip to Virginia: 7 Days in American History”to add extras like Monticello and Norfolk, Virginia to your trip. Or save these ideas for your next trip to Virginia!
Virginia’s Historic Triangle is only 2.5 hours to Washington DC and a perfect way to continue to history trip in American history. If you’re headed north to DC from Virginia, make sure you read “DC’s Hidden Gems: 10 Must-See Spots Your Kids will Love” and “6 Practical Tips to Make Your D.C. Trip Easier“.
- Jamestown Settlement – Now that you’ve seen the ruins rediscovered, go see the full picture of what it might have looked like when colonized. Learn about more of the history in the Jamestown Settlement museum.
- Ride the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry. It’s free. See the land from the James River and experience the river crossing that connects the two sides today.
- Drive only three hours south, and visit the site of the Lost Colony of Roanoke at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site in North Carolina. Not far away in NC is the Wright Brothers’ Kitty Hawk – see “How to Visit Kitty Hawk”.
- Driving west, jump forward in American history with a short road trip to Monticello, the home of President Jefferson
I hope you enjoy your trip to this most special place. If you want to see archeology in action, this is the place to make history come alive. It should be at the top of everyone’s list!
Thanks for stopping by my little corner! Here’s to your next adventure.
I’m Bobbie. After years of planning detailed family trips, I’m diving into travel advising. I’d love to take away the stress and plan a trip for you. Let’s get started today – click here to start.
You can count on me to share honest reviews and answer the questions you need to plan your own trip. My family of six is on a mission to discover all of Georgia’s amazing places, experience amazing road trips across the United States, and create a homeschool life along the way. We even world travel when we can!
Stop by my Instagram or Pinterest page to discover more of our adventures.
Leave a Reply