It was on this day in 1607 that Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in America was founded. Jamestown, which is part of the Colonial National Historical Park , along with the Yorktown Battlefield, is one of the nicest historic sites that we have visited. The fort has been reconstructed on as much of the original foundations as still exists. Some of the original ground has been claimed by the James River, along the banks of which the site stands. An archeological museum is open to visitors and contains one of the most interesting features that we have ever seen. Several computers with lenses are set up inside. Point the lens out the long picture window and the computer shows you what the current area looked like during the early settlement.
Jamestown is not only historically interesting, it is a beautiful spot as well, but take heed. I've never seen my three girls as hot as they were when we visited in July some years ago. The humidity in the Tidewater area can be fierce and one can only wonder what those colonists from cool old England thought about their new surroundings during their first summer!
Jamestown is within minutes of Williamsburg and if you vacation in the later, I strongly urge you to take in the former, which was settled 403 years ago today.
A statue of Captain John Smith looks out across the James River inside the Jamestown National Historical Park in Virginia
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