Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center, Colonial National Historical Park

OPERATING HOURS

The Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Keep in mind that times can always change, so be sure to get the current schedule on Jamestown Rediscovery’s Visitor Center web page.

AMENITIES

• Pay park entrance fees
• Ranger-staffed information desk where you can pick up a park brochure
• Posted schedule of daily tours
• Large museum
• Movie theater
• Gift and souvenir store
• Restrooms

MUSEUM

Museum at the Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center, Colonial National Historical Park

The Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center houses a large museum that focuses on the history of Jamestown. It is comprised mainly of information panels, though there are still plenty of New Town artifacts on display. Exhibits include information on the Virginia Company, trade, Indians, slavery, and indentured servitude. If you wish to see artifacts specifically from James Fort and learn about the archaeological excavations done there, visit the Voorhees Archaearium located near the fort.

Artifacts found on Governor George Yeardley’s property on display at the museum inside the Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center, Colonial National Historical Park

The Visitor Center museum is not laid out in chronological order, but in topical order. It is therefore hard to piece together a historical timeline in your head. You may be at an exhibit on the housing of 1607 and turn the corner and you are suddenly reading information pertaining to 1670. Remember, Jamestown is much more than John Smith, Pocahontas, and the 1607 settlement site. It was a thriving town throughout the 1600s.

Items found at the May Hartwell House in New Town on display at the museum inside the Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center, Colonial National Historical Park

A thorough visit to the museum, which includes reading all of the information and seeing all of the exhibits, takes around two hours. Even if your interest does not demand this much time, plan to spend a least a half hour.

PARK FILM

A 15-minute park orientation films shows every half hour beginning at 9:30 AM, with the last show at 4:30 PM. No announcement is made by staff as to when the next show will start, but an LED countdown clock is located above the theater entrance. The film is shown in an actual movie theater that has two Cinerama-style screens, one on either side of the round auditorium. No matter where you sit you will be looking at one of the screens.

Movie theater inside the Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center, Colonial National Historical Park

SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

Granted, most people are going to browse through the museum exhibits, but still plan to spend around an hour for the museum and the park film. As mentioned, a thorough exploration of the museum will take at least two hours on its own.

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