Voorhees Archaearium at Jamestown, Colonial National Historical Park
The Voorhees Archaearium is located in Jamestown’s Old Town and is operated by the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation / Preservation Virginia. It was built on the site of the 1665 Virginia Statehouse building, which itself was built on top of an old cemetery. An archaearium is a structure that protects an archaeology site yet still lets people see it. The Voorhees Archaearium fits this description because you can see parts of the Statehouse foundation from inside the building. It also houses Preservation Virginia’s collection of artifacts that were found at James Fort and the surrounding area.
The museum is as big, if not bigger, than the National Park Service’s museum at the Jamestown Visitor Center, but it is comprised of many more artifacts and has less information panels, thus you can go through it much quicker. It focuses on the history of Jamestown from 1607-1624 as it relates to the archaeological discoveries from the excavations at James Fort, whereas the Visitor Center museum covers the entire history of Jamestown. An hour at the Archaearium is sufficient time to see and read all of the information. Photography is not allowed, which is why I do not have any photos for this review.
The Voorhees Archaearium is typically open daily from 9:30 AM to 5 PM. Times can always change, so be sure to get the latest schedule on Jamestown Rediscovery’s Operating Hours web page.
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Last updated on July 16, 2024
