10:00 a.m. on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month April through October, with the exception of August 3.
Dr. William Kelso "in the trenches" |
Join a small inside and up-close group tour of the lost 1607 James Fort led by Dr. William Kelso, Director of the Jamestown Rediscovery Archaeological Project since 1994. Your reserved place in this special group allows you to come under the ropes to walk the surface of the ground once trod by Captain John Smith, Pocahontas and Queen Elizabeth II -- now the very soil being dug by Historic Jamestowne archaeologists. You share the once in a lifetime "moment of discovery" as a part of America's birthplace sees the first light of day in over 400 years.
A group takes a tour "in the trenches" with Dr. Kelso. |
The one hour "In the Trenches" tour is limited to 30 people for a fee of $30 per person, ages 10 and above. Admission to Historic Jamestowne is included in the ticket price.
Tour members must purchase a tour ticket on-line in advance or in the museum store by 9:30 a.m. on the day of the tour. Tour members must dress according to weather predictions.
Reservations and tickets are valid only on the date specified. There will be no refunds unless the tour is cancelled by Preservation Virginia. |
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3:00 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month April through October.
Part of the Curator's Tour, the 'Vault' houses thousands of artifacts, many of which have never been displayed publicly. |
Witness firsthand the recovery and processing of Jamestown Rediscovery artifacts. This 90-minute guided tour traces the trail of the artifacts from discovery to the museum. Your guide will lead you from the Visitor Center to the 1607 James Fort excavations where you can join in the "moment of discovery" as archaeologists unearth items that have not seen the light of day in 400 years. The tour then moves on to an exclusive, behind-the-scenes visit of the archaeological laboratory and vault for a rare look at the artifact collection, most of which will never go on public display. Here, a member of the Jamestowne Rediscovery curatorial staff discusses how artifacts are processed and conserved. Finally, explore the Nathalie P. and Alan M. Voorhees Archaearium museum where galleries of selected artifacts tell the story of Jamestown's early years through archaeology.
Due to limited space and the fragile nature of artifacts in the laboratory, this tour is restricted to 10 people. Children under 16 may only participate when accompanied by an adult. Portions of this tour are not handicap-accessible.
Tour members may purchase a tour ticket on-line in advance through the website or in the museum store (757-229-9973).
Curator's Artifact Tours are conducted at 3:00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month from April through October. Tours start from the Visitor Center main lobby. |
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4 times daily--daily during the Summer; weekends only in September and October
Join a costumed interpreter portraying one of Jamestown's 17th-century residents and hear of the trials, tribulations, successes and failures during Jamestown's ninety-two years as the social and political center of Virginia. Join such personalities as Rachel Stanton, Joan Peirce, Colonel Thomas Lygon, Ann Laydon and Elizabeth Bacon to travel back in time to when the foundations of who and what we are as a people and a nation were laid. |
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Tour times dependent on staffing and weather. Call 757-229-1733 for tour information.
Join a Park Ranger on a 30-40 minute tour of the original Jamestown site. Subjects range from the early days of exploration and settlement to Jamestown as the capital of Virginia to Bacon's Rebellion to Jamestown's decline when the capital was moved to Middle Plantation (Williamsburg) in 1699. For ninety-two years Jamestown was the social and political center of Virginia, the foundation of who and what we are as a people. There are many untold stories yet to tell. |
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These tours are designed for school groups, but are available year-round. The cost is $70 per group, with a maximum of 30 students and must be booked 30 days in advance. We can accommodate more than one group at a time however. Bookings are made by calling 757-229-0412. Teachers who book these tours will also be sent pre-visit materials and a CD of Historic Jamestowne lesson plans and support materials. |
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Suggested grade levels: K, 1, 2
Young students will be introduced to the concepts of history and events long ago. Tour the site of the original James Fort and see the things the settlers left behind. Tour has an added emphasis on the natural world of early Virginia, touching on early Virginia's natural resources and how the settlers used them for survival. |
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Suggested grade levels: 3, 4, 5
Students will be introduced to the field of archaeology and how it has helped Jamestown Rediscovery® learn more about Jamestown's early years. New understanding of James Fort and its settlers comes from the written history and the ongoing archaeology of the original settlement. Students will see the archaeology and artifacts of the original site and learn about the politics, government and societies of early Virginia. |
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Suggested grade levels: 3, 4, 5
Students receive hands-on experience in simulated archaeology under the guidance of an archaeologist in this mini-field school. They will gain an understanding of how detailed documentation of artifact discoveries enable Jamestown Rediscovery archaeologists to learn about the activities of the settlers and Native Americans who occupied James Fort during Jamestown's early years. Students will also see the actual ongoing archaeology and artifacts as they tour the original site. |
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Suggested grade levels: 6, 7, 8
Middle-school students will be able to expand their understanding of early Jamestown by sharing in the quest for information used by the archaeologists of Jamestown Rediscovery®. What support does the historian get from scientific inquiry? Students will tour the original site of James Fort and learn about the science and inquiry used by archaeologists to learn about the past. |
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Suggested grade level: High School
How does archaeology add to the understanding of our past? Students will tour the original site of James Fort and discover how the work by archaeologists at Jamestown Rediscovery® expands our view of history to include Africans, Native Americans, women, children, tradesmen and indentured servants. Students will learn about the research strategies used in Historical Archaeology to gain a broader perspective of America's past. |
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It is recommended to call for information to best tailor a tour for home school needs. |
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At Historic Jamestowne we offer a guided walking tour for adult groups. The program uses the research database of the Jamestown Rediscovery archaeology project as the basis for the information presented. You will enjoy learning about the history of Jamestown as revealed through archaeology. Seasonally and weather permitting, you will share the moment of discovery with archaeologists at work. Groups must have a minimum of 10 participants to reserve this program. |
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The fee is $70 per program. One program can accommodate up to 30 people. Larger groups must book more than one program. These programs can run concurrently. |
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Payment must be received no less than two weeks in advance of your reservation to confirm the program.
Please plan to arrive at the Historic Jamestowne Entrance Station 15 minutes prior to your reserved program time. This gives your group time for a short restroom break, if necessary, without diminishing the time allotted for your program. Your group will be met in the bus parking lot, or at the end of the footbridge near the parking lot if arriving by car. NOTE: If your group is more than 15 minutes late, your program may have to be cancelled.
Cancellations must be made at least ten days prior to your reservation in order to apply the program fee to a future program. Severe weather such as ice, snow or hurricanes or other national or local emergencies may allow a group to qualify for credit toward a future program. Generally, this program must be scheduled within six months of the cancelled program. |
