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Images and editorial supplied by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation At Jamestown Settlement, a museum of 17th-century Virginia, discover the story of America’s first permanent English colony, founded in 1607, and the ensuing convergence of the Powhatan Indian, English and West Central African cultures, vividly recounted through film, indoor gallery exhibits and outdoor living history. Discover the stories of real people and events of early Virginia in exhibition galleries incorporating new historical research and innovative technology. Experience 30,000-square-feet of immersive exhibits with an expanded collection of 500 artifacts, dynamic displays, engaging interactives and 4D theater. Outdoors, visitors can escape to the past in life-size re-creations of a Paspahegh town, the ships that brought English colonists to Virginia in 1607, and a 1610-1614 fort. Visitors can try on armor, shape a dugout canoe, steer with a ship’s tiller, and other activities that make the past come alive. Immersive Films and Refreshed Gallery Exhibits Begin your visit with “1607: A Nation Takes Root,” a docudrama that traces the evolution of the Virginia Company that sponsored the Jamestown colony, examines the relationship between the English colonists and the Powhatan Indians, and chronicles the arrival of the first recorded West Central Africans in 1619. Gallery exhibits

An 18th Century-Style Retail Village The plan was to relocate the scattered shops in the district to a central location along what is now known as Duke of Gloucester Street, between William & Mary and the Historic Area. Merchants Square was designed to incorporate the many perspectives that helped shape the British Colonial and early American landscape, mixing the designs of American architects, such as Thomas Jefferson, with the building influences of Caribbean warehouses.  Today, Merchants Square boasts more than 40 shops and restaurants. Both locals and visitors flock to Merchants Square for the one-of-a-kind shopping, dining, special events or just for a scenic stroll along the bricks. Take a retail adventure into the mix of nostalgic shops and chic boutiques at Merchants Square. This historic retail village showcases posh apparel and fashions from distinguished designers. The square also houses jewelry stores, colonial-inspired souvenir shops, a classic candy store and William & Mary campus store. Specialty shops include cooking and kitchen supplies, and fine houseware items to transform your home into a swanky abode. The restaurants within Merchants Square range from upscale eateries to quaint cafés and pub fare. Local restaurants entice visitors with a wide range of rich and

Yorktown is a must-see for anyone who wishes to fully understand the story of our nation’s birth. Visit Historic Yorktown Immerse yourself in an area as rich in American history as it is in modern-day charm. Whether you book a riverfront hotel room or choose a quaint bed & breakfast, you’ll find yourself within walking distance of beautiful sandy beaches and a charming waterfront village nestled along the York River. Discover diverse riverfront restaurants, an expert coffee shop and roastery, specialty boutiques, museums, and outdoor recreational activities. Yorktown is a must-see for anyone who wishes to fully understand the story of our nation’s birth. Travel back to October 1781 and tour the home where the commander of the Virginia militia negotiated the terms of surrender that effectively ended the Revolutionary War. The original brick walls of the Nelson Home still bear the scars of cannonballs fired during that final clash at Yorktown. Explore the battlefields and walk in the footsteps of our founders, such as George Washington and Alexander Hamilton. Pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives to secure our independence at the Yorktown Victory Monument—a statue first commissioned at the end of the war and completed almost a