Jamestown Settlement Reviews

Great place to teach your kids about America’s past. Displays are great and everyone learns a lot. See the film at the visitors center and tour the history gallery at your own pace. When done go to the rear of the building, then 400 yards to the ships & wharf.

There are really two parts to Jamestown; the Jamestown Settlement which is a living history museum and the actual site of Jamestown, or Historic Jamestowne. Both are very much worth seeing. I recommend visiting the Jamestown Settlement first to get a better understanding of the history of Jamestown. The museum and film are excellent. There is also an outdoor living history museum with a recreated James Fort and Powhattan Village, along with the recreated 3 ships the settlers and sailors came over on; the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. The costumed interpreters are wonderful and really help to provide visitors with an understanding of the day-to-day life of the peoples who lived in this area. Children and adults will really enjoy walking through the fort and Powhattan village, as well as going aboard the Susan Constant to explore the ship. We spent a half-day between the indoor museum and the outdoor living history museum and could have easily stayed longer if it were not for our visit to Historic Jamestowne down the road. Very educational and very well done!

Nice opportunity to see history while enjoying beautiful weather.

Jamestown character gave period complete activities like printing, sewing and shoe making.

Looking forward to our next trip.

There are two parts to the settlement. The first is a museum of the history of the area. The second is a reenactment of the actual settlement. there is an Indian village with people working the fields and making pottery. a woman gave us a detailed explanation of the houses. Then there is a fort where the colonists lived with several building to tour and craftsmen making leather and tin goods. Finally there are several ships that can be toured. We were lucky enough to see a demonstration of men climbing the masts to fix the sails. After that we toured the museum and saw many artifacts. Make sure you take about 3 hours to see all of this wonderful site.

In planning for the historic triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown, you must understand two places at each Yorktown and Jamestown. There is the museum and the re-creations at one. Cost $19 per place with a combo of American Revolution Museum and Jamestown Settlement. The other are the 2 state parks Yorktown and Historic Jamestown. These both have visitors centers but these are where you have drives that go by actual archeological finds.
Jamestown Settlement is a beautiful museum and recreated settlement. Watch the film first to get oriented. As a wheelchair party they worked very hard to keep the terrain fairly level once outside. It is a combination of brick sidewalks and packed gravel. If in chair stay in main entrances and not back doors as that is where you could get stuck. Make sure you get to the dock. While the boats are not accessible, the end of the dock is a lovely place to hang out.

Even my 9 yr old grandson enjoyed the settlement, visiting the Powhatan Indian village, and exploring the ships! Great museum, too! Very affordable, and easy walking trails. We ate in the cafe which had an enormous selection at very reasonable prices! Be sure to try the creamy peanut soup - a local favorite!

This place was really neat, and it literally feels like you are stepping back in time to that original settlement of Europeans in the area.

This was a super interesting day trip with lots of good historical information. There were plenty of exhibits with interesting things to look at, and they really tried to bring the history to life. It was fun to be able to go onboard a couple of ships, see an Indian village, and go inside colonial houses. The staff were all friendly, knowledgeable and seemed happy to be there. I paid $18 to go in for the day, and I think it was worth it.

The attendants at various points throughout the exhibits were very helpful and knowledgeable. The organization of the whole place, indoors and out, was excellent. Kids and adults will like it if they have even a little interest in history.

The museum covers a great time line of history. Give a great overview of how it all came to be the start of America. The reenactors give much depth to the lifestyle of the settlers.

My family of 9 visited the Jamestown Settlement. My son in law loved it because he use to be a history teacher. It was very education for everyone in my group. My grand kids loved watching those who worked in the settlement and did demostrations

This is the second time I have been to Jamestown Settlement, but the first time was almost 20 years ago and a lot has changed. The indoor exhibit is significantly larger and more inclusive than it was 20 years ago.

We skipped the movie at the beginning and went straight to the outdoor exhibits, the Powhatan Village, the recreated ships ( 2 of the 3 were there), and the fort. We were able to go into structures in all 3 locations including one of the ships cabins both on the main deck and below deck. In every space we spoke with informative staff who were making cloth, cooking food, shooting rifles, etc.

Then we returned to the indoor space and wen through the museum. It represented the 3 cultures which collided in the area in the early 1600's: the Pohatan Native Americans, the British settlers, and the Angolan Africans. The exhibits were visually stimulating and had structures to go into which enhanced the experience. There were a handful of interactive exhibits as well as a movie or two.

The settlement is very interesting and educational. Seeing how the Indians of the time lived was very cool, as were the recreated working boats. The recreated settlement was really educational - don't miss the demonstration of how to load and fire a flintlock rifle. Really enjoyed our visit.

Nice historical setting and displays in outdoor living-history area. Acting staff was very knowledgeable and friendly. Really enjoyable couple of hours.

Great museum of the 1st English settlement in America. There is a lot of walking and reading but many interpreters in period costume to add to the experience. They were all friendly and informative. The indoor museum was very good. Many artifacts and a good film to start. If history is your thing then you can easily spend a morning in here alone. The outside portion has a recreated native american village and a recreated fort. This is not the original site. That is a short drive away and a seperate fee. Both were interesting with interpreters to answer questions. Really brought history to life. They also have demonstrations throughout the day. There are three replicular ships of the originals that you can go on to see what it was like. They actually sail them sometimes so they are real ships. They seem very small to spend 5 months on. We couldn't go on the largest, the Susan Constant, as they were prepping her to sail to Mystic, CT, for refit and refurbishment. She will be gone for several years. Fascinating to see how early colonists could survive in the new world. Plan to spend the day at this museum to get the most out of it. Water and sit down breaks will make it more enjoyable. Even in June it was hot. but there are shady places to sit and recharge.

Very well done and we had a nice visit even during this trying time! Love our history. I continue to be amazed at what I was not taught in the classroom!

A really neat experience. Definitely watch the movie so you have a better understanding of what happened. The inside museum was very informative. The outside was really cool. I loved seeing the re-enactors, they were knowledgeable and friendly. The ships were fun to see and I love that you can go aboard and explore.

First, to be clear, this review is for "Jamestown Settlement", which is the recreated Jamestown with historic reenactment - not the historic fort site on the National Park Service land down the road.

We came here to focus on the outdoor part of the experience in December during the pandemic, when there were sparse crowds. As a result, it was probably not equivalent of the "full experience". There were three main components to the site. First, was a recreation of a Native American village. When we were there, there were three re-enactors who explained some aspects of Native American life at the time. After that was the recreated Jamestown fort - which had approximately half a dozen reenactors demonstrating cooking, needlework, and blacksmithing. The fort included several buildings and a much sturdier palisade then the one in the archaeological site down the road. Finally, there were two of three recreated ships down the road - one was gone for repairs, and you could board one of the remaining two (though not go below decks while we were there). It was an interesting thing to see.

One nagging thought, though, is that the whole thing was presented as too "clean". The fort had plenty of clean, open space - wasn't crowded or dirty. The Native American village nearby had no hint of conflict with the English settlers. As a result, it felt a little like a "safe for children", clean, Disney version of history.

Very knowledgeable tour guide and very friendly staff all around. Very informative museum and is still expanding.

Fantastic place. I wish I had arrived 4 hrs earlier, I still would have closed it down. Yes, it's that good.
A title says, the inside museum is very very good. The outside is world-class fantastic. Worth every cent and more.
If you plan on doing Yorktown buy that ticket here and save $5 per person. (Yorktown was also fantastic)

One of the best museums I have ever visited. The inside experience is educational and fun, though the marvelous shorts depict an America that we sometimes forget, with plenty of abuse by the people in power. The Museum is complemented by outside exhibits, such as the three ships (Rebuilt) that originally arrived at this port and a native village reconstruction. It's a wonderful experience and will need a full day to be appreciated and visited properly.

The Jamestown settlement and Yorktown museum were very interesting and educational. Listening to the actors tell how life would have been lived made their struggles come to life. You can go at your own pace, and we completed both in a day, but could have spent more time easily. It was raining so we ate in the cafe at Jamestown- awesome food! The brisket was amazing and the Brunswick stew was perfect. Throw in a huge biscuit for the win.

While we've visited before, this is always a favorite place to catch up on the amazing (and mysterious) history of the Jamestown Settlement group. The guides are very informative and do a great job of portraying what life was like back in the 1600s. Lots of school groups the day we went which bodes well for helping them with this part of American history.

The jamestown settlement was well done. Very important to watch the video to get your facts about jamestown. Then exploring the Indian village and recreated fort were great. The people there working were awesome and grandkids really enjoyed. The 3 ships were the favorite for all. Awesome job and well worth the visit.

Jamestown Settlement was educational and excellent. Staff was very helpful and knowledgeable. Word of advise, take three days and spend one day at each location, Jamestown, Yorktown and Williamsburg. Attempted to visit Jamestown and Yorktown in one day. Did not have time to thoroughly visit the museums at both locations. Nice cafeteria at Jamestown, only sandwiches at Yorktown.

Very interesting museum
The reconstructed sites (village, fort and boats) are pleasant
A dive into the early history of the United States

We went here on a Saturday morning in January. It was not busy at all and we had a good time exploring the museum exhibits inside. My kids (7 and 10) went thru the indoor exhibits fairly quickly but a few held their attention. The indoor exhibits were very well maintained.

Outdoors only one of the ships was open to go on to. They had some people dressed in period clothing and giving demonstrations. We enjoyed the musket demonstration the most.

We spent about 2 hours here and had a good time.

This was a wonderful experience at the Jamestown Settlement. The outside experience had a real feel of the colonial settlement. The people working/acting there were knowledgeable and really wanted to talk about their role and answer questions. The museum was fabulous as well! We ran out of time and steam. I’d advise seeing and experiencing the outside experience first and then head inside.

This exhibit allows you to experience what it was like during that time period. The attention to detail is amazing. A really amazing place to visit, I would recommend to anyone. I've been several times and I always enjoy it.

WOW! I visited in 2012 and there's been a lot of changes added to the museum portion. That was one of the best museums I've ever visited. It was very well informed, great use of artifacts and recreations, and the layout was easy to navigate and eye popping. We didn't watch the film since I show it to my students each year, but I can confirm 1607: A Nation Takes Root is a fantastic short film. My child and I enjoyed the Native American village, the reenactors who were explaining some of the activities they were doing, the fort itself with those reenactors, and of course the two boats. We spent the morning there which felt like enough time to see what we wanted to see!

So much to see and do. The museum is massive. It will take time to see, listen, and do it all. The native village, the fort, and the ships are well worth your time. We even saw a bald eagle and their nest. Everything is very well done.

We visited today, found the reception and visitor help not up to scratch.
I asked about the national park pass at the entrance- they simply told me it wouldn't work and asked for the entrance fee, they did not explain it was a different site and the actual historic site was 1mile up.
It feels this site is catered for children.
The man at the visitor helpdesk at the museum entrance was very dismissive, seemed upset when I asked where the 'boats' were- rather than 'ships'.
When we came back I asked 'are we able to drive to Historic Jamestowne?' He told us 'no, it's a mile walk or you can bike'.
We actually double checked this with Jackie- a wonderful lady in the museum shop, she walked outside and showed us the road to take. Lady is a gem and the only reason this wasn't a 1 star review.

Relaxed historic town. Don't rush and take it all in. Talk to the actors if you can and ask questions to really learn about the past. Or you might miss the point of this place.

This is a first-rate museum and living history settlement. Jamestown settlement workers were dressed in period costumes and knew their subjects very well. The ships were available to tour as well. I was surprised at how small they were (they are replicas built to scale). The museum is excellent. The exhibits are first-rate. They also have a large cafeteria with good food. I have to say that when we were there the temperature was in the high 90's and some of the workers were tending exhibits that had a fire-the blacksmith, the outdoor kitchen, the Indian with a campfire. They were all personable and never complained about the heat. I was actually concerned it was too hot for them to be there. You will probably need a whole day to see everything there. We will come back again.

Great place to explore the history of the first British settlement in the "New World" , The visitor center, Museum is a must as it takes you through teh events that shaped the settlement and what happened to it, both from the British perspective, but also that of the native people. There is also a very good presentation of the first Angolan Slaves brought to the new world in the colony. As you tour the grounds there are docents taht explain everything you wanted to know about the firearms , tools and how the people of the time lived in the settlelment. (Note:The largest of the three ships here is currently in the shipyard for repairs and a second soon to follow.)

The site includes a world class museum of the Jamestown settlement and colonial Virginia. Take your time and see it all.

The replica settlement moves one back in time 400 years ago with the Native Americans and English settlers.

Go on board the replica ships for the experience they had of Atlantic crossings in such tiny ships.

The America Revolutionary War museum is a really beautiful facility. There was a lot of history detailed and full of things to help learn about our forefathers. Worth a few hours.

My husband and I stopped here on our visit Oct-Nov 2020. The museum was very clean, well laid out and had so much information it could keep you busy for hours. The outside village was super cool, and ofcourse the ships! You were allowed on the ships and there was a worker there to tell you some information and ask any questions you had. It was a very windy day which was creating waves and a a slight rock to the ships, which helped add to the experience. They also had a nice gift shop in the museum and a cafe.

Two seniors spent a full day touring the Jamestown Settlement living-history museum run by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation (an educational agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia) in late September 2022 and thoroughly enjoyed it. This was a return trip in more years than we care to remember and much has changed for the better. There are costumed interpreters located outside at the replicas of an Indian village, the three colonist ships and at the James Fort. The interpreters were all interesting to talk with especially the ship’s crews, who actually sail on the two ships they take out into the Chesapeake Bay occasionally and the “soldier” who demonstrated firing a matchlock musket. We spent about two hours outside then broke for lunch (cafe inside the museum) and then spent the remainder of the day touring the inside of the museum. Overwhelming number of exhibits. Two very well-done short movies on Jamestown and Bacon’s Rebellion. Covered history from prehistoric times to about 1699 when the capital was moved from Jamestown to Williamsburg. YMMV but we love this stuff and read almost everything, so we ended up here from 9am until 5pm. There is so much history here. Very kid friendly. We decided to spend a week in the Williamsburg area so we purchased the America's Historic Triangle Ticket with seven consecutive days' admission for Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Jamestowne/Jamestowne Rediscovered, Jamestown Settlement, American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, and Yorktown Battlefield. Other ticket combinations are also available. See their website.

Not sure why I have to choose the 7 day above but anyway we visited the historical settlement archeological restoration area, really amazing to visit real history and learn and see the items recovered. We did not have time to go to the re-enactment site however. It was a short walk and not an issue for us however the drive closed periodically for migrating animals so it was closed when we were there if you are needing that check ahead.

Yorktown Museum was excellent! Admission is very good and not costly as one would expect. Great atmosphere within building. You will need at least 5 hours plus to view this entire museum.

Amazing sites within the Jamestown Historical settlement. A must see if going to the Williamsburg area.

My first time visiting this settlement. The museum is particularly well done. The replicas of the boats are amazing. The museum is very informative. I learned a lot.

My wife and I really enjoyed our time at Jamestown and Yorkville! We learned a whole lot about our history and culture!

We took the Colonial Parkway drive down from Williamsburg. Do not listen to your GPS! This drive was beautiful. The museum and “settlement “ are very well done. Worth the visit!

So first thing, this a replica. Not thre real thing, for that you have to go to the historic Jamestown. Second, buy online. Not only is it cheaper but you get a 7 day pass and two locations. Overall it was very cool though. My girls really enjoyed seeing something they learned in school. We read, we watched, we asked questions to the employees or actors. It took about 3 hours. Very fun! I would recommend this as a one time visit.

Very educational look at early colonial history. It's of course all reproductions, but gives a great feel for how life was at this time. The interactive day in the life presentations (blacksmith, leather work, bakery) were great.

It's hard to imagine the bravery required crossing the Atlantic in these tiny ships!

A truly impressive museum and living history experience. We thought we could do this and Historic Jamestown’s in half a day and it wasn’t enough. The indoor museum is really impressive and the living history employees were so knowledgeable!

Kids really enjoyed the ship, not so much, the hut, but it was a lot of fun. We were here in April and the bugs are for real. The glass blowing exhibit is awesome.

Went in the afternoon. Overall I gave it a 8.5/10. The ships were cool, the muskets demonstration was the highlight. The museum is a very large area.

This is nicely done, but is all a recreation, and not the actual thing. We did enjoy seeing the replicas of the ships.

As a history buff, I worried this would be too "Disneyland-ish." NOT AT ALL! The historical interpreters were very knowledgeable about this lengthy and complex history and the excavations done since 1994. Site is very well done and impressive. Could have stayed several more hours to see everything and walk the grounds more. Highly recommended!

Museum/exhibits are fantastic. It presents the perspectives of native tribes, English settlers, and the African slaves they brought/encountered, without any romantic notion of nationalism or destiny. Just a thoughtful recounting of how difficult settling in a new land is, and the challenges and failures they faced.

Great destination if the weather is questionable. Plenty to do inside (museum) or out (fort, ships, native village).

Love jumping back in time to the colonial days. I thought the Settlement was well done. The people working were knowledgeable and friendly and full of information.

It was cold and a bit rainy so not every building or area had an actor portrayal. Those that did were informative and interactive. We thought we were going to the other Jamestown so we were a bit confused at the small size of this location. We found out later that the other Jamestown was closed. $17 for a small bit of history - a little disappointing when we thought we were going to see much more. Would have benefited from an audio tour or something.

Jamestown Settlement has a beautiful exhibit hall with many interesting and informative displays. This is a huge update since our first visit years ago. The living history section of the settlement outdoors with the recreation of ships, fort, and village were still the same. We have also visited historic Jamestown; however, Jamestown Settlement offers much more for children of all ages and gives one an idea of how people lived during that time in history.

It's only a good reproduction of the real Jamestowne* 1607, but excellent museum, gift shops, a nice cafe & a short walking tour to an Indian village interpreting their life, two authentic ships docked with 17th century-looking crew members near the ferries on the pretty James River. Finish the walk at the fort, where blacksmiths, cooks, and a musket demonstration complete the experience. All great fun!
*The real Jamestowne is a short distance along the parkway with thousands of architectural finds and a glass-making exhibit/shop. Find out if colonists ate the dead to survive harsh winters!

It had been so many years since I last visited Jamestown Settlement. It is such a beautiful museum inside and out. I HIGHLY recommend seeing the movie '1607: A Nation Takes Root' before visiting the museum itself. The mivie will give you a quick history lesson and help you with your visit at Jamestown. The ships are replicas but they are still incredible. The fort and the Indian village were educational too but my favorite was the indoor timeline exhibits. They were so beautiful they took my breath away.

Nice historical trip through the museum. Good lunch at the cafe. Nice day to wander through the outdoor villages. A great afternoon

We got the yorktown/jamestown multi day pass and went to Yorktown in the morning. It was afternoon when we got to jamestown and only did the outside exhibits: Indian village, Fort and 2 ships. All were very interesting, with people dressed in period to explain and answer questions. We will go back to see the inside gallery. Would highly recommend.

We purchased the Single Day Combo ticket (includes): Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum. This allows a (1) Single day visit ticket to each museum. Meaning you get (1) visit to each museum location. There are many combination tickets you can get but this worked the best for our visit. These museums are GREAT and are WELL worth the price of admission. Allow enough time to see both. We thought 1-2 hours would be enough but it would not be. So allow yourself not to be rushed and enjoy the history. The museum and staff here do a wonderful job and are friendly. FYI, the National Park service operates the " Historic Jamestown" just around the corner which has the Glasshouse and other exhibits (separate and a fee). These are independent of this museum.

We enjoyed our day at the Jamestown Settlement. We saw 2 replica ships, the old fort & the settlement. The cannons are set off, loud but fun to see.

Got to see first hand how America was founded from an English perspective. They spare no expense to illustrate such an amazing endeavor. Loved it.

First of all they made the best they could with Covid! You felt safe plus you had to wear your mask but everything was open and it didn’t feel like Covid ruined are stay!! There was only a certain amount of people allowed in a place at a time which made you fell safe and let you get a better look at everything! The workers for VERY well educated and very kind! They answered your questions with great answers and over all made the stay amazing! Everything felt so real and we definitely learned a LOT! The museum and movies were super interesting and well planned out through out the museum! Not to mention the movies were great, definitely check out the Bacon Rebellion movie! They even had interaction activities and a place to grab a yummy bite! Definitely recommend coming and we will definitely be back, see you next time!!-Gendron Family

We spent the majority of our time outside, touring the fort, Indian area, and ships. Our young kids enjoyed each of these. We didn’t sped. Too much time inside, but the museum parts we did see were well displayed and informative.

Potentially, you could spend all day here if desired. We had a couple of hours before meeting some friends for dinner in Williamsburg and decided to visit. The outdoor exhibits were well designed and employees dressed in period garb happily engaged in conversation.
Beware: the walk down to the ships is approximately 1/2 mile and the path is not paved.

Could not believe how much our grandchildren soaked up while here. The Native American canoe demo held their attention, as did the daily life exhibits. The fort and interior buildings were a learning experience! Musket demo great! The ships were a real education in how life at sea was. Well worth the money and we didn’t even hit the museum!!

When we were here years ago, I remember this being a wonderful museum. I was not disappointed this time, in fact it was better. The chronological order of the exhibits, the life-size statues in the dioramas, the virtual characters speaking to you, the movies, and the simplicity of the readings made this visit even better. The outdoor living history settlement was okay but there wasn't much going on, which is the way it was the last time. There were many school children there and it was fun watching their excitement there. We appreciated the learning we gained at the very active Native American village. We certainly do recommend this for children and adults 10 and up.

A lovely museum to see and learn about the beginning of the settlement of the British to USA at 1606. See remade models of ships, musket demolitions and fort building. Educational place to be in this area

Our family party of 18 came here to teach the kids history and ended up all learning something. I was very impressed with knowledgeable staff. The children ages 2-12 all enjoyed it and really loved the hands on experience. Also, that gift shop has an amazing variety of items and was beautiful. Also, we ate here and all of us thought it good value and really good. People that worked in that area were fast workers. So Huzzah! for Jamestown. We could have given the place 2 days as we didn't do credit to the inside museum. We bought a dual ticket with Yorktown.

Note: I went in December 2023. The ships were amazing, there were 3 ships. Great history as well. I would recommend going here.

We visited and it’s a great place at Jamestown to see what it would have looked like. It’s not the real location as that’s at historic Jamestown a little further down. However, it gives you a realistic walk through. Also, the Revolutionary Museum is great.

Do both. Fantastic history lessons.

We almost didn’t go to Jamestown Settlement, after a disappointing visit the day before at Williamsburg, but I’m so glad we did! Even with Covid restrictions, this is such an amazing place! The museum is very informative and very well done. The costumed interpreters were all friendly and so knowledgeable. We learned so much and had fun doing it!

This is a must see if you are interested. Very well done from the video to the ships & craftsmen. If you can't walk you can get a free wheelchair or I think can a scooter.

Their new exhibit, reign and rebellion, is basically the exhibit of the 1619 project. It is not so much inaccurate as it is deceptive. The facts are true, but presented in one lens and that lens is the Howard Zinn lens. There was of course the Native American “genocide” (not the more accurate one of the mid to late 1800s) and then it moved into slavery and Jim Crow. It even concludes with a large depiction of January 6 (yes, the 2020 one). It very certain the museum director jumped the shark and left the study of early American history and went all in for hate America history.

In fairness, there are still some really great exhibits the wacko that did the reign and rebellion exhibit has not touched yet. I would just avoid until they come under new, less nutty, management. The archeological site is a great alternative.

Clean, informative, layout is progressive and many staff/volunteers to help. I like being able to go back to read more.

No idea how this is only #15 of 89 things to do in Williamsburg area on TripAdvisor! Personally, I felt as though the movies alone were worth the price of admission ($18/ adult). “1607: A Nation Takes Root” was informative and examined the eventual connectivity of three cultures, deeply impacting the future of our continent. The film “Bacon’s Rebellion” was immersive & multi-sensory, with a huge screen and four other screens in front that provided dimensional perspective. Highly educational & dramatic.

The guides/ re-enactors were amazing. All were very well-spoken and our experience was night & day different from Colonial Williamsburg, whereby hardly anyone spoke to us or made our visit worthwhile. In fact, you could really tell how each individual at Jamestown Settlement took their job as being consequential & important, involving both kids and adults.

The exhibits/ galleries at Jamestown Settlement were all worthy of visiting, as well as the ships, James Fort, and Paspahegh Town.

Please be aware that Historic Jamestowne is the original location and current archaeological dig site. I also thoroughly enjoyed our visit there. Only complaint I have was with the separate ticket we had to purchase here, as well. However, both locations are a must-see!

Very good reproductions of life in early Jamestown. The interactive exhibits were awesome, with attendants to answer questions and describe what went on. We were amazed at the ships, although recreations they were awesome. A big plus is that one entry fee gets you into this and the Yorktown Battlefield Museum.

This was a very nice visitor center with nice artifacts! No movie was available….
Even though we had a NP pass, an additional fee was required! It was raining, so we did not walk the grounds….not much to the driving tour.

The museum and outdoor exhibits are outstanding. I would recommend combining this with a visit to Historic Jamestowne too so that you can see the actual site of the 1607 settlement. That said, if I had to pick one, I personally would pick this one. It was engaging and interactive, and it kept our attention for hours.

One of the stops on our US History Tour was the Jamestown Settlement. This is an educational and activity site, featuring full-size replicas of the three ships that arrived in 1607, and a replica of the fort. I was quite surprised how small the ships were, and marvelled that people were brave enough to set out across the seas in such small ships. Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in the New World. There is a nice visitors center and museum with exhibits and information about the settlers, the hardships they dealt with, and the Native Americans who already lived in the area. We enjoyed our time there. It was a good supplement to the things we saw and did when we went to Historic Jamestowne a number of years ago, the actual site of the community.

Jamestown settlement was very interesting. Tons of stuff in the museum. Some people in our party wanted to read every display, which realized that we were going to be there for multiple days if that continued. Ended up just reading all details on displays that we were curious on. After the museum we walked outside to see all the village displays and ships. It was fun to walk into the huts, and walk onto the ships. Not tons of walking but enough that when we found out we could borrow a motorized scooter, we jumped on that for 2 people in our party. That helped tremendously, and was available at no charge. They only have a small amount so first come first serve. The guy that helped with our tickets and scooter, at the side ticket office was one of the nicest people we have met on our whole trip. He was very knowledgeable and helpful. I didn’t catch his name, but to the young man working on April 6 in morning-afternoon thank you for your help and kindness.

Be sure to check out the original settlement as well as the reproduction. There are ships,the fort and, Powhatan village. All with historical actors that will talk with you about life back then.

The Jamestown Settlement is a step back in time. Admissions ($18 per person) gets you access to a huge museum as well as an outdoor area where they are re-enactors. The museum was huge and very well-done. It was really interesting to learn about all the history. My favorite part was definitely the outdoor area with all of the re-enactors. They were set up in different stations in complete outfits and were doing different activities. There are also a ton of buildings you can walk in that were created to show the time period. You can also walk on 3 of the re-created ships of Jamestown.

Thoroughly enjoyed this attraction and they, I think, have taken great pains to make it is authentic as they possibly can. The inside museum was very good and well laid out. The ships at the docks were excellent and had knowledgeable staff to inform.

The village that they recreated along with the farm were very well done.

A pleasant gift shop with lots of different choices relevant to the area.

During a business conference at Williamsburg this past July, a reception was held at the Jamestown Settlement Museum. We had the opportunity to tour the museum and to sample local dishes at locations along the corridors of the museum. A late afternoon thunderstorm prevented us from touring the settlement. However, my wife and I were able to return a couple of days later to tour the settlement during a free afternoon at the conference. The displays of the settlement are very impressive. It gives you a good understanding of what life was like during pre colonial days in Virginia.

We had a two-day pass for Jamestown and Yorktown. We were at the Museum for Jamestown's 400th anniversary in 2007. It is an unbelievable place and worth the money; you could/should spend hours there!

We also had lunch in the museum - the chef's salad is definitely worth the money and the dining area is very clean.

Museum has a lot of information, takes a while. Outdoor portion has a lot of walking. They have ships to look at, villages, etc. Will take a while to do it all. Very nice gift shop.

What’s not to love about HISTORY…
My kids loved the ships, the farm, musket demonstration.
I love how they have taken care of the area.

Bought a ticket to just one site - the Settlement - for me and my 9 year old. I didn't even realize until walking in that there is a second site for the Revolution there. Maybe next time. Just the Jamestown side is worth 2 hours. I wouldn't try to do it quicker, but if you're really nerding out on this stuff you may want 3 or 4 hours.

There are 4 main things to do, if I recall correctly:
1. An indoor history exhibit. There are some videos and a lot of small exhibits walking you through history. There is quite a lot here.
2. A Native American site with small huts, rope making, and boat carving exhibits
3. Three boats representing those that sailed from England. Two could be boarded when we were there.
4. A fort - or really, a walled recreation of an early English settlement.

Definitely worth a trip. Recognize that it is all a recreation, nothing is original and this isn't quite the original site, which is the Historic Jamestowne site.

Wow! This place was the highlight of our Williamsburg trip! I love living history and this is where I found it. The museum is beautiful inside and out. Very clean. Friendly staff. There is also a cafe that has delicious food. You will appreciate this as you can spend about a full day here. Well done Jamestown.

This was probably the highlight of our trip to the Williamsburg area. So much for kids to see. It's an almost scale model of the original settlement which was right down the road. I have a 4th and 1st grader, and we will definitely be back.

This living history museum is fantastic! The actors were great and the demonstrations were so interesting. We loved touring the Powhatan village as well as the settlement and ships. The indoor museum was HUGE and had lots of information. It's a beautiful museum and a lot of effort must have been put into its plans. We're glad we bought a membership as we will definitely go back!

We liked the Jamestown experience over the Williamsburg Colonial experience. There were more hands on experiences for the family. The films in the gallery were very informative.

3 replicas of ships. A nice walk to get to them good for kids, walking shoes a must , good photo ops too.

Beautiful museum and outdoor museum. We spent several hours on the grounds exploring. Scooters are available to rent for those with walking difficulty.

I have been to Historic Jamestown before, but never to the settlement. I was blown away. It is truly a living history museum. There's so much to see and do. You need a whole day to do it right

Interesting exhibits but none of it is real. Some artifacts in the museum are authentic but everything else is a modern mockup. The history is distorted with regards to slavery. The first Blacks were slaves, not indentured servants or free men. They were taken off a Portuguese slave ship by an English privateer and sold in Jamestown for provisions. A small number of slaves were able to earn their freedom up to about 1630. Their owners were often Puritans. By 1660 any free Blacks still in Virginia were likely to be forced into slavery for spurious reasons. I’m really sorry I bought a high price ticket to see this place. The real site is just down the road and run by the park service. I read the history on the park service site and it is honest and straightforward, not deceptive for racist reasons like this place is.

Was part of a group tour, so our guide gave us plenty of information that we probably would have not known or missed if we had been alone. Great 1600's history, with lots of cool artifacts from the period. Loved the replica ships near the river, and the map displays inside.

It was awesome! We loved the interaction with the employees!! The ships were fantastic and we loved the Jamestown settlement and the Indian village. It was the best between Yorktown and williamsburg!!

Visiting gives a comprehensive and candid understanding of the story of the first permanent English settlement in North America. It's organized in 3 parts -- fullsize reproductions of the ships that brought the colonists to Virginia,, a series of replicas of English buildings and Powhatan dwellings, and a museum of the history of Jamestown from precolonial days to the 20th century. The guides st the ships and buildings are very well-informed and happy to talk to visitors young and old, expert or just discovering the history for the first time. They described how the ships were built and sailed, and they demonstr!ed skills of both and English l(tanning,, iron work, and firearms) and Powhatan (sewing, building igloo-like houses of saplings and marsh grass stems). A special feature of the museum is its honest and thorough presentation of the grim story of slavery in Jamestown.
The grounds are well laid out and easily walkable, but for those who need it, there are free "golf carts" to help get around.
The Cafe has a varied menu at very reasonable prices.
It's very kid-friendly.

Amazing seeing all the history! The settlement had wonderful characters representing that period.

Looking forward to our next trip! So much more to explore and so much more to learn.

From check in with very helpful staff at the front desk to our walk through the Jamestown fort and village, the sailing ship replicas, the Indian settlement and walking through the fantastic gallery in the main building, our experience was amazing and memorable. Watching a "resident" straighten nails made on site for a scheduled roofing job on a Jamestown cottage, to being educated by films on the Bacon Rebellion and the history of Jamestown in the first rate multi-roomed gallery that includes, dioramas, artifacts, 17th century furniture, artwork, and more.

This is a perfect opportunity to learn about early Virginia history, and the interplay of cultures. Who doesn't love a fort with people performing 17th century tasks, an Indian encampment and three ships?

The weather was bitter cold the day of my visit, so I didn't spend as long as I would have liked. I probably could have spent the whole day though. I loved Jamestown Settlement. Even though there's less restored than Williamsburg, I actually found it more interesting because it portrays a time about 150 years earlier, when the settlement was still new and people were just trying to figure out how to survive. I started at Paspahegh Town. I loved entering the dwellings and seeing how they would have looked when people were living in them. The docents were also very good. One gave me a demonstration on how to scrape the fur off a hide and then let me try it myself, which was cool. I spoke to another docent for awhile, who answered a bunch of my questions. I went down to the ships next. It's really incredible how they crossed the ocean in such small vessels. The docents again were very knowledgeable. I finished the outdoor exhibits at the fort. It was so interesting. Having just been at Williamsburg, it was like being in a completely different world. There were several costumed interpreters there. The one in the guard house was so funny. Another was a musician who gave demonstrations on period instruments. He even made his fiddle himself. I was there in time for the Christmas Lord of Misrule performance, which was interactive, informative, and entertaining. I was very cold at that point, so I went to their indoor museum. It was truly fantastic. It's a wonderful exhibit, and much bigger than I expected. I was there for about an hour and a half and didn't get to finish. I probably needed another hour. It covers the pre-settlement period up through the 1690s. There are artifacts, dioramas, documents, reproductions, and pieces of art. The signs were informative but engaging for lay people. If you like history, don't miss it - it's fascinating.

Amazing well stocked museum and very nice reconstruction re-enactments. Lots to do and see. For those who are not southern or white, the framing of the North American slave trade and the colonization of the area is presented from a very benign point of view that may be offensive to many. Slavery is pitched in a particularly rosy way that may be hard to tolerate. It’s a very southern white experience. Just to forewarn.

Jamestown is fun to visit for the entire family. It has the ruins of the first permanent English settlement in North America. The Jamestown Settlement is a living history museum with recreations of a fort and a Powhatan Indian Village along with the 3 ships. A fun day.

I am not a history buff. Nor do I do well in museums where all you do is read plaques. Jamestown did an amazing job with the living history. Made it interesting enough to keep my attention. The reenactors were very knowledgeable and informative.

We spent about 3 hours at Jamestown on our recent trip to Williamsburg. We arrived at open and left by lunch. We enjoyed the ships and small settlement. The people working the areas did a great job answering questions and just sharing information.

The museum is fantastic. Great combination of indoor and outdoor displays. Docents are fun to talk to. Get the combo ticket that includes Jamestown.

We could have spent more time here. So much to see and information to read. It is a fabulous story told with care and expertise in a fun and sometimes touchable way. There is something for every age and interest. There is an introductory film to give you and overview, as well as a classroom that layered on details. The outside area gives you a real feel for the times as well as the how's and why's of the way things were done. Many people to answer questions, and demonstrate the ways of the past.

Loved the museum exhibits, history from 1600, sample housing was very interesting and we could walk in each of the buildings. Liked the ships at the dock and the fort was nice to walk around and talk to the volunteers. Good value for the money- we bought a day pass. 3 hrs is plenty for the entire complex

This place was by far our favorite place to visit. We are staying in Richmond and trying to do as much historical sites as we can in our 7-8 days. We visited wonderful battlefields, homes, etc. but this was the best. We bought the Historic Triangle ticket knowing we would visit all the sites.

We learned so much for the costumed actors as we walked around the area. You just ask one question thinking you know about history and they tell you exactly how it was for the people living there. I knew they came over as a company sponsored group, but I didn't know exactly what that entailed for the people there. So very interesting. We learned about halberd. Heard the word before but didn't know what it was. The native American area was also so informative. A simple question by someone would give you so much information.

The museum was fantastic too with a lot to see and the movies were good. I would definitely love to come back here and spend a little more time again. Everyone acting did a fantastic job.

This is a must see. My husband and I visited during a trip to the Historic Triangle. This is very well done. The recreations of the Indian village and Jamestown Fort are very well done. You can go inside the dwellings. The Indian village has several in-character attendants who are very knowledgeable about the time period and the way of life for the inhabitants. They answer questions, tell stories, and explain the implements displayed. A simple comment or question is all they needed to get them started and they were very willing to talk about all the aspects of life at the time. We found the same to be true in the fort. A baker was making meat pies in the kitchen, a soldier in the armament building explained all the weapons and how they worked and what was needed to care for them. There is a storehouse and the governors quarters as well. The highlight of the settlement is the replicas of the three ships that delivered the settlers all the way from Great Britain. Aboard the ships you can clearly see what a harrowing trip it must of been. In-charector attendants explained who was on board and how they lived in such tight quarters. We enjoyed the entire experience.

My cousins and I visited Jamestown Settlement recently. You can walk out to the replica village/fort to see who the settlers lived. Then continue to the ships that are docked in the outlet. You can check out the ships on your own and ask questions to the people working on them.

We returned to the Museum to check it out. The museum has a lot of information about the people who settled the area and the things they went through. Carve out a couple of hours for this museum. It's worth it.

This museum is a good beginning for those who don't know much about Jamestown or Colonial America. It tends to summarize a lot of material. Everything from John Smith, the relationship of Rolfe and Poc., Nathaniel Bacon, etc. is a quick version. The information is accurate, but not showing the complexities. Also, the Starving Season is barely even mentioned, which is horrific on so many levels.

The museum has a lot--but really its a means to entertain school children on trips, like the boats and the regenerated fort.

As a child I wasn't ever really interested in American History. Visiting the Virginia Triangle has reminded me of much of what I learned and impressed me that I retained it for all of these years. The indoor and outdoor museum displays are all well presented and the facility is well maintained. As always, way too much to absorb in any one day if you want to see and read EVERYTHING. However, you can enjoy much of it at a good pace, or just pick and choose what you want to enjoy.

My teen son and I enjoyed our visit to the Jamestown settlement. Lots to see and wander through. The exhibits were exciting to see with all of the true historical facts! The ships were fun to wander and the "camp" was cool to see how they lived back then. We spent about 2 hours but if you stopped to read everything it could absolutely be an all day experience.

We enjoyed the museum, ships and trip through history. It was like going back to the Indians and pilgrims. Everything was awesome and real. It doesn't get any better than this.

We are a family of 5 with 3 small children and we all enjoyed the outdoor trail and knowledgeable employees along each exhibit. They answered all our questions and taught us all new things. Very friendly and kind. It was great.

The indoor museum part was very clean and well kept. Our kids were worn out by then so we couldn't really appreciate all the details and information in there. If you have small children I'd probably recommend doing the indoor museum first then going outside.

Overall I recommend visiting!

We visited in the rain and were still able to see the settlement and the ships. The museum is well laid out and easy to traverse from one time period to the next. The movies were informative and very well produced. This museum had a lot of interactive stations that kept you from just strolling past reading. The outside re-creations of dwellings and the settlement were very well done and made you feel like you were actually a part of that time period.

Excellent place to visit to learn how settlers lived and what lead to war. The ships and outside areas are great!

Jamestown visitor center is not a visitor center for Jamestown, it’s a separate for-profit exhibit, unrelated to the fort and the ships, and completely separate entrance fee. In fact, two completely separate entrance fees.

If you’re tired of colonial Williamsburg and Yorktown, and you can’t get to someplace else, head over to Jamestown, the ships and the fort, and skip this.

We enjoyed this interactive museum, both inside & outside. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and interesting. Definitely recommend starting with the film and seeing the ships. If you are doing all 3 of the historic triangle - Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, and Yorktown - do this one first. It comes first chronologically and was our least favorite of the 3.

The settlement is very well laid out and provides the perfect amount of reading, live action, and hands-on experience for children (and kids at heart). The Intro movie is optional; I wouldn't wait more than 10 min for a showing. Expect 2-3 hours to tour the various cultural sites, the ships, and the indoor walking tour. *Don't forget to stop by the Glass-blowing shop...probably one of the top sites.

Came here on our last day after visiting the historic Jamestowne. I would probably recommend most to come to this first before Jamestowne to help picture the area once they get to Jamestowne. Museum was interactive and kept our interest. The outdoor areas were neat to actually see the scale of the area of the fort and also the ships that they traveled over on. The Native sight was cool. My wife definitely loved that area the most. Overall a great place to come to

Excellent look at the settlement, the rebuilt, fort, and Native American village! The interpreters were very knowledgeable, especially the gentleman who told us about tobacco growing. Museum was very cool. Also, especially the movie about Nathaniel Bacon.

It was overall an okay experience with one drawback. The exhibits in the visitor’s center were well done and informative. The living history section outside was okay but was lacking in the number of costumed interpreters and guides which took away from the experience. The large Paspahegh town only had two stations staffed with costumed guides to visit and talk to in the large area. One ship had a costumed guide to answer questions, one did not, and one ship was gone and not there to view. The large fort area had one person present to talk to visitors about the problems with lack of food. No other buildings or areas were staffed. We were there between 3:00 pm-5:00 pm and they close at 5:00 pm. Also be aware that this is not the actual site of the original Jamestown settlement. To see that go about a mile away to Historic Jamestowne.

This was impressive from pulling into the parking lot to leaving. Parking is free and there is plenty of it. The Museum offers multiple videos to provide information about Jamestown, the key people, and the Native Americans in the area. It is a marginal fee to enter and there are discounts available (senior, military, etc.). They have three main areas of the park: the Powhatan Indian Village, 1607 Ships, and James Fort, all of which have period actors who tell a story and answer questions. There are multiple interpretive shows from firing a musket to weaving bags. Truly remarkable!

Wow! I wish I had the full 7 days to explore both Jamestown and Yorktown. We booked this to so the last day of our Williamsburg vacation. I was shocked how close the two museums were to Williamsburg and to each other.
At Yorktown, we spent our time inside, engrossed in the exhibits and short films. We didn’t have time to explore the outside since we split our time between the two exhibits. So at Jamestown, we went to the outside exhibits first, and I was so glad we did. There were crops to see and an Indian to speak to. There were three ships on which we could board and explore. There were outdoor colonial games that my children played with a Jamestown village to explore.
The indoor exhibits were great as well. And, of course, I visited the gift shops at both locations. The selection at Jamestown was larger, but I enjoyed both shops.

Number 1 thing on the list for my partner to do, she loved it, as did I.
Very informative morning running through the whole settlement of the British (as we are) and how the indigenous people worked and then fought with the British.
The inside theatre is best visited at 9am so no one is there, beating the rush of the college and school kids.
The outside was great, settlements, boats, gardens and re-enactments were all fantastic, the teams were both welcoming and very informative.
All in all
A+ superb well done.
Enjoyed it so much I bought a mug for my desk at work.

This was probably the most enjoyable place I went during my week in Williamsburg. It's quiet and leisurely and relaxing. Walk at your pace. Right on the water. Plenty of places just to sit and enjoy. It is dog friendly but ... please know there is a "secret way" to get your dog in that you won't know about until you go to the front desk and pay for it. They will NOT tell you until you pay so you may have to leave your dog in the car with it running or tie them up and hope for the best. That is the one thing I thought was a bit much because this is such a nice place to go. I'm not sure small kids would enjoy this park as there is not a lot to "do"-- but it is super chill and relaxing.

Definitely get the multi-site pass, we spent the morning at Jamestown and the afternoon at Yorktown, but we felt rushed, there’s a TON of stuff at both sites and we almost missed the special exhibit entirely, so big ups to the person who asked if we had seen it! It would have been a shame, it’s really neat how it spanned the two museums, and we’re big Outlander fans, so seeing the connection between the Jacobites and modern America made it a particularly captivating and informative exhibit for us.

The farm at Yorktown was probably my favorite spot - they even have a farm cat - but my boyfriend was most enthusiastic about the ships at Jamestown. The replicas are super good, but the real win is the costumed staff, they were all incredibly engaging and knowledgeable, and I could have easily spent a whole day at each site if we’d had more time.

The settlements quite interactive and chock full of facts relating to the history of not only "Jamestowne but also the entire region. This included the impact on the local native American culture at the time and the hardships faced by the early settlers. The impact of slavery is also highlighted.

We were excited to arrive and get a "real" look into history, but what we got was a white-washed version with only the positive pieces of the Jamestown settlement. There was little to no recognition of the impact on our culture and country by the first arrival of "indentured servants" from West African countries. There was also virtually no mention of the effects of colonization on Native American populations. Very patriotic, but definitely not the whole story.

Wow!!! The museum is of course stunning, the recreation of the fort is very interesting, and the ships at dockside are neat. However, the actual settlement area is LOADED with history and is simply mesmerizing!! To be standing "IN" the areas where others did in the year 1609 really takes a while to digest! Seeing the active archeological sites that are STILL revealing previously unknown graves, and then seeing the skeletal remains of those previously found along with their stories completely captivates and sparks the imagination. Much tragedy and success is documented there which makes the visit worth every second!

We really enjoyed our visit to Jamestown Settlement—it was a great way to experience early American history in a much more interactive and family-friendly setting compared to Historic Jamestowne.

The recreated settlement and Powhatan village were highlights. The buildings and structures give a great visual of what life looked like for both the English settlers and the Indigenous people of the region. The costumed interpreters were knowledgeable and engaging, and they did a great job answering questions and explaining life in the 1600s.

The replica ships docked in the harbor were especially fun to explore and helped us appreciate just how small those ocean-crossing vessels really were. It gave the whole group a better sense of the challenges the early settlers faced.

This site is definitely geared toward families and school-age kids, with lots of hands-on elements and room to explore. It worked well as a follow-up to Historic Jamestowne, offering a more visual and interactive perspective on what we learned there.

Highly recommend Jamestown Settlement for anyone visiting Williamsburg with kids or looking for a more engaging way to experience early American history!

The museum, settlement, and ships are worth the admissions cost. The museum has engaging exhibits for kids & adults. The 4d theater experience for bacons rebellion was theme park grade. Plan for at least 1 hour to see the whole museum. The native settlement and fort were well staffed and had several active demonstrations, from cooking, hunting, musket firing, and more. The ships were the busiest attraction and had a line to enter, due to limited space. I would plan for 30 minutes for each of the three areas, the ship, native area, and fort. It became crowded by 11am with several school groups.

Great opportunity to walk around outside exploring the ship models and different settlements. We got a late start and did not have enough time to fully explore the inside galleries. It was good to see the perspectives of the natives, settlers and slaves. We would definitely visit when in the area again!

Incredible hands on experience. Outstanding opportunity to understand America’s history. Avoid weekdays in Spring when crowded with school visits. Convenient cafe and fun gift store

Our staff came to see the "Reign and Rebellion" special exhibit. It is very well done and makes great connections with our modern experience. Thanks to the staff of Jamestown Settlement for gifting us with such a pleasant and enlightening experience.

St. Luke's Historic Church & Museum Staff

This is a great location to stay if you are visiting Williamsburg, Yorktown, Gloucester and James town attractions.. The house is clean. The property is perfect for a dog that needs to play fetch or just likes to walk around. Because of the curves in the street, I recommend you watch the video the owner sends ..

First, you need to be aware that Jamestown is the subject of 2 separate museum experiences in Williamsburg, PA. Each site has a separate admission price and serves a different purpose. "Jamestown Historic" is the actual site of the 17th century settlement, while this, "Jamestown Settlement" is a living history museum. I really recommend seeing both. The costumed interpreters were all very knowledgeable and all were very engaging. We came away having learned many new things about the seventeenth century, as well as learning something about ourselves.

There are three areas, representing the 3 groups of people who lived in the area at the time: the natives (Native American), the English settlers, and those who were enslaved as "cheap labor". You can clearly see and compare each groups ' culture and traditions. You can also board a replica ship that carried the settlers across the ocean.

We stopped for a late lunch in the cafe. and were very happy to see that they listed gluten-free pizza and gluten free sandwiches on the main menu. When I ordered gluten free pizza, I noticed that the server immediately changed her gloves and got clean utensils. I appreciate that attention details that ensure my safety.

The outdoor exhibits with historically dressed staff memebers/presenters were outstanding. It was quite interesting to learn about life during early Jamestown. The exhibits in the museum were outstanding

This museum was much more interesting than expected. The interior portion of the museum is chronologically laid out from 1607 through 1700. It has numerous interactive exhibits, displays, and menus. It effectively describes the Native American, English and African-American cultures that made up Jamestown. The museum also shows how all three cultures intermingled and helped each other as well as the inevitable conflict that arose.

The best part of this museum is the Outdoor Living Museum! there is a Native American camp that is occupied by historical reenactors that describe and show you how Native Americans lived during that time. There is also a replica of the original English Fort that is also occupied by numerous historical reenactors. The best part of the outdoor museum (IMO) are the fullsize replica ships that brought John Smith and the English Settlers to Virginia. As of this writing, the largest ship (Susan Constant) is currently in Connecticut for the next two years for overhaul.

Overall, this museum was much better than I anticipated! Be sure to go on a nice day because if it’s raining and/or lightning, the museum will shut down the outside exhibits.

Only had two days in Williamsburg so did an unticketed after-hours stroll through Colonial Williamsburg on arrival yesterday, then spent several hours at Jamestowne Settlement today. For the very reasonable $18 admission per person, we spent a couple of hours wandering the replica tribal village, the boats and the fort, and then another two hours at the exhibits in the main building. While these are not the original buildings they were very well-presented and the interpreters did a great job of answering questions. The indoor films and exhibits were beautifully done. I’m not sure that it would be enjoyable for very young children but most of the adults and older kids we saw seemed to be having a good time.

I bought the combination ticket for Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum. Watching the film was the best way to start. Then I went through the exhibits from 1607 to 1690 and it was fascinating. A guided 90-minute tour takes you through the Indian settlement, the ships, and the fort. ( I think I will stick to today's cruise ships!!). Walking through the exhibits afterward gave so much information, and it was a day well spent.

I enjoyed the re-creation of Jamestown, especially the tall ships. I would have gotten more out of it if I had gone to historic Jamestown first.

The staff was excellent and very informative. The grounds were beautiful. A herd of deer was roaming the property which was a fun experience for our grandson.

While not the original site of the first colony, it provides wonderful information on the first settlers to this area of Virginia, along with the original inhabitants and how the 2 lived together. The museum is well done with both inside and outside exhibit areas. Save 15% if you are visiting Yorktown as well and get the combo ticket. Plenty of free parking on site. Be sure to checkout the movie in the rotunda on the settlement’s history.

We went for a short bit on Sunday afternoon from 3:30-5:00 and they were low on staffing. While it was nice for the kids to get the run of the place to themselves without crowds, it also wasn't the full experience. It was definitely worth it to go back the next day (which we planned to do anyway with the 7 day pass). They were better staffed at that time and it was great! So much of the experience here is with the interpreters, so I'd ask ahead about the days you're coming if they're days/times they'll be well-staffed. They said Mondays are better staffed than Sundays because more tour groups come through.

Great historical site for interactive experience. Start with the movie that provides history of the location. The Powhatan village was enlightening and we saw how baskets and rope were made and how animal skins were processed for creating clothing. The Fort was also interactive with a musket demonstration,blacksmithing and cooking on the fire. The staff on the ships were friendly and knowledgeable.

This educational museum about the founding of Jamestown is one of the best museums we have ever experienced in our travels around the country. Presents the Jamestown adventure from all perspectives: Natives, whites, and slaves. Be aware that the indoor exhibits will take a considerable amount of time if you try to take it all in. Then there is the outdoor re-creations of the fort, the Indian village, and the three ships to explore. Well worth the time and admission.

I spent a wonderful day 5/17/2021 at Jamestown.
Leaving the park, Volvo 2016 S60 I look in my mirror to find a policeman blinking his
lights. He informed me I was going 55mi./hr. in a 35mim zone.
That road a single road goes from 45mi./hr. to 35mi/hr. A residential upscale neighborhood. I was following the traffic. He slapped me with of fine of well over $300. I was told when I got back to my hotel that that road is notorious for tickets.
Police hide behind the houses on the side streets. Therefore I want to alert the public when driving to Jamestown from Williamsburg be careful of the only road and your speed going to the park. It is only one road. Why does the speed change from 45mi/hr. to 35mi/hr. Could it be the wealthy residents in that area have clout?

I did a lot of research in advance of my "bucket list" trip to see Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown but nowhere did I see what I had to find out the hard way and thus my once-in-a-lifetime experience was incomplete. There are three agencies that manage these historical sites so do your homework to prepare for your trip. National Park Service, Preservation Virginia, and the State or Commonwealth of Virginia. To further confuse things, there are different ticket combos that cover different things or parts of those sites. Think of Jamestown Settlement as the Jamestown Experience. It isn't the historical site, it's like a living museum. Same with Yorktown... there's a replica village where the American Revolution museum is that is away from the Yorktown visitor center and battlefield drive tour that requires a different ticket. There are also many YouTube videos that will give you a tour and history of the area. All worthwhile, just get it straight before you leave home!

My history teacher daughter and I did a Jamestown visit as part of a Chesapeake Bay cruise. We absolutely loved it! Our guide was wonderful as she took us to the village, the ships, and the fort. We did the museum on our own. We also enjoyed the costumed people at the village and the fort who spoke to us on various aspects of life in 17th century America.

We had a 1 day pass and had plenty of time to preview the entire site. It was a nice combination of indoor museum information along with the outdoor experience. The front desk staff was very friendly along with other employees we came accross. The building is beautiful! We were there mid week and enjoyed the less crowded experience. Depending on how much you want to take in, it could be done anywhere between 2-4 hours.

This is always so fun. Was scaled down some because of the pandemic but still fun. Love the view from here. Workers are always so nice.

A great piece of Colonial history and eary Virgina history as well. the re-enactors do a great job demonstrating what life was like back when the first colonists arrived here

We enjoyed the indoor exhibits and films and the outdoor exhibits, and people were available to answer questions outdoors. Very interesting.

I was literally speechless when I walked through the gates of the fort. It really felt like stepping back in time.

My family and I love history, so we had studied a lot before our visit. We went through the museum building part fairly quickly, but even then a lot of information and artifacts still caught our eyes. This place was very well done. This was by far the best living history museum I have seen. I know this place cost a lot of money, but it was money well invested in teaching the visitors about the beginnings of our nation. They even had some disclaimers and information on how they know certain things, and how certain things may not have happened like they were told. As a history person, I appreciate that.

If you don't know a lot about the history of the area, or in general, I would suggest you start your Jamestown adventure here before going on to Historic Jamestowne. There is a lot more in-depth information and descriptions here.

If you know your history, it was such an amazing experience seeing the actual place, then walking through the gates as it would have looked. Seeing the ships, I could only imagine the fear and confusion of the Native Americans. Seeing the tight quarters, I would struggle to imagine months of voyage across the sea. The Powhatan village was also a very unique experience to see.

Jamestown Settlement was divided into 3 sections. The Indian village, the ships & the fort. All were very interesting. We didn't have children with us, but I think they'd very much enjoy all 3 sections. A fun way to learn.

We visited Jamestown May 8, 2022. If you haven’t been, Jamestown is one half traditional history museum and one half open-air museum complete with staff / craftsmen in period garb. The open air portion includes replicas of a Native American village, the ships used by the colonists, and the fort itself. All of these were enjoyable for the whole family (ages 8 – 40), especially the dioramas that contrasted a ‘normal’ town/house in England, a Native American village, a west African village, and then the colony itself. The tradesmen were all well versed in their part of the history and truly earned their money with our son’s questions – all were very engaging.

Great museum! Lots of fun, very informative. Our family love Jamestown! There were lots of interactive things to do, we loved the ships, and the tour guides were very good!

Jamestown settlement is a re-creation of the settlement as well as replicas of the ships that brought the original settlers to America. If exhibitions or museums are your thing, they have a wonderful display based on a time line of history. Beginning with the Native American culture, the arrival of the English to Jamestown and further into the history of the development of Virginia and its influence on the forming of the United States.

Note: this different than History Jamestown which is site of the original fort.

I loved this museum so much, state of the art, very informative films and an amazing 4D theater. Really enjoyed the outdoor living museum. Guy building a canoe was so authentic and enthusiastic, I could have stood and watched him work for hours. All employees were so friendly and helpful really willing to share their knowledge and history of Jamestowne and the time period.

The movie was extremely interesting. Do not miss it. It was interesting to climb aboard the ships. The museum was also very interesting. It is not a large place but well worth going.

We called in our way down to the North Carolina coast with Hurricane Humberto threatening and it already raining. The main attraction is the galleries - what a museum! Clearly a lot of money and effort has gone into this. There are interactive exhibits, videos, artefacts and testimony from the time of the actual settlement. All this gives an excellent insight to what life was like for settlers and the From the description online, we'd expected to spend most of our time there outside, but we didn't. The museum building is fabulous, staff are super helpful and friendly. Outside the recreations of both the Powhatan camp and the settler village are excellent. We looked at the ships, but didn't board them. Great value for money.

Great time with lots of history. Was very good for teenagers and you history buffs out there. The outdoor displays with period correct characters and settings are awesome. Definitely must see.

Even though COVID made for some restrictions, it was fun to see the history, walk around, talk to some of the staff who were showing how things were done in years past. A great way to spend the day.

We spend half of a day here. The people doing the reenactments were all very friendly and informative. The museum portion was informative with lots of reading.

Very interesting to see and hear about American history. It seemed pretty straightforward and honest about the history. Very interesting to see the stuff you grow up hearing about.

Interesting venue that you gives you historical perspective of what it must have been like in the early 1600's. It makes you understand why slavery was so inhumane. Also, you get an appreciation for the era in which we live.

Enjoyed visiting and learning more about the settlement. Polite staff with reasonably priced food items.

For such a beautiful, well maintained attraction, it was appalling to see that CDC health guidance was not implemented or followed. We were uncomfortable indoors with so many unmasked guests AND staff, at the very height of the most contagious peak of this pandemic. Disappointing and irresponsible.
Regardless of anyone's politics, a large institution such as this should at least respect health guidance from the CDC.

We visited Jamestown Settlement with our 3 children. The museum was incredibly interesting and the outdoor exhibits were really cool to see for our kids. It brings history to life. Our kids (5, 8, & 10) loved it. Thanks!

This is a living recreation of the original settlement. The museum, where the tour starts, is excellent. They have many artifacts on display recovered from the original site as well as a lengthy history of Jamestown. Venturing outside takes you to the mock forts and three replica ships that can also be toured. We visited this settlement first, then visited the original Jamestown settlement. In essence, there are two Jamestown sites that can be toured. We’d highly recommend both. We don’t think it matters which site you visit first. If possible, try to visit on a cool, low humidity day.

loved this place! The concise intro movie and exhibit hall were very well done. The Indian village and English fort bring the early settler days to life. And the 3 original ship (replicas) made a huge impression on the conditions for transatlantic crossing. The 12 year old loved the ships and the 16 year old was mostly bored. I feel sorry for people who go to these places with their 5 and 7 year olds. But again, I loved it.

We visited as a family of 5, three kids ages 11-16. This was just an awesome place! Super educational, high end facilities, hands on, welcoming staff, etc.! We visited the actual NPS settlement first and then this museum and recreation second which was a good decision as this was immersive. Highly recommend!

We toured the recreated fort, Powhatan village and ships as part of the Historic Triangle package that’s available through Colonial Williamsburg. The introductory film, museum/gallery displays, and interactions with the interpreters are excellent. This is a great experience especially when combined with a visit to the nearby national park at the actual site of the Jamestown settlement.

Visitors were not allowed to see most of the outdoor exhibits. You had to go only with a tour guide geared toward children, and could only go in one exhibit in the Native American village, two in the settlement, and one of the three ships. There were no demonstrations advertised, no blacksmith, no musket demo,. They charged full price, but had none of the things we came to see

We spent the day at Jamestown Settlement with our 17 year old daughter for her last fall break before she graduates from high school in December. We had the best time! The setting is beautiful. It was a gorgeous fall day. The exhibits are so well done, the cafe was amazing, the outdoor exhibits and the staff who share their knowledge all contributed to a great day!

Enjoyed checking out the ships--hard to imagine so many people crowded into the available space, & the conditions in which they made the voyage. Good experience.

At 2 pm we started a journey guided by Will who took us on a trip back through time when Jamestown was first settled by Europeans. He was a one man show that explained in detail in an English accent that was spot on what life was like back then. Excellent! The museum with 3 million artifacts was great too!

This is not the historic Jamestown, but a nearby recreation of an Indian village and three sailing ships. I found it very interesting, seeing how the Native Americans lived in relatively comfortable huts, and how small the ships were to carry so many people (they were built for cargo, but used to bring colonists over).

This is really cool and a great way to step back in time. The replica fort, Native American village, and ships make it feel real. The staff are friendly, which makes it fun and interesting. Perfect for families or anyone who likes history. Definitely worth a visit!

The last time we visited Jamestown this didn't exist. What a great addition to the area. The research and attention to detail really shows. The size of the Museum building is enormous. We had a great visit.

Wonderful, even if not Col Williamsburg - adds tremendously to experience GO Go did I say Go ?! Ok characters, added for TripAdvisor - less is better OFTEN !

If you are in the area, this is a must stop. You will spent a few hours here. The grounds are perfect and the village is great to walk around. You can board some of the replica ships at the port. Definitely worth check out!!

Loved this! We have a 9 and 13 year old, and they both throughly enjoyed themselves as did the adults!

Great for a fun learning experience 💕

This museum and site are large and informative, but not quite as interesting or attention-grabbing as other things in the area. The interpretive staff was nice, but again, not as informative as ot other historical sites in the area. Still worth a visit if you're in the area for several days, but we spent less time here.

They don’t allow dogs and they were not nice about it at all. I got to the door with my dog and a man very rudely told me I couldn’t go inside with him. No signs posted that I could see. Williamsburg and Yorktown were super dog friendly so this was very disappointing. They could at least be nicer about it.

The museum is great with various films that explain the history in detail. After the museum go outside and see the fort, indian village and the ships. Ask questions of the volunteers.

I really enjoyed going to Jamestown but I got chigger bites when I was sitting on a wooden bench listening to the ranger talk. My ankles started to itch so bad I had to get up and walk away. I have been putting Benedryl cream on my ankles to help so beware of the chiggers when you visit Jamestown.

I went there as a kid and had an expectation. I think they should put more emphasis on the outside experience and less on all the galleries. There could have been so much more of characters talking about life in the 1600's in the new settlement. I felt there were missed opportunities. I did like seeing the models of 2 of the 3 ships!!

Indoor and outdoor interpreters were engaging. Engaged at all levels. The indoor museum was so well interrupted! Some high points include the Pocahontas sections and the area about the armor with the video on musket balls hitting the armor was so interesting.

Make sure you get down to see the ships.

The Bee Gift Shop was so cute!! The woman working g in it was delightful! The regular gift shop was well done too.

Bathrooms were nice too.

This was interesting to see the museum snd demonstrations. It’s not the real settlement but a reenactment. The museum is very interesting and the film .

The exhibits were very nice - great videos, lovely reproductions and some real artifacts. The recreations of the Native American village, European boats, and the Jamestown Settlement were well done. The actors in costume were knowledgeable and friendly. We enjoyed ourselves a lot!

Old or Young a like will learn from this settlement which is one of the oldest and famous from our county's earliest days. Walk through the fort and board one of the ships (which i honestly thought would be bigger)

Really well put together museum and reenactors. Really friendly workers here. Cool ships to get on and learn about. The Indian village and fort were great. Really enjoyed learning about the area life at the time. Displays were very interesting.

Don’t bother.

They wait until they charge you to tell you that you’re not allowed to walk around on your own.

We were in a group of 75 which was unmanageable. Couldn’t hear anything.

We tried to poke around the exhibit while the guide was mumbling and got yelled at.

I enjoyed the history. It is quite unfortunate that you cannot take pictures inside as there were so many things I'd love to have been able to take pictures of. Outside was a different matter. The Indian village was very interesting and the re-enactor who was working on the canoe was very knowledgeable and willing to answer all our questions. The fort/settlement area was fun as well. The actors were well versed and very informative.

What a great museum! So much history to see that one trip is just not enough. Recreation of a Powhatan village, the Jamestowne Fort and reproductions of 3 ships of the era. Numerous galleries to view, each broken down into a particular time period. Various living historians recreating aspects of life in the times, each willing to explain and share with visitors what they were recreating as well as life in that time. A fairly large snack bar and a very nice gift shop are also located on the premises. Everyone of the staff we encountered were very friendly and helpful. We are looking forward to returning. Very educational for young and old alike.

Prior to our tour of Jamestown Settlement on 6 June, we were unaware that there are two main Jamestown tourist attractions: Jamestown Settlement operated by the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Historic Jamestown operated by the National Park Service (NPS). We approached the front desk, and before I said a word, the staff employee, Patricia, noticed the pass in my hand for admitance into Jamestown by NPS. She immediately launched into “We don’t accept THAT [pointing to the pass] here!” It was unclear to me what the difference was so I asked, at which point explained in a very condescending tone, practically berating me. I was shocked at the ugly treatment, at which point Patricia handed my only Caucasian family member a brochure explaining the museum’s offerings. It appeared from the encounter that she had some bias toward me (a complete stranger) and was treating me in a racist manner. She could have easily handed me the brochure from the start. This treatment was offensive and ironic given that the museum is educational of the lives of enslaved and indigenous people in historic Jamestown. I reported it to the tour desk, and the manager later indicated that this was not the first racist treatment by Patricia. I hope the museum management is/has investigated the incident.

The museum in general is very well done. The interactive screens and videos were helpful for children, and the sections were divided into eras with a logical flow. We also toured the fort, three ships, and indigenous re-creation - all excellent.

The wife and I really enjoyed our visit. The museum’s were clean and friendly staff. The exhibits really showcased a lot and explained well the history of the area. My favorite part was the outside exhibits and the love people dressed in character. All of them were committed and knew their stuff and played the parts amazing. I am sure we missed some things but overall Fantastic time. You can really make a solid 3-4 hours trip here if you watch all the movies, read all signs etc. the boats were out favorite part though!! Price is fair for historical attraction. You can bundle and save as well if you choose.

Fantastic self guided tour, with reenactors along the way to speak to. Love the outside tour of the town and the boats were amazing to tour

Although it was there, I do not remember the inside displays at Jamestown Settlement! There was a lot to see here. The inside stuff was very interesting. The living museum was great too - Indian village, ships, and fort. Very cool place.

The Jamestown Settlement was wonderful to explore! The museum was enlightening and I learned so many things I never knew! It is quite a drive from where I live, but I hope to go back in the future! So much to see and learn and wonderful people!

Visited on 9/5. Overall disappointment. Only one ship was open and the Indian exhibit its could have been more professional. Dollar for Dollar not worth it.

It’s a beautiful place and well maintained heritage. All the staff and guides are well knowledgeable and Curteous. So calming and soothing place

My husband and I enjoyed seeing how the original settlers lived, some demos, neat boat at the dock there.

Realistic explanations of the trials & sacrifices made by the settlers, told by knowledgeable costumes interpreters. Everything recreated was authentic & staff engaged visitors in every aspect of daily life in Jamestown. As a senior citizen with limited mobility, I really appreciated the scooter provided free of charge. It enabled me to join my family in experiencing all areas of the site.

You want to learn real history presented in a fun way? Go here for sure. I'm not really into history but these folks made my day great. The replica ships are very very cool.

Great museum and educational presentations. Provided a lot of historical information that captured the background of all involved parties. If you are a fan of American history, you will enjoy a visit to Jamestown Settlement.

This was a very educational place to learn about the history of the settlement . This is definitely worth the seven day ticket for families

We came here on a beautiful August day. The grounds are well maintained and the staff are knowledgeable and friendly. The park was not at all crowded when we went. We are able to apply educator and veteran’s discounts, which were much appreciated! I recommend watching the movie before going to the outside part as it gives useful background information. Due to our timeline we only had 3 hours there and I felt like we could have spent closer to 4 or 5.

We thoroughly enjoyed exploring here. A lot of education. My kids enjoyed it as well. It is definitely worth a visit when you are in the area!

If in this area this is a must see! So much history in one place. We all enjoyed walking along the pathway to see each exhibit. Our favorite was the Fort area.

This was very well done and I highly recommend it. I didn’t expect the expansive traditional museum/exhibits on site to give info on the living history piece you then see after. The living history and ships aren’t huge, but well done.

Fabulous museum. We did the outdoor part first, since it was threatening rain. Such a great experience- enjoyed it thoroughly. Loved being able to board the ships and talk with the guides in all the different area.
The indoor museum was amazing- we loved the mixture of reading, films, artifacts. The way it is laid out made it so easy to follow the history.
Thanks to all involved in the design and layout- truly a gem.

Wonderful visit. Gave us the ability to interact with the various parties of this original settlement. All the people were knowledgeable and engaging.

Great History Lesson to learn about Virginia and Jamestown. Be sure to watch the 25 minute film before exploring the Settlement. It’s a great experience for the whole family.

The Jamestown tour was informative and instrumental in providing relevant information into the start and rise of the USA as a sovereign nation. To see the place where the final separation from England occurred, to be able to walk the streets where the war took place, to see a real live sugar pan that was used to boil sugar, to see statues of my foreparents working in the forging house was so surreal to the point it brought tears ro my eyes.
Thanks for sharing this opportunity with me. I truly enjoyed it.

The Jamestown Settlement was a great experience for our family and the best location at Colonial Williamsburg to balance Covid considerations with reason and common sense for visiting guests. The guidelines were self explanatory and didn’t feel so restrictive. Seating at the two movie theaters was spread out. Tour sizes were limited within the outdoor buildings, but crowds weren’t an issue. There were enough outdoor demonstrations with engaging and knowledgeable staff that people flowed easily through the site. The boat had a line to board, but you could see everything from the dock anytime. We were so thankful for the cafe that was open for lunch. The staff were friendly, the food was great for a cafeteria, and the prices were reasonable. I had homemade soup, my kids had good sized healthy kids meals, my husband got a made to order rueben. After visiting Colonial Williamsburg where there was hardly anything opened and no way to get lunch without going to the main part of town, it was a really nice alternative experience at Jamestown. The museum exhibits were interesting for all of us, including kids under 10. The two movies helped to set the tone and introduce us to the settlement. Definitely recommend visiting!

History of Jamestown is fascinating- debunks some of the historical tales out there- great videos- take time to watch. After the museum head outside to the fort, Indian village and the ships- talk to the actors- they are a wealth of knowledge

The site has free parking. If you get a combination ticket to this and the American Revolution Museum in Yorktown, you receive a savings from separate admissions and have 7 days to visit the pair (only once each, however). This location is a thorough history of the Jamestown Colony region including pre-colony days. There are 2 theaters, each of which continuously shows a different film. There are history boards, artifacts, biographies, time lines, and short films throughout the museum. There is dining and there is a gift shop. This is all inside. Outside there are ships from 1607 and the James Fort.

Whole family liked it. Talk to the characters they are very knowledgeable and helpful. There's a cafeteria, bathroom, and all other amenities you could need.

First of all the museum was great . Second this whole little building is very nice . Third the old Jamestown replica is very cool. Lastly, the replica of the ships were my favorite.

The Jamestown Settlement was an unexpected pleasure. The museum was captivating. It offered detailed information in visually stunning displays. The comparative culture presentations were thoughtful. The focus on the interactions between Indian, European and African peoples was truly educational. The museum is worth a few hours by itself. Outside the ships, fort and the Paspahegh Town offered engaging and informative insights into what living in Jamestown might have been like. Our whole family (teens and adults) enjoyed our half-day here.

The Jamestown Settlement is a recreation of the Indian village, James Fort, and the ships carrying the English settlers to the New World. The museum's movie and displays are well-done and include tributes to the indigenous, women, and enslaved populations as the tale of the settlement's beginnings through its end are detailed. With one exception, the tour guides and volunteers were well-informed.

Three replica ships, knowledgeable interpreters, and a wonderful museum complete the settlement. Definitely worth including in your Williamsburg trip.

We tend to be history snobs and weren’t expecting much from a recreation site, but it was extremely informative to see the boats in person and get a real sense of their size. It was cool to see the Indian village and wander among the huts and see the craftsmen at work. Also neat to wander the mini settlement and see what the houses looked like in constructed form. Meanwhile, the character actors/people who work there are amaaaaazing! We learned so much from the youngsters in the Indian village plying their crafts. The sailors were so informative about their boats. And the navigator/mariner speaker was phenomenal. So great for all of us!!

Our visit was a highlight for our 3 grandkids -- ages 4, 8, and 10. They loved the introductory movie and the chance to visit and see the Indian settlement, colonists' fort, and reproduction ships. Given the smaller than usual crowds, the kids all had an opportunity to engage and ask questions of the historical interpreters -- a huge plus for all of us. One grandkid asked about the kinds of food the colonists and Indians ate, how it was prepared, and what the interpreters do with the food that they prepare. Another asked about the process of turning logs into wood for building; that interpreter then proceeded to show the grandkids how he was planing down logs and branches and what they would become. A third had oodles of questions for the interpreters on the ship, who encouraged him to see for himself how the ship was steered and the challenge of trying to navigate from below deck.

For those who have difficulty walking, I noticed when we left that the Settlement has or rents out electric scooters, which I consider to be a plus .

The cost was extremely high considering the other historic sites in the area. The indoor chronological museum was very good indeed.

AMAZING museum and settlement grounds that I highly recommend. The entry fees are a bargain for what you get out of the visit.

All the staff are very friendly and engaging - lady in the front guided us to make the Christmas show that was to begin in the settlement grounds in a couple minutes, after which we spoke to multiple people playing native American characters who walked us through their way of life. There are a couple recreated ships that you can fully walk through and multiple huts that you can go through. The museum space is larger than the outside settlement grounds and VERY informative. I recommend that you watch the ~20 minute video in the theatre also, which pretty much summarizes the history.

To cap our visit, we spotted 2 bald eagles perched atop a tree branch and spotted multiple cardinals in the woods.

We got the seven-day four-site ticket, and it was a bargain. We were in the area for four days, and with the ticket, we were able to revisit different sites so that we could be inside during rainy weather and outside when it was nice (relatively nice, it was freezing!). At the Jamestown Settlement, we were especially impressed by the musket demonstration at the reconstructed fort--the musketeer was very engaging and informative. We were also impressed by the wonderful indoor galleries. Our only complaint is that we found ourselves wondering which room to enter--there wasn't any indication of what direction to go in in order to see the whole exhibit. We loved the variety of displays--interactive displays, movies, re-creations of homes and a ship, etc. At Historic Jamestown (even though it was 20 degrees and windy), we were terrifically impressed by the presentation given inside the reconstructed church. We think that this was a speech that would normally be given during an outside tour, but we loved hearing it as we sat in the church. We didn't get the name of the presenter, but he was truly wonderful. He gave us a sense of large historical movements and how what happened at Jamestown fit into a larger picture. It was like a really great college lecture; we felt like applauding at the end. We also loved the Archaearium. We also enjoyed the American Revolution Museum at Yorktowne, but if you have limited time, we suggest the Jamestown sites.

We spent over 5 hrs at the Jamestown Settlement and 4 hrs at the American Revolution Museum. We love history and there is so much to read and soak up. The two days we spent at these two places were a couple of the best days of our traveling adventures. If you love learning more about the beginning of US History, these two places have to be on your "visit list"!!!

Expensive for wgat you get to see. A lot of replicas. Where is the real stuff? Just a reenactment of history and nothing real.

We enjoyed the visit and Learned a lot about history. The area was well maintained and pretty. The staff was very friendly.

I would highly recommend the Jamestown settlement experience. It is a perfect tour for families with young children we are we took a tour with Eric the guide and he did an excellent, outstanding job. There is there is a cafeteria and the inside exhibits are also outstanding

Great “to scale” depictions of how our country came to be. I loved the ships. I love the little city. I loved the native community. The museum was great for older children who could read. Very great job.

We enjoyed our visit, learned a lot. Everyone was friendly and helpful. It was a great place to spend a very hot day!

Very informative about our history. Museum is very upscale and offers a free guided tour every 30 minutes. Highly recommend

It was a great experience. We purchased the American Historic Triangle tickets for multiple places, and it was the best bang for the buck. We stayed in the Williamsburg area and drove here with the plan of hitting this site and the Historic Jamestown site in one day. The inside exhibits were well-done, with plenty of walking space and cool air conditioning. The outside exhibits were also awesome as you will be able to board replicas of the three ships that the settlers used. There is also a Native American village on the property to show how the early American inhabitants lived. If you are staying in the Williamsburg area to visit Colonial Williamsburg, you should allow yourself an extra day to visit here.

We loved this settlement.
Everyone was so knowledgeable.
We were able to go on the ships and visit with the forts doctors.

There are very organized outdoor and indoor exhibits. Each exhibit has someone dressed in the attire from the past to explain the history—a must-see for the history buffs.

Jamestown is a very interesting historic place. It gives an idea of how the first settlers lived in the USA. There’s an indoor gallery with a comprehensive exhibition about the history. Outdoors, there’s a prototype of an indigenous settlement which stood quite near to the fort. The fort is another very informative visit, with demonstrations and narrators telling stories describing life at the time. Down at the river, are two of the three ships moored at the piers, and they can be visited as well. They are copies of the original and give us a pretty good idea of how those men lived during their 144 days crossing. Despite the not so good weather the visit was definitely worth it.

My husband and I visited the Jamestown Settlement during our recent trip to the Williamsburg area. We really enjoyed getting the chance to climb aboard the ships and see what life was like for the 50+ colonists on them. The Indian village and the fort were also very interesting to explore. The museum was beautiful and clean, and the food at the cafe was tasty.

First time visiting Williamsburg and since we live History visiting the Jamestown Settlement was an easy decision. We arrived about 11am and completed everything at about 5pm. We started with the outdoor attractions first because of the heat and weather. Kids liked the Indian Village and the Role players were very knowledgeable and helpful. Next we went to the Colonial Ships at the River which were the highlight. Lived that we can go on board and walk around. Having role players in costume was Awesome. After that we went through the Colonial Village Fort and walked through all the Houses, Governors House, Farm, and Even watched one actor fire a replica musket.
After a short time we went inside the actual museum and walked around inside finishing our day. They had some really cool exhibits including a movie about beacons rebellion that was really done expertly. My Wife and daughter really loved the interactive exhibits that brought the female colonists to life and gave them a voice and made it more personal and revealing. This was one of the best museums we have been to and really had a great time. Even one of our Kids who doesn't normally do history got involved and said she really enjoyed this museum. Great exhibits and a great staff that was always friendly and very Knowledgeable. This Attraction has so much to offer that i would recommend this as a stand alone Day visit. You'll really be here all day and still not get everything done. They have really nice Cafe for lunch and a cash only Ice Cream and drink area between the Indian Village and the ships so make sure you have cash. Inside the Cafe takes Credit cards. The gift shop was huge and full of everything Colonial and Virginia. This was an awesome experience my whole family really enjoyed.

Lots of history here. The ships in particular are interesting and well kept. Plenty of "colonials" here to help you with information.

To enter you must pay an entrance fee, there are several options but the most complete includes entry to the ruins.
Excellent tour to learn more about the history of the first English settlements in the area. There are replicas of the ships too.

There is a wonderful experience waiting for you at the Jamestown Settlement. The staff is professional researchers and they are paid to answer any questions.

We started our vacation to the area here. Loved the friendly staff and demonstrations they were doing. Amazing what these settlers went through versus how it is now.

Neat to walk around the three recreation areas (Indian Village, James Fort, and Ships). All the staff in all three areas were very friendly and informative. My 10 year old loves to ask questions, and they were so kind in answering all of his. The indoor museum was absolutely wonderful. I really enjoyed how it was laid out in chronological order. We watched some of the videos which were also very informative. Nice gift shop and cafe also. Cafe had lots of food choices.

Someone online suggested visiting Jamestown first, followed by Colonial Williamsburg and Yorktown. In doing so, the historical events would be in chronological order, giving visitors a better understanding of how it all connected. I highly recommend visiting sites in that order. Jamestown Settlement is a reenactment of Historical Jamestown, the actual site. In the former, we found people in period costumes participating in period activities. They cheerfully shared explanations and insight into what life was like back in 1607. Most intriguing, albeit a little loud, was the musket firing demonstration. My favorite activity, however, was leaf scraping. I was invited to try it, so with a half clam shell in hand, it was humbling to learn it was not as easy to scrape down to the leaf's fibers as I thought. But the types of items that were created from those fibers certainly were impressive.

We enjoyed the Jamestown Settlement on a beautiful day. The guides were very knowledgeable and seemed to enjoy what they were doing. We had children with us and it was very educational for them and fun as well. We got lunch at the little bakery and the food was delicious.

A beautiful museum, interesting ship replicas, a fun replica fort, and a replica native village. I’m Oklahoma Cherokee myself & felt that native village was thoughtfully & respectfully presented.

This review is for the Jamestown Settlement that is run by VA not by the NPS. It is a recreation of the fort during military rule. We were told they focus on that time as it is the most documented time period (the military likes to document). We went for the Christmas program. They had the musket demonstration, a guy making a dug out canoe, a Native American making arrows and arrow heads and smoking venison and fish. It was very interesting and even I who is big into colonial history learned something! We were able to get on one of the ships. We also learned that mugs were made out of leather and how leakage was prevented. The real treat when we were there was listening to Tudor era Christmas Carols such as the Cherry Tree Carols and learning about the medieval customs - such as Christmas use to be a 12 day party until the Puritans ruined it! LOL The puns were excellent!

We visited Jamestowne on Saturday after Thanksgiving. Surprisingly, it wasn't crowded so parking and entry were quick and efficient. There is a very nice museum with numerous displays as well as several outdoor, interactive displays including several ship and a fort. The visit was well worth the time and admission fee.

The history and the lay out was awesome! So much to learn and see. This is MUST SEE when you come to this area! It blew my mind on how our History started! I feel for the real losers here, the Indians! I truly believe our history is going in full circle. How sad!

While our family did enjoy the living history portion at the Jamestown Settlement….we did NOT agree with pushing the Woke agenda! It’s supposed to be history; not personal views!!

We thoroughly enjoyed Jamestown Settlement. We arrived at opening and went through the building (save the movie and museum for later in the morning). We headed all the way to the back of the settlement where the ships are located. We were the only ones there which is good because the ships are small and if there were a lot of visitors it would have been tight. We then went to the fort area and the Native American village. By then it was getting a lot more crowed (and hot) so we went inside to get lunch at the cafe (food was not great not terrible), then saw the movie and the museum exhibits. We really enjoyed it, this is a great spot for families with younger kids because there is a lot to do and see.

So if you like history but aren't a museum person (that's me I HATE standing to read some big long paragraph about a piece of pottery) then this is an excellent stop especially with kids. This isn't the original site that's a few miles down the road and is a separate fee because it's run by a different organization. This is a recreation settlement and Indigenous People's village . It's fully staffed (like there was an actor at nearly every building) and everyone was full of great information and interacted with the kids really well. Bring water bottles if you are coming in the summer because it got HOT. The kids especially loved the musket demonstration and helping carve the dugout canoe. Their is also a museum inside the visitor's center that was very nice. It was busy with it being the summer but there is so much room to spread out it never really felt crowded anywhere.

TIP if you have a large group that might split up into smaller groups or older kids that will venture off on their own set a meeting time and place. Cell signal was very spotty all throughout and at one point my extended family group (6 adults and 4 kids) separated and I didn't think I was ever going to get everyone back together again.

We were in the area for thanksgiving and some sight seeing and this was a nice surprise. The living history portion was well done and very informative. The historical figures were friendly and did a great job! We enjoy the visual and the little talks. The museum was also very well done! I definitely would recommend this for a trip to the area. We learned a lot. Great for families as there was a lot of space to move around. The ships were fun to see as well.

Very good and learned a lot. The Museum Gallery was culturally appropriate and told the story of Jamestown through the lens of the people that were already there, the people that wanted to be there and the people forced to be there.

The museum is excellent with lots of great information from different perspectives. Includes some great videos. I'd score the museum and facilities a 10. The outdoor James Fort and other features are okay but there's not much you can do with a replica of huts or other 17th century structures. Those I would give a 6. They do have some costumed staff adding some support.

Looking for a good spot to propose at Jamestown Settlement on Valentines? If I could get some ideas.

I visited and reviewed the Jamestown Settlement back in 2015 and again in 2022, and I stand by my previous review. This is an excellent re-creation and re-enactment of Jamestown. They have replicas of the three ships that brought the settlers to Virginia, and an excellent museum. You can really see what it must have looked like and how things worked back then. The museum is better than before. Plan about 4-6 hours.

I was in the area on business from UK, so needed somewhere to go on the day i am allowed for acclimatisation. I had seen this was close by so drove up. Really excellent value for all the well thought out displays in the Gallery in the main building. The staff who are dressed as the original colonials were very friendly and informative. They knew there history well. Displays of musket firing and the smithy were excellent. Just a completely enjoyable experience.

We loved this attraction! There is so much to do. There is also like to see! The reenactments, and the actors are so dedicated to their stations… They truly know so much about this time period. We ended up learning quite a bit, and we thought we had already known really a lot about our American history… Not really. The whole area is spotless, the inside area has been well, curated, narrated, designed, and especially laid out. Temperature inside was perfect! someone did a very good job of deciding which items and people should be displayed, portrayed, and showcased. This is a great place to explore for families, couples, or even a Singleton just wanting something to do for the day.

My only tiny criticism would be that the museum needs to update the language on the cards. Instead of referring to the enslaved persons as "slaves "-- the literature needs to be updated to reflect that at all times, any enslaved human beings should be referred to as such, not "slaves."

An excellent way to spend a few hours. Very informative and very well done. The live actors did an excellent job playing their roles and the displays are professional and extremely well done.

What an incredible place! This is a must see for all ages! A very informative and interesting museum... Worth every penny!

We highly recommend this place! Our group of 25 enjoyed every aspect of the tours and all of the staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable!

My favorite part of the experience was the plays that they did. It was so realistic. Great job. Amazing

We enjoyed both the Settlement and Historic. We visited this first and I think it helped us understand basics of Historic, since the visitors center there was closed. I think younger kids would find the outdoor exhibits here the best at history coming alive in the area. We did outdoor first so afternoon when it was hotter (95!) we could go inside. All the people we met were EXCELLENT at telling stories. We helped Carol raise the top sail on a ship, learned olde English from the blacksmith and saw the noon musket firing. Inside the museum and films were good. The choices at the cafe were extremely good for a museum type attraction with a lot of choices. Overall very impressed.

There is an admission fee but best bet is to get the combo ticket that includes Yorktown. We arrived after 2PM so didn't have a lot of time but were able to see most everything we wanted to other than what was closed due to the government/parks shutdown. Our grandson, 14, enjoyed the musket firing which is done @ specific times throughout the day. On issue was we didn't bring in our own water bottles which is all that is allowed, it was a warm day & all the vending machines for water were sold out.

I had been to the Jamestown Settlement years ago. I was disappointed to see it isn’t what it used to be. Maybe half (or less) the presentations they used to have.

The American Revolution museum was knew to me. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Enjoyed both Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum- I really liked the Jamestown Settlement. The buildings and display spaces for both museums are architecturally very interesting and allow a lot of room for some big displays. Both must also have a lot of research facilities since the spaces are so expansive. The film in the Jamestown museum was especially interesting and provided important historical perspectives, and the detailed exhibits were well curated, reflected a lot of research, and helped us learn so much about Native American culture before Europeans arrived, how things changed, and English settlement and plantation. Understanding the history and circumstances in England and Europe that contributed to the colonization was also interesting. I liked how the museum used the theme of the three cultures (Native America, African, and English) and how all contributed to and were affected by one another- and the outdoor recreations of settlements for all three added to the experience. Also enjoyed seeing the recreation of one of the original English ships. Gives quite a perspective of what the travel across the ocean must have been like.

Family of six, ages 6 to 70, spent a half day here on our own. This is a historic site done right, with good displays, signage clear, everything done with the visitor in mind. A well made film in the Visitor Center sets up what you are going to see. The paid guide/re-enactors were well informed and eager to share their knowledge of life in 1620. Highlight was climbing aboard replicas of 2 of the 3 boats that sailed here and wandering around. The day we were there was packed with kids on field trips but the park funneled and managed them very well. Highly recommended. Worth maybe 3 hours or so total.

This was return to Jamestown but after 20+ years it was a new experience as they are uncovering more remains of the original settlement. You must pay for National Park entrance (or use your senior pass) along with a $15 fee to the private group that manages much of the land. Total time at the site was less than an hour including the glass house.

We planned our trip 5 months before we got here, so we had high expectations and we were not disappointed by this historic trip and very excited to learn more about the colonists that settled here . Love the people who are there in residence and explained everything so well for us

I felt like the fee wasn't worth it. They left vital information out. It was like being on a forth grade field trip. It could have been so much better. We had to find relevant information on Google. I was so excited to see this, what a let down.

Excellent guides and exhibits. Must see when in Williamsburg VA. Inside and outside exhibits complementary. Worth the cost and it includes Yorktown too.

We were visiting from the UK and it was a wonderful living history experience, everything was so well done and the museum was very informative. Highly recommend visiting to understand the issues the early English settlers faced. We recommend starting here and then going to the Historic Jamestowne which is the archaeological site.

After spending a day in Colonial Williamsburg, we decided to see that Jamestown has to offer.
We did not regret- nice, walkable grounds, a lot to see. Fun to learn about XvII and XVIII century .

(Pre-Covid Review)
The settlement is an interesting and educational place to visit. They have a few things you can do hands-on, but most of it is looking around, and learning from the people who are there. The Native American Village was very informative as well as the Jamestown settlement. And don't forget about this ship, that is a must-see as well!

We were fortunate to visit during the Military through the Ages event. The number of reenactors present was outstanding. From ancient Greece to Grenada there were units from every era. We especially enjoyed the Civil War band playing. In addition, getting to board replicas of the ships that came to Jamestown was fun. I know the special event made our visit all the more entertaining.

If you want to feel like you just went back in time, visit Jamestown Settlement. So much to see and do. Great for history lovers and kids will enjoy too.

It was beautiful and full of history. The ships were our favorite. You can go on one and explore it. Loved the Indian villagers. We learned so much!

We didn’t buy the combined ticket as we wanted to visit Jamestown first before committing to the other sites.
Jamestown clearly explains how the town originated and we spent a considerable amount of time going through the museum before heading outside.

Whilst the info in the museum was informative it did feel a little like they were including the Native Americans and African slaves in the narrative as an acknowledgment of their existence rather than a genuine belief that they contributed to the origins of America.

We particularly enjoyed the outside effects- the Indian village, the fort and the ships and having watched the “Jamestown “ series that ran in the UK it was great to see that the producers of the series did actually marry it to historic fact.

We were there on an excruciatingly hot and humid day. The settlement closed early because of it, but that didn't matter. This was the best part of our Jamestown-Yorktown-Williamsburg trip. The men on the ships were real educators who know how to talk to people of all ages. They engaged children and adults and answered all kinds of questions. We spoke with three men on ships and one guy sewing armament. They all knew their stuff, had lots of patience with many questions coming at them from old and young, and were able to keep the attention of the various youngsters visiting with their families.

The indoor museum was ok -- nicely air conditioned. Most of the visitors were inside because it was so hot, so we couldn't really see or enjoy the exhibits very well. It didn't matter though -- the outside experience was that good.

From the museum to the Indian village to the ships, Jamestown Settlement is a must-see for anyone who loves history. My kids were particularly interested in the Indian village - so much so that they took up a good bit of the staff's time. Kudos to the staff for the patience and ability to make them feel important. The museum is very, very well done and the atmosphere is perfect. They couldn't have done a better job!

Considering that this site was settled as a small village in the early 17th Century and essentially abandoned less than 100 years later, there is a lot here and it's a little confusing. There's the Settlement sites themselves, which are owned by a foundation and the National Park Service, and then there's this site, which is a museum and recreation of the Settlement. All of them are separately operated.

This site includes recreations of the Fort and settlement buildings, the ships that came from England, and a Powhatan Indian village. Staff at every location provides information, and there is a regular live musket demonstration, too. Most of this can be comfortably seen in an hour or two.

The Visitor's Center Museum is enormous again, considering the very narrow scope of Jamestown - a single settlement that existed for less than 100 years. It has the usual information plaques and artifacts, an introductory film and a "4-D" film about the revolt that led to Jamestown's downfall, as well as recreations of houses at the settlement. Visiting the Museum thoroughly takes hours, meaning this can be a full day activity depending on interest level.

Was an enjoyable family experience walking back in time. The actors were very knowledgeable and answered all of our inquiries. Was a history lesson that I do not believe anyone of us will be forgetting anytime soon.

My only real complaint was there are really two separate attractions, both worthwhile, but also both costing money. We had bought a combination package while in Yorktown, not realizing it was only inclusive of part of Jamestown.

The layout and information at this site were excellent. The staff were most helpful. A visitor could still imagine the hardships suffered in this place and the data displayed were sobering.
A second museum some 3Km away offered a similar experience but a brief look at it convinced us that the original site was the better option.
The ticket was linked to the Yorktown Battle museum some 20km away.

From the Indian village to the settlement to the ships, this gives one as close of a look into how life was in this period. My kids enjoyed the staff/reenactors as they explained life back then. A very informative and well thought-out presentation. A must see!

This was a great experience! The museum was very nice and informative. The movie at the beginning of the museum had a few violent scenes for sensitive children (nothing extremely graphic, just tough for my tender hearted girl). The Powhatan village was wonderful and our favorite part. All the interpreters were very engaging and informative. The fort was interesting but not as interactive as the Powhatan village. The ships were neat but we spent little time there. We had lunch in the museum cafe and that was a good experience. (Much better than lunch at the Colonial Williamsburg art museum cafe!). My kids gave this experience 10 stars out of five! Definitely worth a visit!

Highly recommended! Educational and relaxing! We watched the movies and visited the enactors and toured the ships and the exhibits. We really liked it.

This was a great visit to the place where America began. Good museum and video presentation. Difficult to bring back life as it was 400 years ago, but they did a good job. The ship replicas were amazing. Susan Constant was SO SMALL ! Makes you wonder how they made it. Bring your kids and let them see what life was like for the settlers at Jamestown !

We had a great day at Jamestown. The museum, the Powhatan village and the replicas of the ships that brought the settlers to Jamestown are excellent. In addition the settlement area has authentic replicas of buildings that were present during this time period. Those who work at the settlement, the Powhatan Village and the replica ships are great about answering questions.

The American Revolution Museum is almost overwhelming with written explanations of events that led up to the revolution through the surrender of Cornwallis. There are several artifacts that are very interesting, but if you want to read all of the information in the various galleries you will need to spend most of the day there. The Continental Army Encampment and Revolutionary era farm located outside of the museum are very good, but not as good as Jamestown.