Historic Jamestown (NPS) versus Jamestown Settlement?

Okay, looking for your votes/thoughts.

We%26#39;ll be in Jamestown for an afternoon mid-week next week (around April 15). Just an afternoon.

My third grader is learning about Jamestown in school right now, and she is excited to vist. She is doing a report on Pocahontas. With that in mind, and if I only choose one of these two locations to visit, which one should it be?

BTW, I have fond recollections of MY 4th grade visit to Historic Jamestown...in 1970! As far as my daughter is concerned, having been there in 1970 makes me one of the original settlers......

Historic Jamestown (NPS) versus Jamestown Settlement?

We are leaving this Friday, Apr 17. I have this same question.

It looks like there are more activities at the Settlement, but that this might be more of a reproduction? I am far removed from grade school. Will I still enjoy it? I enjoy photography, but loads of people in my pictures turn them into just tourist shots instead of table book quality. I don%26#39;t mind tourist shots, but it would be nice to get one or two nice high quality shots.

And is the NPS site primarily an archaeological interpretation?

Thanks.

Historic Jamestown (NPS) versus Jamestown Settlement?

OK, I will try to put it into perspective for you since I was in your shoes too not too many years ago. (Kids studying it in school, etc.)

Now it has been 5ish years since we were there, so some of my recollection might be fuzzy.

The original settlement location was on Jamestown Island. This is now a park, with really nothing to see. There is a monument there (an obelisk)that marks the original location and some ongoing archaeological work. If my knowledge is correct, I am pretty certain much of the original site has eroded into the James river.

Jamestown Settlement is a recreation of the settlement and a ';living/working'; museum. From the eyes of a child, this is where you will want to go.

They are right next to each other. What we did was visited the settlement which has the museum, displays, fort, and the dock with the ships. (This was the highlight for my boys.) And then we drove over into the original settlement park to put it into perspective, but maybe spent 15-20 minutes poking around. (It was like trying to understand a war by standing on a battlefield.)

Hope this helps.

jwhiteree, there%26#39;s actually a lot more at Historic Jamestowne than you remember. In fact, something new from your last visit is that they have discovered the location of the fort and it is not, as they long believed, in the James River. The outline of the fort has now been marked out on land so you can see exactly where it was and how large it was.

Other things to see at the park are the foundations of many of the homes and workshops which were located outside the fort. I think children and adults are amazed at what small houses people could live in. There is a new Visitor%26#39;s Center which opened in 2007, the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. There%26#39;s an excellent Archeological Musuem and you can see where current archeological excavations are going on. There%26#39;s a driving/biking route of several miles which has interpretive signs explaining life in Jamestown. Finally, my favorite ';exhibit'; at Jamestown is the Glasshouse where you can see costumed artisans actually blowing glass as they did at that time. (Glassblowing was one of the industries in Jamestown.) Beachbum, I think both you and your daughter will find this fascinating. (Also, your daugther will surely enjoy the statue of Pocahontas in the park.)

At my teenage son%26#39;s request, we re-visited Jamestown last spring and he and I easily spent a couple of hours there and didn%26#39;t get to see everything. While I am sure that Jamestown Settlement is fun for kids, I don%26#39;t think that Historic Jamestowne should be overlooked. It is, afterall, where the history REALLY happened.

Take a look at the park%26#39;s brochure at www.nps.gov/jame for details on what to see and do.

longhorn-

Thanks for the update. Now that you mention it, I remember the discovery and the realization that the fort isn%26#39;t in the river after-all being big news.

For the OP, I think your choice is going to be what type of display your child will find more interesting. For a third grader of only 7-8 years, I think the recreated settlement puts it more into perspective, but that decision will be left entirely up to you and what your child(ren) enjoy.

But keep in mind, both sites are right next to each other, so it is completely feasible to visit both unless you are very cramped for time.

OH, and to clarify, by my saying, ';really nothing to see';, I meant nothing visual for a child in the way of a building. There is plenty there to keep you busy!

If you HAD to choose one, Jamestown Settlement would be the one I would pick if there are children involved. There is a Native American village, with a prayer circle, reed huts, etc. There are the 3 reproduced boats of which you can board at least one. And then the reproduction of Jamestowne Citie. The kids can try on armor and clothing of the period, grind corn and watch a muskat demonstration, among other things. There are costumed interpreters who are very knowledgeble and are very helpful. The museum there is wonderful. There is a restaurant and gift shoppe on site. This place isn%26#39;t just for kids, I go back everytime I%26#39;m there and not with little children.

The Historic Jamestowne Island is a national treasure! I agree, children might not get much out of this site, but then, again, you never know. The Archearium is truelly fabulous and has thousands of artifacts that Dr. Bill Kelso and his crew have been discovering since they started digging in the early 1990%26#39;s. There are ongoing digs that are very interesting to watch and the diggers are more then happy to talk with you. There are ranger guided tours and a person called ';the chicken lady'; who I have not seen yet, but have been told that she gives on quite a performance. There is a small cafe and a gift shoppe on site.

The Glassblowers site is really worth a stop.

Enjoy this wonderful place!! Mary.

On the island, you might be lucky and see some deer. On one occasion when we were there, there were about 6/7 deer just grazing around. And on the loop drive, you might encounter various wildlife.

We got some neat pics by the Ambler plantation ruins that are there.

Hi beachbum,

(Cute comment you made on being one of the original settlers) =)

If it helps, my son is 8 years old and loves both places. I think it helps paint a bigger %26amp; more fascinating picture to visit both. And since they are so close together, it is totally possible to get them both in one day.

And yes, even if you have just the afternoon. =)