WILLIAMSBURG, Va., Jan. 19, 2010 – Paid visitation at Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center, living-history museums operated by the state’s Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, totaled 614,606 in 2009, a decline of 11.2 percent from the previous year. Paid attendance was 444,375 at Jamestown Settlement, 12.9 percent less than in 2008. The Yorktown Victory Center had 170,231 paid visitors, a 6.3 percent decline.
Admission sales at the two museums amounted to $5,152,141, a drop of 9.8 percent from 2008.
“The national economic recession had a significant impact,” said Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Senior Director of Marketing and Retail Operations Susan Bak. “We’re encouraged, however, that consumers are continuing to seek information about Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center, with visits to our historyisfun.org Web site up over 2008. We will continue to place emphasis on Internet search marketing and our commitment to destination marketing.”
Ticket sales to individuals accounted for 64 percent of total paid visitation at Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center in 2009. Group visitation, including school field trips, comprised 36 percent of the total. While Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center continued to draw visitors from across the nation, Virginia remained the primary source, with 18.5 percent of individual visitors and 57 percent of group visitors from the Commonwealth.
In addition to paid visitation, there were a total of 54,968 complimentary admissions at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation museums in 2009, including residents of the City of Williamsburg and James City and York counties, children under 6, group escorts, and promotional admissions.
Jamestown Settlement is located on State Route 31 just southwest of Williamsburg. The Yorktown Victory Center is on Route 1020 in Yorktown. The museums are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 2010 general admission is $14.00 for adults and $6.50 for ages 6 through 12 at Jamestown Settlement, and $9.50 for adults and $5.25 for ages 6 through 12 at the Yorktown Victory Center. A value-priced combination ticket for both museums is $19.25 for adults and $9.25 for ages 6 through 12. For more information, call (888) 593-4682 toll-free or (757) 253-4838 or visit www.historyisfun.org.
