News Releases

Posted on December 17, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., Dec. 17, 2019 – As the newly appointed Executive Director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation (JYF), Christy Coleman will lead the state agency and its iconic U.S. historical sites in developing the next generation of living history and educational programs, nationally accredited museum operations, and top-quality visitor experiences. [caption id="attachment_30116" align="al

Posted on December 9, 2019, by admin

Third Leader in Agency’s 62-Year History to Retire December 31 WILLIAMSBURG, Va., December 9, 2019 – Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Executive Director Philip G. Emerson was recently honored for 33 years of leadership in shaping Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown into world-class museums and a leader in education. Emerson, who will retire at the end of December, is

Posted on November 8, 2019, by admin

Spruce Up Holiday Season with Special Blend of Holiday Events, Special Exhibitions, Ticket Offers & Museum Shopping WILLIAMSBURG, Va., November 8, 2019 — Historical holiday fun awaits at Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, where visitors can experience holidays of centuries past during seasonal events “Foods & Feasts of Colonial Virginia,” November 28-30,

Posted on November 4, 2019, by admin

Weekend Programs Complement ‘Forgotten Soldier’ Special Exhibition YORKTOWN, Va., November 4, 2019 – The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown will salute “The African-American Soldier” with a special weekend event on Saturday and Sunday, November 9 & 10, featuring first-person portrayals, a World War II radio show and hands-on history programs illustrating stories often overlooked in our na

Posted on October 3, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., October 2, 2019 – “Family Frights at Jamestown Settlement,” a Halloween-themed museum night for children and families, returns with a scary good time for its sixth year on Friday and Saturday, October 25 & 26. Festivities include friendly and frightful haunted houses centered around this year’s theme – “Classic Movie Monsters & Famous Fairytale Princesses” – plus trick-o

Posted on September 25, 2019, by admin

YORKTOWN, Va., September 25, 2019 — The 238th anniversary of America’s decisive Revolutionary War victory at Yorktown will be marked on Saturday and Sunday, October 19 and 20. Patriotic ceremonies and a parade on Yorktown Day – October 19 – kickoff a weekend of artillery demonstrations and hands-on interpretive programs at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, open house tours at Yorktown Ba

Posted on September 17, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., September 17, 2019 – Jamestown Settlement’s American Indian Intertribal Powwow will return on Saturday and Sunday, October 12 & 13, 2019, with song and dance by members of American Indian tribes, as well as storytelling and children’s activities. This year’s special event spotlights the contributions of American Indian women, in conjunction with Jamestown Settlement’s “TE

Posted on August 30, 2019, by admin

Several Presentations Open to Public With Museum Admission WILLIAMSBURG, Va., August 30, 2019 — Jamestown Settlement will offer a special symposium, “UNTAMED: Women and the Law,” on Friday and Saturday, September 13 and 14, 2019, offering a look the history of women in America through the lens of the law. [caption id="attachment_29286" align="alignleft" width="242"] “TENACITY: Women in Jamesto

Posted on August 29, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., August 29, 2019 – Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown will offer special admission for homeschooling families along with family guided tours September 7-22 during its annual “Homeschool Program Days.” The two living-history museums are administered by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, an educational agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The

Posted on August 28, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., August 28, 2019 — Jamestown Settlement will present the premiere of “Season of the Witch,” an original play written by Abigail Schumann, at 7:30 p.m. on September 14 & 19-21 outdoors in the re-created James Fort, with an immersive theatrical experience that brings to life the 1626 witchcraft trial of Jane Wright – who stood accused in the first recorded witchcraft inquir

Posted on July 23, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., July 23, 2019 – Jamestown Settlement’s “Origins of American Democracy” theme month culminates on July 27 and 28 with “Democracy Weekend,” featuring interpretive programs and military exercises honoring the first General Assembly, the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, as 20 “burgesses” convened at Jamestown in 1619. Programs will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Posted on July 3, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., July 3, 2019 – It’s time to take a summer journey of historic proportions in 2019, a year that marks important milestones in history. Make the most of your summer days soaking in the stories of the people and events of America’s past at Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. History is at your fingertips when visiting Jamestown Settlement and the

Posted on June 10, 2019, by Tracy Perkins

YORKTOWN, Va., June 10, 2019 — Salute the 243rd anniversary of the Declaration of Independence during “Liberty Celebration,” July 4 at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., visitors can enjoy music, interpretive programs, military drills and artillery demonstrations, as well as learn about the challenges that faced our nation’s founders, including those who signed the

Posted on June 5, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., June 5, 2019 – Jamestown Settlement’s Godspeed, a re-creation of one of the three vessels that brought America’s first permanent English colonists to Virginia in 1607, will participate in the 43rd Annual Norfolk Harborfest® June 7-9. Jamestown Settlement’s Godspeed will take part in a parade of sail that starts in Hampton Roads and arrives off Town Point Park at noon, Friday,

Posted on May 24, 2019, by admin

YORKTOWN, Va., May 24, 2019 — Discover personal stories of enslaved and free African Americans on both sides of the American Revolution and their contributions toward establishing an independent nation in “Forgotten Soldier,” a new special exhibition opening June 29, 2019, at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Rare documents and artifacts, interactives and compelling art, including a n

Posted on May 14, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., May 10, 2019 – Luke Pecoraro, a historical archaeologist and former director of archaeology at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, has joined the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation as the agency’s new director of curatorial services. Pecoraro, who started on May 10, will be responsible for research, collections management and exhibit development at Jamestown Settlement and the America

Posted on May 13, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., May 13, 2019 – The Phi Beta Kappa Alpha Chapter of Virginia at William & Mary recognized the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation with the 2019 Life Long Learning Award for its “continuing pursuit of knowledge,” given to one individual and one organization or institution each year. The Chapter acknowledged the “TENACITY: Women in Jamestown and Early Virginia” special exhibition

Posted on May 2, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., May 2, 2019 — If you’re not one, you know one! Tenacious women, from 1619 to today, are celebrated June 8-9 as Jamestown Settlement presents “MY TENACITY!” with a weekend of female musicians, dancers, spoken-word artists, character portrayals, children’s activities and more from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a special ticketed after-hours outdoor concert from 6 to 10 p.m. Throughout

Posted on April 24, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., April 24, 2019 — On Saturday, May 11, Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestowne will offer a range of programs marking the 412th anniversary of the 1607 founding of America’s first permanent English settlement. “Jamestown Day” features one of Jamestown Settlement’s ships sailing in the James River and Historic Jamestowne’s ongoing archaeological discoveries of the 1607 fort. 

Posted on April 18, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., April 18, 2019 — Jamestown Settlement is proud to present the premiere of “Mother Tongue,” an original play written by Abigail Schumann, that explores the stories of three women of Jamestown – Matoaka, Anne Burras Laydon and Angelo – as they come together to consider if, and how, the future will remember them and why it matters. This new production will take the stage in the

Posted on April 3, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., April 3, 2019 – Registration is now open for summer history camps at Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, offering hands-on fun this summer for young people age 4 through fourth grade. “Broadside” summer history camps immerse children in 17th-century colonial Virginia and the American Revolution through stories, games, craft activities and visi

Posted on February 28, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., February 28, 2019 – Paid visitation in 2018 at Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum at Yorktown living-history museums operated by the state’s Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, totaled 533,730, a decrease of 12.6 percent from 2017. Admissions revenue amounted to $5,652,533 in 2018, down 9.9 percent. In 2018, paid attendance at the American Revolution Museum at Yor

Posted on February 27, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., February 27, 2019 – Jamestown Settlement, a museum of 17th-century Virginia history and culture, will present a “Tenacious Women Lecture Series” on Thursday evenings from March through November in conjunction with the yearlong special exhibition “TENACITY: Women in Jamestown and Early Virginia.” The eight-part lecture series features scholars, curators and authors speakin

Posted on February 22, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., February 22, 2019 — In just one weekend, visitors can experience centuries of military history during Jamestown Settlement’s time-honored “Military Through the Ages” event on Saturday and Sunday, March 16-17. This year’s event will feature a special salute to women’s roles in the military and their contributions during times of war. “Military Through the Ages,” held at Jamest

Posted on January 25, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., January 25, 2019 — African-American women, from 1619 to today, are honored as Jamestown Settlement presents “After Angelo: Celebrating Black Women in America” on February 23. The legacy of Angelo, the first African woman mentioned by name in the historical record at Jamestown, and African-American women in Virginia are celebrated with a day of music, dramatic performance and his

Posted on January 25, 2019, by admin

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., January 25, 2019 — Throughout February, Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown will present “African-American Cultural Heritage Month,” featuring a variety of programs that reflect and honor the significant contributions and achievements of African Americans in our nation’s history. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the first recorded African

Posted on January 7, 2019, by admin

 YORKTOWN, Va., January 4, 2019 — The “Blast from the Past: Artillery in the War of Independence” special exhibition at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown has been extended through March 3, 2019. Visitors can experience artillery used on all fronts of the American Revolution by American, French and British forces through interactive experiences and artifact displays. “Blast from the Past,