Update

Welcome to Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, Reopening June 24 for Summer

We’ve made adjustments to operations and access to outdoor living-history areas and gallery exhibits so that you can enjoy the museum experience while following new safety protocols and social-distancing procedures. Masks are required indoors and encouraged in outdoor public spaces.

Watch this video to help you plan your visit.

What to Know Before Your Visit

• Masks are required indoors and encouraged in outdoor public spaces.
• Social distancing, of at least 6 feet, is encouraged between guests, individual family groups and staff.
• In the outdoor living-history areas, open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., capacity in the re-created buildings and structures, including access to one of the three ships, will be limited to a certain number of visitors at a time. Signage will indicate the number of visitors allowed at one time.
• In the indoor exhibition galleries, including our museum theaters and films, are open with limited capacities from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Plexiglass shields have been placed in front of registers and public-facing counters and cash registers in the visitor services areas, gift shops and museum cafes.
• Additional hand-sanitizing stations are available throughout museum to supplement handwashing.
• Increased efforts to disinfect high-touch areas including surfaces, doorknobs and stairwells, in both the exhibition galleries and outdoor living-history areas.

Disclaimer

The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation has implemented enhanced health and safety strategies to protect visitors and our staff.  It is essential that you follow all posted instructions while visiting Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.

An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 virus exists in any public place where people are present.  COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and guests with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable.  We encourage you to do your part and follow our instructions and government guidelines to protect yourself and others.

You are voluntarily assuming the risk of exposure to COVID-19 by visiting Jamestown Settlement, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown and other Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation facilities.

Let us work together to keep each other healthy and safe.

June 24, 2020

Previous Posts

Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution Museum at Yorktown to Reopen June 24, Taking Steps to Welcome Visitors Safely This Summer

The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation remains closed in response to COVID-19, but anticipates Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum at Yorktown to reopen on Wednesday, June 24, as Virginia moves into phase two of its Forward Virginia plan.

“We look forward to welcoming everyone back to our museums,” said Christy S. Coleman, executive director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. “The past few months have allowed us to think deeply about our work, listen intently and affirm our commitment to serve our communities in a safe and healthy environment with impactful and meaningful experiences about our shared history.”

As the museums reopen, several adjustments are being made to operations and access to outdoor living-history areas and gallery exhibits to allow visitors to enjoy the museums while following social-distancing protocols. Additional reopening details will be announced soon, including plans for summer programming and special events.

In addition to enhanced cleaning protocols, adjustments to museum operations include:

• Masks will be required indoors and encouraged in outdoor public spaces for visitors and staff.
• Social distancing, of at least 6 feet, is encouraged between guests, individual family groups and staff. Informational videos and signage throughout the museums will reinforce protective protocols and help inform visitor decisions.
• In the outdoor living-history areas, capacity in the re-created buildings and structures, including access to one of the three ships, will be limited to a certain number of visitors at a time. Signage will indicate the number of visitors allowed at one time.
• In the indoor exhibition galleries, use of interactive touch screens will be prohibited, following guidelines outlined in phase two of reopening Virginia.
• Capacity in the museum theater and gallery films will be limited to a certain number of guests at a time.
• Plexiglass shields will be in place in front of registers and public-facing counters and cash registers in the visitor services areas, gift shops and museum cafes.
• Additional hand-sanitizing stations will be available throughout museum to supplement handwashing.
• Maintain increased efforts to disinfect high-touch areas including surfaces, doorknobs and stairwells, in both the exhibition galleries and outdoor living-history areas.
• The museums’ indoor galleries and films will be open with limited capacities from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through August 15. Outdoor living-history areas are accessible for visitors from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In addition, all employees will receive advance training on safety protocols and social-distancing procedures developed to protect themselves and museum visitors, based on guidance from government and public health officials.

June 4, 2020

Online Educational Resources at Home

While visitors and students cannot visit our museums in person, a variety of fun, educational resources, from curriculum-based lesson plans and blogs to interactives and videos, are available at historyisfun.org/at-home. For educators who continue to work with their students and homeschoolers, additional resources available at historyisfun.org/learn/learning-center/educators-at-home.

March 19, 2020

Questions About Tickets

Advance ticketholders who have purchased tickets on the HistoryisFun.org eStore – Jamestown Settlement, American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, History is Fun combination, America’s Historic Triangle, Four-Site Value, American Heritage Annual Pass – dated for visits during the dates our museums and partner attractions are closed, will be honored for one year from the dates our museums re-open. Annual Pass expiration dates will be extended for the same length of time the museums are closed; this adjustment will be made upon re-opening. Special event tickets are no longer valid.

To request a refund for tickets and other tickets purchased for special events and performances at Jamestown Settlement or the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, please “Reply” to your ticket order confirmation. Or contact tickets@jyf.virginia.gov and include your phone number, confirmation number and event name and date. Thank you for your understanding, and we hope to see you again soon.

Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Closes Three Sites by Governor Order in Response to Coronavirus

Jamestown Settlement, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown and its Central Support Complex are closed to the public and staff, following an order March 16 by Governor Northam to close all state facilities on the Peninsula until further notice in the ongoing response to COVID-19.

“During these extraordinary events, we remain committed to ensuring the well-being of everyone associated with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and the community of which we are a part,” said Christy Coleman, executive director. “We look forward to welcoming our guests, donors and visitors again once this pandemic subsides.”

Only essential personnel will be reporting to the sites, and their time on-site is being limited as an extra precaution. If able, staff are encouraged to telework and conduct virtual meetings. All classified and wage staff will continue to be paid through a public health emergency leave issued by the state.

March 16, 2020

Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution Museum at Yorktown Close Temporarily March 14-29; Special Events and Programs Cancelled

Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown are temporarily closed to the public beginning Saturday, March 14, through Sunday, March 29.

Out of an abundance of caution to manage the risks posed by COVID-19, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation museums join museums throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia in closing for a two-week period.

The well-being of our visitors, employees and volunteers remains our highest priority. We appreciate your support as we work to ensure the health and safety of our community. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

Given public health agencies’ reporting of presumptive positive cases in the state and region, and to limit risk of transmission, several major events and programs have been cancelled. Any decision to reschedule these programs and events will be announced at a later date. For questions about tickets, contact tickets@jyf.virginia.gov.

Events and programs impacted:

• Military Through the Ages, March 21-22, at Jamestown Settlement 
• Revolution! Lecture by Dr. Kacy Tillman, March 26, at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
• Community Briefings, March 25, March 26 and March 31, at Jamestown Settlement 
• “Department of the Geographer School of Instruction” Symposium, March 28-29 at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
• “The Tempest,” April 7-11, at Jamestown Settlement
• “Jamestown Day,” May 9, at Jamestown Settlement
• “FOCUS: 100 Years of Virginia Indians in Photography” Special Exhibition postponed until January 2021 at Jamestown Settlement 

Proactive efforts have been made to disinfect high-touch areas including surfaces, doorknobs and stairwells, in the exhibition galleries and outdoor living-history areas. Hand-sanitizing stations are available in select areas of the museums to supplement handwashing. 

The Foundation is carefully and continually reviewing conditions to ensure the health and safety of museum visitors and employees as well as decisions about scheduled programs and events, following guidance of the Virginia Governor’s Office, National Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the Virginia Health Department and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Staff are working in concert with emergency managers from James City County, the City of Williamsburg, other state agencies and tourism partners.

March 13, 2020; May 30, 2020

Resources on COVID-19

For additional, up-to-date information on COVID-19, including additional preventative measures, consult the Virginia Department of Health at vdh.virginia.gov and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov. Additional information is available at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management at https://www.vaemergency.gov//

Check back often, updates will be posted here.