In 1607, the Virginia Company established Jamestown as the first English settlement in the New World. Named after King James I, the settlement was initially plagued by starvation, hostile natives and lack of valuable exports. The Virginia Company placed John Smith in charge of the operation and his leadership helped the colony survive, but still yielded no financial value.
In 1612, John Rolfe introduced tobacco as an export and saved the colony. He married Pocahontas, a Native American woman, and the two voyaged back to England for what now might be called a public relations tour. The marriage signaled a treaty in the relationship between the colonists and the natives. England authorized the establishment of a local governing body, giving way to the House of Burgesses.
As larger colonies were established in Virginia, Jamestown lost its prominence and drifted into obscurity. In the 1930s, Jamestown was entered as a National Historic Site and the government acquired the island through eminent domain. On the colony's 350th anniversary, the federal government completed a road, Colonial Parkway, that provided access to the island and established the Jamestown Festival Park.
As the first English settlement in the New World, Jamestown's place in history is secure. It established the profitability of the colonies for England and supported further exploration and investments into Virginia. The establishment of local government created the foundations of American self-rule. It also enjoyed the first peaceful treaty between European colonists and the local Powhatan Native American population.
With John Rolfe's introduction of tobacco to Europe came the birth of the cash crop. Tobacco became one of the largest exports from the colony and established Virginia as one of the most powerful areas in the Americas.
The Jamestown National Historic Site has two attractions. Historic Jamestowne is the site of the original James Fort and is operated by the National Park Service and the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. It features statues and a visitor's center offering an educational view of the colony. Located a short distance away is the Jamestown Settlement, which showcases a replica of the original fort, a replica Powhatan village, and three ships based on the original vessels that brought settlers to the New World.
The Jamestown Rediscovery Project has located many artifacts of the colonial era and has begun to excavate the original fort, which appears to be mostly intact. A trip to the Jamestown National Historic Site showcases archaeologists' accomplishments, as well as the many artifacts uncovered.
Jamestown is situated on an island in the James River. It has had an isthmus at various times over the past 400 years, depending on the river's rise and fall. This created a very swampy atmosphere with brackish water and a large population of mosquitoes. It covers an area of approximately 1,500 acres. Jamestown has a humid, subtropical climate. Because of the jet stream, the island experiences large wind gusts. The winters can be harsh, reaching the average low of 26 degrees. Summer is moderately hot, with a seasonal average of 86 degrees.
Jamestown is part of the Historic Triangle of Colonial Virginia, a tourism destination that also includes Williamsburg and the Yorktown battlefield. The area sports a $13.1 billion tourism industry, with hundreds of travel agencies featuring lodging in the area. Thousands of families make their way down Colonial Parkway every year to take in the sites.
Jamestown is only 11 miles from Colonial Williamsburg, one of the nation's largest living museums. Yorktown offers battlefield tours, waterfront views and a large visitor's center.