The Jamestowne Settlement

In May of 1607 - over 20 years before the arrival of the Mayflower,

105 men and boys arrived on the Virginia Shore to establish a settlement

in the new world.

In their first month they built a stockade fort for protection and

some buildings inside the fort for shelter.

They faced numerous hardships including attack from the native people

and starvation - yet despite the odds more arrived and the colony grew

to over 500 by 1609.

In the winter of 1609-1610 in what became known as "The Starving Time"

all but about 60 of the settlers perished.

Yet over time the colony continued to grow.  The marriage of

Pocohantas - daughter of the local indian chief - to settler John Rolfe

helped to cement relations between the peoples. 

Over the years the settlement became the original colonial capital of Virginia,

then moved location and the original fort

and buildings passed into history.

Almost 400 years passed and the location of the original settlement was thought to have

been eroded away and was now beneath the James River.

In 1993 however - archeologists found artifacts that led to the discovery of the old

settlement and palisades.

Our visit to Jamestown began with a leisurely drive down the

Scenic Colonial Parkway.

First thru hardwood forests and then along

the coastal estuary.

After visiting the National Park Visitor Center and learning about the

area we were able to tour the excavations that continue on the site.

One of the Archeologists gave us a tour and explained the work underway.

Here he is standing in what was the basement of a store house

with baking ovens.

Inside the Palisades (seen in the background) is a scale model of the old fort.

Statue of John Smith - one of the leaders of the Original

Settlement and eventually governor of Virginia.

In the excavation, one of the ovens.

Notice the charred soil around the pail.

Kate holds a recently excavated and perfectly preserved native American

Spear tip.

Jamestown was the first permanent English Settlement in the US.

It was the common laws and way of life that planted the seed for what was

to become the USA.

Google the history of this interesting place.  There is much more to learn.

For dinner tonight we went over to our friends Condo for a farewell dinner.

Tomorrow we are packing up and heading to Ohio for the night enroute to

our Montana RV Rally in Goshen, Indiana which begins

on Wednesday.

As always - Hayden, Radeen, Eric, Pat....

We had a blast.

Till next time.