History is Fun: Review of Jamestown Settlement and The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

by Micaela Williamson

UPDATED: This post contains new and previously published information from Kid Trips.

Jamestown Settlement, Image is Property of Kid Trips, All Rights reserved.

Repeat after me, "History is FUN!" Yes, you heard that right. If your memories of history include memorizing timelines and writing definitions in composition notebooks, then it's time to create new memories. The perfect place for hands-on history is the historic triangle of Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown. Here, history truly comes to life. We've written about this area in the past, and as our children grow and change,  it's a place that we keep coming back to learn more. 

We especially love the immersive historical environments of the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown (read our previous post here) and Jamestown Settlement. 

Courtesy of The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation

American Revolution Museum at Yorktown:

The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown tells the story of our nation's founding from the colonial period to the Constitution and beyond. The museum features amazing artifacts and multimedia exhibits that include interactive features, films and deeply engaging environments. (Read our past review here.) Kids will especially love: ​

• ​"The Siege of Yorktown" movie shown on a 180-degree surround scene. The movie unfolds in an experimental theater, complete with rumbling seats, smoke and the smells of gunpowder, seawater and coffee.
• Hands on experiences in exhibition galleries that help kids make personal connections to the people in the revolution. Experiences include touching reproductions of 18 century objects, "test your knowledge" exhibits, computer based interactives, push buttons and more.
• The Continental Army encampment shows what life was like for American soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Visitors can explore the camp tents, witness demonstrations of musket firing, learn about what the solders ate and how it was prepared and see the tools used for surgical and medical techniques. The real gem of the encampment is the staff, dressed in period costumes, that educate and answer questions.
• The Revolution-era farm shows a farmhouse and a separate kitchen. Visitors can talk to interpreters to find out about farm and domestic life as well as the lives of enslaved African Americans during the American Revolution period. 

The Revolution-era farm at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Image is Property of Kid Trips, All Rights reserved.

Continental Army encampment at American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Image is Property of Kid Trips, All Rights reserved.

Jamestown Settlement:

Jamestown Settlement is a museum and replica of America's first permanent English colony, founded in Virginia in a 1607. The museum consists of two sections: an indoor area with a theater and exhibits and an outdoor living-history program, including a recreated Powhatan village, replicas of the ships that transported the colonists from England to Jamestown, and a fort area.  

Indoor:

Start your visit with Jamestown Settlement's introductory film and museum. The documentary film, 1607: A Nation Takes Root, is shown every 30 minutes and narrates the story of the Virginia Company that sponsored the colony and tells about the English colonists, Powhatan Indians, and arrival of the first Africans.  Then explore the museum galleries to view hundreds of artifacts and objects from 17th-century Europe, Africa, and Virginia as well as some hands-on, interactive exhibits for kids. ​

Jamestown Settlement's exhibition galleries (Courtesy of Historyisfun.org)

Outdoor:

Don't learn about Pocahontas from a Disney movie! Instead, become familiar with the Powhatan way of life in the outdoor village by going inside a replica home, viewing samples of their clothing and tools used in daily life, seeing a ceremonial circle, watch a canoe being made and more. Historical interpreters are around to teach and demonstrate. Plus, kids will love the opportunities to grind corn, try on animal hide clothing, pretend to sleep in a Powhatan bed or play a game of corncob darts. 

Powhatan Village: Image is Property of Kid Trips, All Rights reserved.

Creating a canoe. Image is Property of Kid Trips, All Rights reserved.

Next, visit the re-created James Fort, representing the military and commercial character of the English Jamestown Settlement during 1610-14. Check out the thatched roof dwellings, step inside a model Anglican church, and see a sample court, offices, storehouse, and a governor's house. Kids will love trying on armor and playing games of quoits (ring-toss) and ninepins (bowling). Historical guides enhance the experience. Be sure to stick around for the demonstration on weapons, and watch the guide fire a musket. 

Trying on armor at the James Fort in Jamestown Settlement. Image is Property of Kid Trips, All Rights reserved.

Finally, walk over to the docks to see the Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery – re-creations of three ships that brought English colonists to Virginia in 1607. Climb aboard to find out about life aboard these vessels, and the difficult 4.5 month voyage from England.  

View replicas of the ships that took the settlers to Jamestown in 1607. Image is Property of Kid Trips, All Rights reserved.

Kids will love climbing inside the cabins of the ship. Photo property of Kid Trips, all rights reserved.

Historical guides provide hands-on experiences for children at Jamestown Settlement. Photo property of Kid Trips all rights reserved.

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More information:

• The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown and Jamestown Settlement are both open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 6 p.m. June 15-August 15) Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
• We recommend the value of a combination ticket! The History is Fun! combination ticket for Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown offers a 20 percent savings over individual admission and is good for seven days of unlimited admission when purchased online.  The “America’s Historic Triangle” ticket features the two museums plus Historic Jamestowne, Colonial Williamsburg’s Revolutionary City and Art Museums and Yorktown Battlefield.  The summertime Williamsburg Flex ticket adds Busch Gardens® and Water Country USA®.  
• Consider visiting during a special program or exhibit. Here's what's new and coming in 2018: www.historyisfun.org/about-us/news/media-kit/2018-special-programs/. We're most excited for the special exhibit "TENACITY: Women in Jamestown and Early Virginia" arriving later this fall through 2020. 
• Delicious food, such as gourmet pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and salads and more are available for purchase at the onsite restaurants. We ate at both restaurants and highly recommend them for lunch!
• Go to www.historyisfun.org/visit to plan your visit!

Special thanks to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation for hosting our visit. All opinions are our own.