Jamestown Rediscovered: Understanding Life in Colonial America

Nearly two centuries before 1776, the first permanent English settlement in North America was established on the shores of the James River near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay at Jamestown. Occupation of Paspahegh land in 1607 by men and boys sponsored by the joint-stock entrepreneurial venture, the Virginia Company, rapidly developed into the royally-controlled capital city of Virginia. Foundational events occurred on this small island, including the meeting of the first legislative assembly, the codification of slavery, and one of the first armed rebellions against the colonial government; events that influenced the later development of the United States, and which still have relevance to us today. In 1994, archaeological excavations began in earnest at Jamestown to rediscover what remained of the 1607 palisaded fort. In the subsequent 30 years, archaeological work has revealed numerous features constructed on the landscape, and over five million artifacts have been recovered, illuminating early 17th-century life in Virginia. Senior Curator Leah Stricker will discuss the history of the site and the role of ongoing archaeological work as exciting discoveries continue to advance our understanding of the decades before the American Revolution.

Commemorating America's 250 - Colorado's 150 Anniversary