More than 150 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed, the Virginia Company landed at a swampy peninsula they would call Jamestown, which would become the capital of the growing colony and the center of colonial politics and trade for nearly 100 years. As we approach our country’s 250th anniversary, there’s no better time to explore where it all began. Explore the moments that laid the foundation for a new nation, from the first representative democracy and the arrival of enslaved Africans to a failed rebellion that would later inspire Thomas Jefferson. The programs below are hosted by Jamestown Rediscovery and most are included with admission to the Preservation Virginia portion of Historic Jamestowne.
Find the full program schedule on the events calendar. Schedules are available monthly, with the upcoming month posted by end of the prior month.
Special Events for 2026
jamestown: road to revolution lecture series
The Road to Revolution lecture series is a 4-part program that explores how events at Jamestown influenced the founding fathers as they created a new nation, built on the foundation of democracy and rule of law established at Virginia’s first colonial capital.
The Unfolding Rebellion is a multi-part series that tells the story of Bacon’s Rebellion in real time. Each program portrays the complexities of the rebellion through first-person perspectives describing the hopes, fears, and consequences each faced during and after the uprising. The Unfolding Rebellion series presents the events of the rebellion as they occurred, as tensions flamed over the course of several months and fizzled after the death of the rebellion’s charismatic leader. Join us to learn more about the most significant event in Virginia’s colonial history that most have never heard of. The Unfolding Rebellion is supported by The Jamestowne Society.
Jamestown Rediscovery is proud to be a partner for Reconsidering Bacon’s Rebellion at 350, a joint program series by Preservation Virginia, Jamestown Rediscovery, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, William & Mary Office of Strategic Cultural Partnerships, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, the Rappahannock Indian Tribe, and the Nottoway Indian Tribe with support from Virginia Humanities.
The Unfolding Rebellion
June 17: Opportunities Lost: Bacon’s Rebellion and the Denial of Class and Racial Justice in the United States, a lecture by Michael Blakey, Ph.D., National Endowment for the Humanities Professor of Anthropology, Africana Studies, and American Studies at William & Mary
History comes to life at Jamestown through eyewitness accounts and historic trades. Living history programs offer the chance to meet someone from Jamestown history and learn what life was actually like on this swampy island 400 years ago. Or, watch as expert tradesmen work in the blacksmith’s forge or around James Fort.
When? Living history programs and tours are generally offered Thursday-Saturday. Historic trades programs (blacksmithing, woodworking, and more) are offered on Saturdays and Sundays.
archaeology in action
Witness the moment of discovery as archaeologists uncover artifacts that tell the story of Jamestown. Ask questions and learn how the smallest objects reveal the daily lives of those who came before us.
Where? This year, Jamestown Rediscovery archaeologists will excavate in and around James Fort, north and south of the Memorial Church. Weather permitting, the field team excavates Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a break for lunch.
