Colonial National Historical Park (NHP) administers two of the most historically significant sites in English North America.
Historic Jamestowne, the first permanent English settlement in North America in 1607, jointly administered with the
Association for the Preservation of Virginia
Antiquities, and Yorktown
Battlefield, the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War in 1781.
These two sites represent the beginning and end of English colonial America. Situated on the Virginia Peninsula, these sites are connected by the 23 mile scenic
Colonial
Parkway. Colonial NHP also includes Green
Spring, the 17th century plantation home of Virginia's colonial governor, Sir William Berkeley, and the
Cape Henry Memorial, which marks the approximate site of the first landing of the Jamestown colonists on the Atlantic Coast in April of 1607.
Colonial NHP has a variety of natural resources including extensive wetlands, forest, fields, shorelines and streams, as well as rare, threatened and endangered plants and animals.
Allow a minimum of two hours at either Yorktown or Jamestown to see the visitor center, orientation film and key historic features at each location. Driving tours of Jamestown Island, Yorktown Battlefield and allied encampment sites as well as the walking tour of the village of Yorktown require a
minimum of 45 minutes to an hour each. Scheduled ranger-guided tours are available dependent upon staffing.
Fees:
7-Day Pass: $10
Annual 12-Month Pass: $40
Children 15 and under are free
Getting There:
Colonial National Historical Park is located a short distance from Interstate 64 (I-64). Eastbound from the Richmond area via I-64, take Route 199, exit 242A for Jamestown or exit 242B for Yorktown, to the Colonial Parkway. Follow the parkway to its end. West bound Interstate 64 from the Virginia Beach/Norfolk/Hampton area for Yorktown should take Route 105 East (Fort Eustis Boulevard east), exit 250B to Route 17 (George Washington Memorial Highway). Turn left (North) onto Route 17. Follow the signs to the Yorktown Battlefield. Westbound Interstate 64 for Jamestown should take Route 199, exit 242A, to the Colonial Parkway following it to its end.
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