Jamestown Settlement will present “Storytelling Family Day,” allowing families to delve into a variety of interactive programs from storytelling sessions to make-and-take crafts.

Storytelling

Storytelling sessions will be presented four times throughout the day, featuring Indigenous stories by Felicity Meza-Luna (Lakota) at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and African American stories by Sheila Arnold at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

At 1 p.m. at the ships’ pier, visitors can discover the story of the European voyage to Virginia in 1607 through the exploration of five fruits – from apples to berries – that they would have encountered on the 144-day journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

Crafts

Ongoing craft activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A “My Day at Jamestown Settlement” storytelling craft designed for preschoolers with picture magnets – a yehakin (Powhatan house), ship, deer, fishing net, armor, map and more – to color and take home to tell stories about their museum adventure.

A journal craft will build on the traditions of Indigenous, European and African cultures. Children will examine stories from cultures from around the globe to see how different people have shared their stories throughout history. They will then create their own adventure by writing a story on paper and binding those papers into a journal that they can share.

Craft materials will be provided. Program activities included with museum admission.

Free admission with area library card

As part of the "Explore with Your Library Card" program in partnership with Chesapeake Public Libraries, visitors who show their Hampton Roads area library card receive free Jamestown Settlement admission on August 3. Free admission valid for one person per library card.

Jamestown history comes to life

Take a step back in time in the outdoor history areas where costumed historical interpreters describe and demonstrate daily life in early Jamestown. Explore life-size re-creations of a 1610-14 fort and Paspahegh Town, or climb aboard a re-creation of one of the three ships that sailed from England to Virginia in 1607.

Explore expansive gallery exhibits and an introductory film that describe the cultures of the Powhatan Indians, English and West Central Africans who converged in 1600s Virginia. Trace Jamestown’s beginnings in England through the first century of Virginia colony life. Gallery exhibits incorporate new historical research and technology plus rare artifacts, interactive displays, short films and an experiential theater.

Enjoy family-friendly fun

Jamestown Settlement admission tickets can be purchased online or in person. Add a visit to the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown with a value-priced combination ticket.

Residents of James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg, including William & Mary students, receive free admission with proof of residency.

About Jamestown Settlement

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days), Jamestown Settlement is located on State Route 31 just southwest of Williamsburg. The museum features expansive exhibition galleries and films that connect visitors with the lives of the Powhatan, English and West Central African cultures that converged at 17th-century Jamestown. Outdoor living-history areas feature historical interpretation in re-creations of Paspahegh Town, 1607 English ships and a colonial fort.

Admission tickets can be purchased online or in person. Plan your visit today or call (757) 253-4838 for more information.

Explore other activities and events happening throughout the year.