Artifacts of the 17th and 18th centuries provide a tangible link to the past in Jamestown Settlement and The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown gallery exhibits. The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation has developed its collection to illustrate museum storylines, and collection items can be seen throughout the permanent galleries as well as in periodic special exhibitions.

Objects are acquired for the collection with gifts from private donors. The portion of the collection related to Jamestown Settlement consists of 1,430 non-archaeological objects and approximately 179,000 archaeological objects reflecting Jamestown’s English origins, the early colonial period, the American Indian culture of southeastern Virginia and the West Central African culture that arrived in Virginia in the 17th century. The portion of the collection related to The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown comprises 1,300 artifacts, mainly of the 18th century and representative of the American Revolution era and the early years of the new nation.

Special exhibitions offer opportunities for in-depth exploration of subject areas related to museum exhibition themes and to display artifacts on loan from institutions in the United States and abroad.

Open year-round 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Research and Credibility

While the Foundation’s collection philosophy emphasizes public education and exhibition, artifacts also are acquired for the purposes of preservation and research. Numerous scholars, curators and historians working for and with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation have spent their life’s work researching and presenting the stories of our early history, settlement and development of the United States and the convergence of Virginia Indian, European and West Central African cultures.

Foundation curators and historians constantly review new archaeological findings and are qualified to conduct and verify research used to inform updates in our indoor galleries, outdoor re-created living history areas, various aspects of educational programming and planning of special exhibitions.

The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation welcomes inquiries to clarify our research methods, gallery and special exhibition planning, and program development. Our work is supported and guided by the Museum Program Advisory Council composed of nationally respected scholars, researchers, and members of the Virginia Indian and African American communities. These alliances provide the opportunity for peer review of public exhibits, programs and experiences and offer input and recommendations for improvements and enhancements.