Explore America’s Historic Triangle: A Guide to Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown

America’s Historic Triangle, also known as Virginia’s Historic Triangle, is located in southeastern Virginia between Richmond and Norfolk. Comprised of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown, the Triangle is linked by the scenic Colonial Parkway. Visitors to America’s Historic Triangle are able to explore the birthplace of the United States through living history museums, cultural presentations, special events, and more.

Jamestown – Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the United States, provides insight into the history and diverse cultures of America’s earliest permanent colonists:

• Jamestown Settlement, a museum with indoor exhibits and outdoor living history programs, explores the English, Powhatan Indian, and African cultures of Jamestown.
• Historic Jamestowne, situated in Colonial National Historical Park, is the site of America’s first permanent English settlement and the location of ongoing archeological projects and discoveries.

Colonial Williamsburg – This 301-acre historic area is the largest living history museum in the United States:

• Colonial Williamsburg sites include 88 original buildings, hundreds of reconstructed sites, and 90 acres of gardens and greens, offering visitors a chance to experience the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of Virginia on the eve of the American Revolution.

Yorktown – Located on the banks of the York River, Yorktown was established in 1691 as a port and holds a significant place in history for its contribution to American independence during the 1781 Siege of Yorktown:

• The Yorktown Victory Center examines the American struggle for independence during the Revolutionary era through themed exhibits and living-history programs.
• Yorktown Battlefield, located in Colonial National Historical Park, is the site of the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War.

Jamestown Settlement

Jamestown Settlement explores the history of Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English colony established in America with the arrival of 104 colonists on May 13, 1607. This museum consists of an indoor theater and exhibits, outdoor living history programs, a 190-seat café, and a gift shop, allowing visitors to journey through the colony’s first 100 years and gain insights into its diverse European, Powhatan Indian, and African cultures.

• Theater and Gallery – An introductory film is shown daily at regular intervals in the Robins Foundation Theater, while gallery exhibits explore the nation’s 17th-century beginnings in Virginia and the impact of the Jamestown settlement.
• Outdoor Living History – Historical interpreters demonstrate 17th-century technology and activities at replicas of a Powhatan Indian village, the three ships that carried the first colonists from England (Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery), and a fort representing the colonists’ first home. Additionally, a discovery area along the river provides information about economic activities on the waterways.​

Historic Jamestowne

Historic Jamestowne, situated in Colonial National Historical Park, is the site of America’s first permanent English settlement and the location of ongoing archeological projects and discoveries. Designated areas of Historic Jamestowne include: Old Towne, the triangular Jamestown Fort; New Towne, where settlers developed after the fort was no longer needed; The Glasshouse, a replica of the original 1608 Glasshouse; and Loop Drive, a one-way five-mile loop road that follows the island’s higher ground.

Exhibits explore the Virginia Company period of Jamestown and offer a new perspective on the first English settlers. Notable activities at Historic Jamestowne include:

• Exploring exhibits and enjoying a multi-media orientation film in the Visitor Center immersion theater.
• Touring the Archaearium, which showcases archaeological findings from the James Fort site including 400-year-old artifacts.
• Watching archaeologists at work at the 1607 James Fort excavation site.
• Touring the reconstructed 17th-century Jamestown Memorial Church.
• Interacting with costumed glassblowers at the Glasshouse.
• Enjoying a park ranger-led walking tour or taking a self-guided tour around the Loop Drive to explore natural surroundings and wildlife.

Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg, the largest living history museum in the United States, illustrates 18th-century Williamsburg from 1774 to 1781. Visitors can step back into the thriving capital of England’s oldest, largest, and wealthiest colony, which later became a power center in the new nation.

The area encompasses 301 acres, featuring 88 original buildings, 225 period rooms, and over 500 reconstructed buildings, alongside a vast archaeological collection, and thousands of American and English antiques. The Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center is an excellent starting point for visits, providing parking, information, and guidance.

Significant sites within Colonial Williamsburg include:

• The Governor’s Palace – symbolizing British authority
• The Capitol – the seat of colonial power and site of Virginia’s vote for independence on May 15, 1776
• The Peyton Randolph site – where historic tradesmen reconstruct an urban plantation
• The Raleigh Tavern – a gathering place for Virginia patriots advocating for independence
• The George Wythe House – home of Jefferson’s mentor
• The James Geddy House – illustrating family life and business
• The Duke of Gloucester Street – the principal thoroughfare of Colonial Williamsburg

Dramatic vignettes, interactive programs, and historical interpreters enliven the 18th century through:

• Historic Trades Demonstrations
• Historic Foodways
• African American Experience
• Gardening
• Animals – Rare Breeds Program

Nearby museums within walking distance include:

• DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum
• Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum
• The Public Hospital
• Bassett Hall, the residence of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller Jr.

Yorktown Victory Center

The Yorktown Victory Center serves as a museum that scrutinizes the American struggle for independence, from the onset of colonial dissent through the American Revolution and the establishment of a new nation. On-site amenities include a snack and beverage vending area with patio seating and a gift shop. Key exhibit areas at the Yorktown Victory Center consist of:

• Gallery Exhibits – Gallery and open-air exhibits highlight events leading to the War, the Declaration of Independence, and the Revolution’s effects on various groups of people.
• Outdoor Living History – Historical interpreters depict daily life during the war’s final year and the decade following in a recreated Continental Army encampment and a 1780s farm.

Yorktown Battlefield

Yorktown Battlefield signifies one of the most important battles in United States history. On October 19, 1781, a British army under General Charles Lord Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces, effectively bringing the American Revolutionary War to a close.

The Yorktown Visitor Center is the ideal starting point for visitors, providing park brochures, maps, and information on daily events. A brief orientation film, The Siege at Yorktown, is displayed every 30 minutes, while museum exhibits delve into the details of the Siege. The museum shop offers various materials for purchase.

Activities at Yorktown Battlefield include:

• Exploring the area independently through a self-guided tour.
• Utilizing a self-guided audio tour.
• Participating in Ranger Guided Programs, including 30-minute Siege Line Walking Tours, 45-minute tours of the town of York, and 25-minute Non-firing Artillery Demonstrations. From mid-June to mid-August, the Young Soldiers Program provides children with the chance to learn about the life of a Revolutionary War soldier alongside a costumed interpreter.​

The Colonial Parkway – Locations of America’s Historic Triangle Sites

The Colonial Parkway is a 23-mile (37 km) scenic highway connecting the historic sites of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. This route spans the period from the arrival of Jamestown settlers in 1607 to the last significant battle of the American Revolutionary War in 1781.

Starting at Historic Jamestowne in the west and concluding at Yorktown Battlefield in the east, the Colonial Parkway is part of Colonial National Historical Park. With a speed limit of 45 miles per hour, this three-lane road offers travelers picturesque views of the surrounding scenery, ideal for a leisurely tour of America’s Historic Triangle.

Locations of Historic Sites

• Historic Jamestowne Entrance Station – Located at the Colonial Parkway’s western end, approximately 7.5 miles from Colonial Williamsburg.
• Jamestown Settlement – Positioned adjacent to Historic Jamestowne on Route 31 South (Jamestown Road), about a mile from Historic Jamestowne.
• Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center – Midway between Richmond and Norfolk, accessible via I-64, take exit 238 onto VA-143 East (Camp Peary/Colonial Williamsburg) and follow the green and white signs to the Visitor Center. A 500-foot pedestrian bridge provides access to the Historic Area.
• Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center – Located at the eastern end of the Colonial Parkway, roughly 15 miles east of the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center.
• Yorktown Victory Center – Situated on Route 1020 at the edge of Yorktown, about two miles from the Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center.