Tell Me More about the Anniversary...

Q: Where can I learn about making hotel reservations in the Historic Triangle?
A: Colonial Williamsburg is the official hotel and reservation agent of America's 400th Anniversary. You can make reservations by clicking official hotels, or by phoning 1-800-HISTORY.
 
Q: Why is Jamestown important?
A: Jamestown, settled in 1607, was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. It is our nation's birthplace. Traditions established at Jamestown - including representative government, the rule of law, free enterprise and cultural diversity - form the basis of American culture today. Plymouth, settled by the pilgrims 13 years later, was established primarily for religious reasons.

Q: Can I visit Jamestown?
A: You can visit both Jamestown Settlement, a living history museum operated by the state of Virginia, and Historic Jamestowne, site of the original fort, operated by Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA) and the National Park Service. Exciting new visitor facilities are being built at both sites in anticipation of America's 400th Anniversary. For information on Jamestown Settlement, visit www.historyisfun.org  For Historic Jamestowne, visit www.historicjamestowne.org.

Q: Have there been Jamestown commemorations before?
A: Virginia has held major Jamestown commemorations every 50 years since 1807 to emphasize the pivotal role Jamestown played in American history. In the summer of 1907, a world's fair was held in Norfolk, Va. that drew more than 1.5 million visitors from around the nation and around the world. The 1957 commemoration was marked by education and preservation efforts, including the opening of Jamestown Festival Park (now Jamestown Settlement), the opening of Colonial Williamsburg's Visitors Center and the completion of the Colonial Parkway, one of Virginia's most scenic drives and named an All-American road in 2005. Many people also remember that Queen Elizabeth II visited Jamestown in 1957, her first visit to the United States as England's monarch.

Q: Does a community need to have a connection to Jamestown to be part of the Virginia 2007 Community Program?
A: No. The Virginia 2007 Community Program is an opportunity to show off the heritage and special qualities of every community. Participants do not have to have a direct connection to the original Jamestown settlement.

Q: How do you define community?
A: Community is self-defining and may include civic groups, schools, churches, neighborhoods, cities, towns or counties – or combinations of those groups.

Q: What kinds of legacy projects were planned around the Commonwealth by communities?
A: Official communities planned a wide range of projects, including new museums, hiking trails, beautification programs, a sculpture garden, exhibits, student exchange programs, heritage trails, and theatrical productions.

Q: What Signature Events and Programs occurred during America's 400th Anniversary?
A: At the heart of the 18-month anniversary was a series of Signature Events -- 10 large-scale professionally-produced special events and longer-term programs that are entertaining, educational, cultural and memorable. Examples include the three-month-long sailing of the replica Godspeed into several Eastern seaboard ports that finished in July 2006,  “Jamestown Live!” a national teach-in broadcast to every school in America; events featuring accomplishments and contributions of African-Americans and Native Americans, a worldwide forum on “The Future of Democracy”; a yearlong “World of 1607” museum exhibit at Jamestown Settlement, plus many more.

Q: Why is Jamestown considered the beginning of free enterprise in America?
A: Shares of stock were offered and sold by the Virginia Company of London to those interested in investing in the New World. Jamestown became the first permanent English-speaking colony. Settlers worked to produce goods such as glass objects and cash crops to be sold at a profit to the shareholders.

Q: Whom do you recommend for making lodging or travel arrangements?
A: You should contact Colonial Williamsburg, the official hotels of the commemoration, at 866-400-1607. If you are flying to Virginia, we recommend AirTran, the official airline of the commemoration. AirTran offers flights to the Richmond and Williamsburg-Newport News airports. Flight reservations may be made at www.AirTran.com.