Some adventures take you across the ocean. Others take you back in time. Our trip to Jamestown Settlement did both.
Breakfast and a Step Back in Time
We started the day with a quick breakfast from 1607 Coffee Company. I had an egg, cheese, and bacon-stuffed crepe topped off with a hot chai latte. Houston put away a plate of biscuits and gravy, washed down with an iced coffee. That gave us enough energy to take on a big day of living history.
For those unfamiliar with Jamestown Settlement, it is an immersive step back into the early 1600s, when the first permanent English settlement in North America took root.
Experiencing History First-Hand
Our favorite way to learn history is to experience it first-hand. Since we are more than 400 years past Jamestown’s settlement, this living history museum is the next best thing to being there! It creates a truly unforgettable experience through interactive exhibits, recreated environments, and hands-on demonstrations.
We met our guide and began exploring the recreated Powhatan town. Native interpreters shared stories and traditions of the people who lived on this land. Jamestown isn’t just about English settlement; it also highlights the vibrant cultures that existed long before European arrival. We got to walk through longhouses, touch replicas of daily tools, learn about Powhatan culture, and see a canoe carved by burning out the wood. We got a better understanding of the interactions between Native communities and the English settlers.
Life at Sea and Inside the Fort
One of the highlights of our trip to Jamestown was getting to go aboard the reconstructed ships. They are full-scale replicas modeled after the vessels that carried the first English settlers across the Atlantic. One was appropriately named the “Godspeed.”
Houston was tentative as he carefully made his way up the narrow gangplank, but he quickly got his “sea legs” and had fun looking around. Inside the lower deck, we met Theodore, a costumed reenactor who told us about life aboard the ship. We crouched through narrow passageways and marveled at how small the beds were.
Touring the cramped boats gave us an eye-opening look at early sea travel. We got to explore the captain’s quarters and learn about navigation in the 17th century. The early settlers who embarked on the challenging four-month voyage to the New World were either brave or crazy, or both.
After the boats, we toured the Jamestown Settlement. It is the carefully reconstructed James Fort. It has been built to reflect the original triangular structure erected by English colonists in 1607. We got to explore within the fort’s walls and see how the settlers lived and worked. Costumed interpreters brought the space to life by demonstrating needlework, cooking methods, and daily routines of the early colonists. Our favorite was the blacksmith working intently around a large fireplace.
Muskets, Glass, and a Memorable Meal
Next up: the musket firing demo — also known as the moment Houston’s wisdom overcame his desire for a good photo. We watched as the historical interpreter loaded, packed, primed, and explained the weapon. Houston leaned forward, wide-eyed, fascinated. Then came the countdown. Houston instinctively covered his ears, letting his camera hang limply around his neck. “Take a picture,” I suggested. He shook his head, his body language saying, “No way.”
BOOM. We all froze. Slowly, Houston turned to look at me, his hands still holding his ears.
He burst into the biggest grin. “THAT. WAS. AWESOME.” When the reenactor repeated the process, Houston was ready this time with his camera to catch the large ball of smoke that enveloped the gun as the bullet shot forward.
After exploring Jamestown, we drove to the nearby Glasshouse. At the glasshouse, costumed artisans recreate one of the earliest industries attempted by the settlers. Inside the hut, the furnace glowed orange. The air shimmered with heat. The glassblowers worked with calm precision, pulling molten glass from the fire as if it were taffy.
On this day, they were making small blue glasses. We were mesmerized. Houston grabbed his camera and worked to capture every detail of the process. He watched every twist of the pipe, every puff of air, every tiny spin of the glowing glass.
We learned that early glassblowers were experimenting with colors and techniques even in the 1600s. They made bottles, goblets, and beads for trade. Houston and I both now want to try glassblowing. (“Maybe… without the fire part,” Houston clarifies.)
We ended our day at the All-You-Can-Eat Buffet at Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant. Rows and rows of fresh seafood - shrimp, fish, and crab legs - are the star of this culinary showcase, but there are also heaping bowls of vegetables, breads, salads, meats, and desserts.
We lost count of how many trips we made, because, you know, what happens at Captain George’s stays at Captain George’s.