Colonial
National Historical Park




Colonial NHP administers two of the most historically significant sites in English North America: the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown in 1607 and the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War at Yorktown in 1781, literally the beginning and end of English colonial America. Situated on the Virginia Peninsula, these sites are connected by the 23 mile scenic Colonial Parkway. Colonial NHP also includes Green Spring, the 17th century plantation home of Virginia's colonial governor, Sir William Berkeley and the Cape Henry Memorial, which marks the approximate site of the first landing of the Jamestown colonists in April of 1607. This memorial also overlooks the site of the decisive Battle of the Capes fought in September of 1781 preceding the siege of Yorktown. Besides significant cultural resources, Colonial NHP has a variety of natural resources including extensive wetlands, forest, fields, shorelines and streams, as well as rare, threatened and endangered plants and animals.

Operating Hours | Directions | Facilities | Programs/Activities | Special Events

VISITATION:
Highest in June, July, August and October; lowest in January and February.

LOCATION:
The park lies within the coastal plain of Tidewater Virginia and is located along the James and York Rivers on the lower peninsula, about 50 miles southeast of Richmond, Virginia. The cities of Williamsburg and Newport News adjoin portions of the park.

ADDRESS:
Colonial National Historical Park
P.O. Box 210
Yorktown, Virginia 23690-0210

TELEPHONE:
(757) 898-2410

OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:
All park grounds are closed at sunset, daily. Jamestown Entrance Station: daily, throughout the year 8:30 a.m. to 4:30p.m.; closed December 25. Jamestown Visitor Center: daily, throughout the year 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; closed December 25. Yorktown Visitor Center: daily spring (April 5 through June 13) 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; summer (June 14 through August 17) 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; fall (August 18 through October 26) 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; winter (October 27 through April 4) 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed December 25.      Return to top

CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:
Tidewater Virginia generally has a warm climate. Average winter daytime temperatures peak at 10 C (50 F) with night time lows of 3 C (25-20 F). Chilling winds coming off the rivers can produce wind chill temperatures much lower. Summer temperatures range from daytime highs of 30 C (85-90 F) down to 20 C (60 F) at night. Area is generally humid, especially during the summer months. Layered clothing is recommended in early spring, late fall and winter. Good walking shoes for year round comfort. Insect repellent recommended in spring and summer for mayflies, mosquitoes, chiggers, and ticks. For a three to five day fore cast try NOAA Local Weather at http://www.nnic.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/page?pg=netcast.

DIRECTIONS:
Colonial National Historical Park is located a short distance from Interstate 64 (I-64). Eastbound from the Richmond area via I-64, take Route 199, exit 242A for Jamestown or exit 242B for Yorktown, to the Colonial Parkway. Follow the parkway to its end. West bound Interstate 64 from the Virginia Beach/Norfolk/Hampton area for Yorktown should take Route 105 East (Fort Eustis Boulevard east), exit 250B to Route 17 (George Washington Memorial Highway). Turn left (North) onto Route 17. Follow the signs to the Yorktown Battlefield. Westbound Interstate 64 for Jamestown should take Route 199, exit 242A, to the Colonial Parkway following it to its end.      Return to Top

TRANSPORTATION:
To Park: via personal vehicle and bicycle. Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (20 minutes from Yorktown), Norfolk International Airport (one hour east) and Richmond International Airport (one hour west) provide commercial air service. AMTRAK has stations in Newport News and Williamsburg. Greyhound has commercial bus service to Newport News and Williamsburg. Rental cars and taxi service are available from all of these locations.

In Park: personal vehicles, bicycles (on paved surfaces only) and on foot. The Colonial Parkway (23 miles) connects the Yorktown and Jamestown units of the park.

FEES, COSTS, RATES:
Yorktown: $4.00 per adult with children 16 and under free. Jamestown: $5.00 per adult, children 16 and under free. Commercial tour group charges vary based on size of vehicle. Yearly park pass, Golden Age, Golden Eagle and Golden Access passports honored.

Jamestown-Yorktown Passport: $7.00 per adult, children 16 and under free. Provides unlimited visits to both Jamestown: The Original Site and the Yorktown Battlefield for 7-day period.

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
Visitor Center/Exhibits:
Yorktown: Information desk, film, Yorktown Battlefield Museum, bookstore, original and reconstructed 18th and 19th century earthworks, Surrender Field, original 18th century buildings including the Moore House and Nelson House, the Victory Monument, French Memorial and Yorktown National Cemetery (Civil War era).

Jamestown Island : 1500 acres of marshland and forest representing the 1st Permanent English settlement in North American. There is a museum, information desk, film, museum/bookstore, guided tours when staffing permits, costumed craftsmen demonstrating the art of 17th century glassblowing and reconstructed foundations of archeological remains of 17th, 18th, and 19th century buildings. The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA) administers 22½ acres of Jamestown which includes statues of Pocahontas and John Smith; the memorial church with its original tower of 1639; an active archeological dig (which has located the original triangular fort of Jamestown) and an archeological lab associated with this dig.

Cape Henry Memorial: A Memorial Cross signifying the approximate place where the Jamestown settlers first landed in April 1607 and a monument to the Battle of the Capes and French Admiral DeGrasse for the naval action of September 1781. This site gives a superb view of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. This is an unattended site with no facilities or special services available.     

Trails, Roads:
Yorktown: Seven-mile battlefield auto tour and nine-mile allied encampment auto tour. A taped narration and cassette player for the battlefield auto tour are available from the bookstore at a nominal rental fee. From the encampment tour road, a trail connects to the Newport News park trail system for additional biking, hiking, and jogging.

Jamestown: Short self-guided walking tours of the "New Towne" and "Old Town" sites and a three and five mile auto loop drive of the island. An audio tape and cassette player are available for the "Old Town" site and loop drives for a nominal rental fee in the gift shop.

Colonial Parkway: Scenic 23-mile parkway, bordering the York and James Rivers, connects Yorktown, Williamsburg, and Jamestown.      Return to Top

Programs/Activities:
Scheduled ranger-guided tours are available seasonally. Educational programs for schools are given throughout the school year. Reservations required. Fee waivers for entrance to Jamestown are available to school groups upon advance request.      Return to top

Lodging and camping facilities:
None in park. A variety of lodging and camping are available in the area. Information is available from the following sources: the Williamsburg Convention and Conference Bureau (757) 253-0092 internet access at http://www.wacc.com/wacc; Williamsburg Hotel and Motel Association at 1-800-899-9462; Hampton Tourist Visitors Center at (757) 727-1102 or 1-800-800-2202; and the Newport News Tourist Visitors Center at (757) 886-7777 or 1-800-333-7787.

Food/supplies:
A full range of restaurants and other shopping facilities are located near the park in Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, and Yorktown.

Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities:
The park museum/bookstores located in each visitor center and the Jamestown glasshouse gift shop are operated by Eastern National. Various books are available on subjects like archeology, early colonization, the Virginia Indians, George Washington, the Revolutionary War and official NPS handbooks and videos. For further information call the Yorktown bookstore at (757) 898-2418, the Jamestown museum/bookstore at (757) 229-3107 or the Glasshouse gift shop at (757) 229-2437, or visit the On-line bookstore. Concessioner-operated shops in historic buildings on Yorktown's Main Street include the Swan Tavern (antiques), Period Designs (reproductions), Yorktown Shoppe (gifts), and Gallery on the Green (local art).

Accessibility:
Most exhibits and museums are handicapped accessible. Wheelchairs are available upon request. The historic homes in Yorktown are open only seasonally and wheelchair accessibility to the Nelson House is usually available with one hour advance notice.

Special Needs:
Parking available at the park visitor centers. Picnic tables are available in the parking lots and the Yorktown beach picnic area is open seasonally.

RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:
Joining in guided tours, visiting museums, exhibits and historic homes (when open seasonally), hiking, biking, jogging, bird watching, and fishing. Visit our Key Park Regulations and Safety Tips pages.

RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:
Reservations for special group tours, school group programs or school group fee waivers should be made at least 30 days in advance of visit. At least a one month notice and application for special park use is required. Filming permits are arranged on an individual basis. For additional information concerning reservations, call the program coordinator at (757) 898-2411. For information on Special Use or Filming Permits, contact the Public Affairs Officer at (757) 898-2409.

BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:
Allow a minimum of two hours at either Yorktown or Jamestown to see the visitor center, orientation film and key historic features at each location. Driving tours of Yorktown battlefield, allied encampment sites and Jamestown Island, as well as the walking tour of the village of Yorktown require a minimum of 45 minutes to an hour each. Travel time between Yorktown and Jamestown via the Colonial Parkway is about 40 minutes.

SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS:
For more detailed information about each of our special events check out our 1999 SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS: expanded page.

July
31 - Jamestown: First Assembly Day Commemoration

August
7-8 - Yorktown: Yorktown Night Walk

8 - Yorktown: Lamb's Artillery

25 - Parkwide: National Park Service Anniversary - COLONIAL NHP entrance fee's waived


September
17-18 (Note Date Changed as of 05/04/99)- Jamestown: Bacon's Rebellion 1999

26 - Yorktown: Lamb's Artillery

October
16-17 Yorktown: Yorktown Victory Weekend

18 - Yorktown: Lamb's Artillery/Campfire Program

19 - Yorktown: Yorktown Day

November
7 - Yorktown: Yorktown Tea Party

December
4 - Yorktown: Yorktown Celebrates Christmas      

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VISITOR IMPACTS:
Information on park closing due to weather conditions is aired on local WTKR TV, Channel 3; WAVY TV, Channel 10; WVEC TV,Channel 13; radio WHRO, FM 89.5; WTAR, AM 790; and WXGM, FM 99.1, AM 1420 (Gloucester).

ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:
State operated museums, the Yorktown Victory Center and Jamestown Settlement, are located adjacent to the National Park facilities. A separate admission fee is charged for these museums. Other attractions include Colonial Williamsburg which is within a 15 to 20 minute drive from Yorktown and Jamestown. Contact the Williamsburg Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for information about other area attractions and accommodations.

Richmond National Battlefield Park and Petersburg National Battlefield are just over an hour's drive west and Shenandoah National Park about two and one-half hours drive to the west. The Virginia Air and Space Center, War Memorial Museum of Virginia, Mariners Museum, Peninsula Fine Arts Center, and historic Fort Monroe in Hampton are about 45 minutes east. Numerous attractions in Norfolk and Virginia Beach are just over an hour's drive east, and include Nauticus, the National Maritime Center, and the Chrysler Museum.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Write Colonial National Historical Park, P.O. Box 210,Yorktown, Virginia 23690-0210.

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Last Updated:Friday, 13-Aug-99 16:39:03
http://www.nps.gov/colo/