 "It began at Jamestown in 1607. It ended at Yorktown in 1781. One hundred and seventy-four years of hope, adventure, discovery, settlement, struggle, suffering, war, frustration, growth, development, that saw the country expand from a lonely settlement of 105 people in the small wilderness area on the banks of the James River into 13 colonies and 3 million people, of many races and beliefs, along the Atlantic seaboard, all governed and controlled by the mother country, England. It was an exciting chapter in British history, in American history, in world history, that closed in the little port town on the banks of the York River where it flows into Chesapeake Bay on its way to the ocean." |
           
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Retrace the steps of colonial settlers and American patriots at Colonial National Historical Park. The park encompasses five units spanning over 9,000 acres and 174 years. Discover the sites of the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown and the last battle of the American Revolution at Yorktown -- literally the beginning and end of English colonial America. Take a leisurely drive along the scenic 23-mile Colonial Parkway which provides a physical and metaphorical link between the two sites. Walk the abandoned streets of Jamestown and visit the historic buildings in Yorktown. Join the National Park Service rangers for interpretive tours and drive the historic tour roads. Experience the sense of place, that formed the character of a nation in the 17th and 18th centuries. We hope you will soon be able to join us at Yorktown and Jamestown to visit these important historic American resources. In the meantime, the On-Line Visitor Center for Colonial National Historical Park will provide you information about the history of each site and help you plan your visit. Here, you'll be able to explore on line the park's smaller units of Green Spring and Cape Henry. Check out the Public Affairs and Calendar of Special Events sections which keep you up-to-date on what is happening in the park. For teachers, there is a Teacher's Corner filled with information for those planning a visit to the park or just want to share Colonial's history with their classes. Enjoy!
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