Colonial National Historical Park
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Where
Virginia Peninsula
Main historic sites
Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown Battlefield
Scenic route
Colonial Parkway
Managed by
National Park Service
Colonial National Historical Park brings together places that tell connected, but distinct, chapters of Virginia and American history. At Historic Jamestowne, visitors can explore the site of the 1607 English settlement and learn about the English, Virginia Indian and African people whose lives shaped the colony. At Yorktown Battlefield, the landscape recalls the 1781 siege and the allied American and French victory that led to the British surrender. [1]
The 23-mile Colonial Parkway connects Jamestown and Yorktown through the wider Historic Triangle, with Colonial Williamsburg between them. The park’s main historic sites are best treated as separate stops: the National Park Service recommends allowing at least two to three hours at each of Jamestown and Yorktown. [2][3]
Plan a trip to Colonial National Historical Park
Why visit Colonial National Historical Park?
The park makes it possible to encounter two defining moments in one trip: the establishment of Jamestown in 1607 and the American and French victory at Yorktown in 1781. The stories are not simply bookends. They include the experiences of Virginia Indian communities, English colonists and Africans, as well as the changing political and military struggles that shaped the region. [4]
It is also a place to take history outdoors. Battlefield earthworks, island paths, park roads and views of rivers and tidal landscapes make the setting part of the visit. The parkway itself links the sites while passing through wooded stretches and open vistas. [5]
Start here
Choose a starting point based on the story you most want to explore. Begin at Historic Jamestowne for the early colonial settlement, archaeology and island setting; start at Yorktown Battlefield for the Revolutionary War siege and its landscape. If you have time, connect the visits by driving the Colonial Parkway.
Check the National Park Service’s current conditions, operating hours, fees and alerts before setting out. Hours and access can vary by site, facility or date, and some historic buildings may be closed even when surrounding grounds or tour roads are open. [6]
What to see and do
Explore the island site of the 1607 settlement, where archaeology and interpretation trace the colony’s beginnings and the people who lived there.
Visit the battlefield landscape associated with the 1781 siege, including tour roads and historic features that help explain the campaign.
Drive the scenic route between Jamestown and Yorktown, or explore its permitted sections on foot or by bicycle. Check current road conditions before travel.
See demonstrations of glassblowing at the site associated with early English glassmaking in Virginia; check the park’s current hours before visiting.
Cape Henry Memorial
Visit the memorial marking the approximate landing place of English colonists on the Atlantic coast in 1607. The site has no visitor center or visitor services, so check directions and conditions in advance.
History and significance
Jamestown was established in 1607 as the first permanent English settlement in North America. The settlement’s history includes the Virginia Indian peoples already living in the region, the English colonists and the first Africans brought to Jamestown in 1619. Colonial National Historical Park interprets these intertwined histories alongside the archaeological record and the broader story of colonial Virginia. [7]
More than 170 years later, Yorktown became the decisive setting for the final major land campaign of the American Revolutionary War. In October 1781, allied American and French forces compelled the British army under Charles Cornwallis to surrender. The victory helped bring the war to its conclusion and made Yorktown a central site in the history of American independence. [8]
The park’s larger design connects these historic places with the Colonial Parkway and preserves landscapes as well as individual sites. Its story also reaches beyond the two main visitor destinations, including Cape Henry Memorial and the park’s natural environments. [9][10]
Planning a visit
- **Allow time for both main sites.** The National Park Service recommends at least two to three hours each for Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown. Add travel time if you plan to drive the parkway between them. [11]
- **Confirm current hours and closures.** The NPS posts site-specific hours, holiday closures and visitor information; check shortly before your trip, particularly if you hope to enter a particular building or attend a program. [12]
- **Check admission details.** Park fees and pass terms can change. Historic Jamestowne includes areas managed by both the National Park Service and Preservation Virginia, so review the current fee information to understand what your pass covers. [13]
- **Plan your route.** The park lists visitor-center addresses and directions for both main sites. The Colonial Parkway is scenic, but check current conditions and construction updates before relying on it as your route. [14]
- **Prepare for an outdoor visit.** Much of the experience takes place outdoors. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water and check the forecast; the park cautions visitors about heat and humidity during summer. [15]
Nearby attractions
Colonial Williamsburg
Explore the restored historic district and its interpretation of life in Virginia’s colonial capital.
American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
Continue the Revolutionary War story through museum exhibits and living-history experiences.
Yorktown, Virginia
Explore the historic town and waterfront near Yorktown Battlefield.
Jamestown Settlement
Visit the living-history museum near Historic Jamestowne for exhibits on 17th-century Virginia.
Related books: Browse related Virginia books on Amazon
References
- ↑ Colonial National Historical Park, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ The Colonial Parkway, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Plan Your Visit, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Colonial National Historical Park, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ The Colonial Parkway, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Basic Information, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Colonial National Historical Park, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Virginia: Colonial National Historical Park, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ The Colonial Parkway, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Colonial National Historical Park, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Plan Your Visit, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Basic Information, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Fees & Passes, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Directions, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Basic Information, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.