America’s 400th Anniversary: Jamestown 2007

By Judy Watkins

In addition to OWAA’s conference in Roanoke in June, OWAA members have other reasons to visit Virginia in 2007.

One of the most important anniversaries in America’s history will attract visitors from around the world to the commonwealth in 2007: the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, the country’s first permanent English colony. A visit from the queen of England, special events across the state, new galleries and exhibition space at the two Jamestown sites in Williamsburg, and a multitude of other festivities and activities will fill a yearlong commemoration in 2007.

This is the year to bring your family for a vacation in Virginia and learn about America’s beginnings. For information on America’s 400th anniversary, visit www.jamestown2007.org. For Virginia travel information, go to www.Virginia.org or call 804-545-5563. Following is a brief overview of the Jamestown story.

“Heaven and earth never agreed better to frame a place for man’s habitations.”

– John Smith on Virginia

Great things are born in dreams and forged by courage, toil and sacrifice. Such is the story of the founding of Jamestown, the first permanent English-speaking colony in the New World. On May 14, 1607, more than 100 men and boys set foot on Jamestown Island after a harrowing four-month voyage from England. Many of the men were businessmen and “gentlemen,” with visions and dreams of a new life. They never imagined the challenges that lay before them. Provisions were scarce, and there was no shelter on land. A leader of the group, Captain John Smith, said, “Our drink was water, our lodging castles in the air.”

Within four months, 69 of the settlers were in graves. The rest struggled on, building a fort and houses, trying to understand how to feed themselves and defending themselves from Indian attacks.

The following year, about 100 more colonists arrived at Jamestown, finding only 38 of the original settlers still alive. This group endured “the starving time” of the winter of 1609-10, an experience that found the settlers clinging no longer to dreams but to life.

Only 60 settlers survived the starving time, but the seed of the American dream was planted. Castles in the air would become more than tactile buildings with foundations. They also would become ideals and ideas, turning ultimately to democracy, capitalism, free enterprise and a dream called America.

Visit www.jamestown2007.org for details on America’s 400th anniversary.

Judy Watkins is the public relations manager of Virginia Tourism Corp.