400th Anniversary Of Jamestown Commemorated

The 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, America’s first permanent English settlement, was commemorated in spectacular fashion with a three-day festival of ceremonies, visits by the President and other dignitaries, and dedications of new NPS facilities, capped off with music and fireworks over the James River. America’s Anniversary Weekend spanned three event venues, including the Historic Jamestowne unit of Colonial National Historical Park, concluded on Sunday, May 13th, four hundred years to the day since, according to colonist George Percy, “we came to our seating place… where our shippes doe lie so neere the shore as they are moored to the Trees.”

The festivities began on Friday, May 11th, where the highlights included a visit from Director Mary Bomar to dedicate the new Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center, the centerpiece of the multi-million slate of renovations that prepared the site for the anniversary and beyond. The director, who is also a member of the Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission, gave brief remarks, highlighting the public/private partnership between the National Park Service and APVA Preservation Virginia as a model for the proposed NPS Centennial Initiative.  She then formally opened the visitor center by cutting the ribbon along with Northeast Regional Director Sandy Walter, Jamestown 400th Project Director Sandy Rives, Colonial NHP Superintendent Dan Smith, APVA Executive Director Elizabeth Kostelny, and others who contributed to the visitor center project.

The “Welcome America I” event took place in the late afternoon of May 11th in the shadow of the 1907 Tercentennial Monument and overlooking the James River near the original fort site. It opened with ceremonial dancing by representatives of Virginia’s Indian tribes. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, members of the Virginia General Assembly and other dignitaries joined Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, who delivered a dynamic keynote address that included a tribute to the adventurous spirit of the Jamestown settlers and emphasized the 1607 settlement legacies — American democracy, free enterprise, and cultural diversity.  Remarks were also made by Director Bomar, who spoke about the importance of partnerships and the park’s relationship with APVA Preservation Virginia. 

At the conclusion of the event, officials from various organizations and agencies began filling a time capsule that was sealed at Anniversary Weekend’s closing ceremony after President Bush added Jamestown commemorative coins from the United State Mint to the capsule.  Items that were put into the capsule included an NPS arrowhead signed by Director Bomar, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne and Colonial NHP employees, along with such items as American pottery from each of Virginia’s eight Indian tribes.  The time capsule will be placed at the Historic Jamestowne Research Center, where it will remain sealed for 50 years before being opened on the 450th anniversary of Jamestown. 

On Saturday, May 12th, the official launch of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail took place as Director Bomar spoke to a large crowd, including descendants of some of Virginia’s original settlers, about the public and private partnerships that created the country’s first national water trail.  An example of the partnership effort to bring interpretation, orientation, communication and scientific research together shared the stage – a bright yellow  “talking buoy” that the public can access via phone or internet to hear live data about nautical and water quality conditions, as well as hear about the historic journeys of Captain John Smith.  The highlight of the launching of an oar and sail-powered wooden shallop, whose crew of 12 modern day explorers will over the next four months journey over 1,500 miles and retrace much of Captain John Smith’s 1608 exploration of the Chesapeake Bay.

The events for May 13th, the actual anniversary date, began with a visit from President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. They were joined by Governor Kaine and Virginia First Lady Anne Holton. Arriving at the isthmus at Historic Jamestowne aboard five helicopters, the Presidential party was taken by motorcade through the New Towne section of the park to the Jamestown Rediscovery archaeological site, where President Bush met with Dr. Bill Kelso and his staff and toured the excavation of the original 1607 James Fort.  The President then toured the Jamestown Settlement, the living history museum adjacent to Historic Jamestowne, before delivering a speech to nearly 10,000 people who had gathered at Anniversary Park, a festival area constructed solely for the Anniversary Weekend events.  A copy of the President’s remarks are online at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070513.html

Other programs and activities throughout the weekend included musical presentations provided by Four Rivers Drummers and the Cobham Consort, providing contemporary Native American drum music and 17th Century music popular in colonial Virginia. Military demonstrations from the St. Mary’s Citty Militia, Virginia Militia and the South Coast Militia recreated the arrival of the settlers at Jamestown.  The Jamestown Landing Commemorative Ceremony followed, featuring descendants of Virginia Indians, Jamestown colonists and the first African Americans.  Remarks were given by Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Director Bomar.

Jamestown 2007 organizers provided media credentials to more than 80 news organizations for the anniversary events, including 18 international news outlets from Canada, the UK, China, Germany, Poland, France, Japan, Taiwan and more.  Reporters from the BBC, Voice of America, Al-Jazeera, and many local, regional, and national news outlets attended twice-daily briefings in the Media Center at Anniversary Park.  NPS PIO staff worked at the Media Center throughout the event to share information and pitch stories.  Voice of America interviewed NPS Director Mary Bomar and broadcast the interview internationally on May 11th.  Historic Jamestowne received extensive media coverage, including live broadcasts from Fox Morning News and CBS’ The Early Show.

The NPS Eastern Incident Management Team managed the support activities for the events, public and employee transportation to the island, law enforcement and security for dignitaries and the presidential visit to Historic Jamestowne. Over 72 National Park Service employees were part of the team.  There were no law enforcement incidents related to the event.  Several people were affected by the 80 degree heat but no serious injuries or incidents occurred. 
Two permits for First Amendment activities were issued, including one to the Black Lawyers for Justice for a “Shame on Jamestown” demonstration.  The demonstrators included the New Black Panther Party, the American Indian Movement and other radical racial rights organizations.  The 60 or so protestors wore black military-style uniforms.  The group was transported to the site by a bus arranged by the team.  They staged a 90 minute protest against the Jamestown 2007 commemoration.  The group condemned the enslavement of Africans and violence against Native Indians.  NPS law enforcement staff were assisted by more than three dozen U.S. Park Police officers and the Virginia State Police Tactical Team.