Jamestown 2007
Encyclopedia
Jamestown 2007 is the name of the organization planning the events commemorating the 400th anniversary
(quadricentennial) of the founding of Jamestown
, Virginia
in 1607, the first permanent English-speaking settlement in what is now the United States of America. America's 400th Anniversary was an 18-month long commemoration including 10 Signature Events, hundreds of community programs and dozens of partner and programs and events. Activities took place throughout Virginia
, in major cities along the East Coast
, and in the United Kingdom
.
The 400th anniversary commemoration helped redefine Jamestown's role in American history. Long regarded by many Americans as a failed settlement or a historical footnote, Jamestown's contributions were brought into sharper focus. Jamestown's legacies of democracy, free enterprise and cultural diversity linked the nation's earliest days to contemporary American life. Claims to these legacies were supported by new archeological discoveries by Bill Kelso
at Historic Jamestowne
and new scholarly research by respected historians such as James Horn of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
One of the commemoration's greatest achievements was active participation by the three Jamestown cultures - the Europeans, American Africans and Virginia Indians. While major Jamestown observances have been held every 50 years since 1807, America's 400th Anniversary marked the first time representatives of all three cultures developed their own events and messages.
, one of Jamestown Settlement's re-created ships, was replaced in early 2007 with a more historically accurate version. The older ship was then transported to the London Docklands, where she has been moored outside the Museum in Docklands
in conjunction with the "Journey to the New World: London 1606 to Virginia 1607" temporary exhibition. This exhibition focussed on connections between London and the Virginia settlement, and ran from 23 November 2006 to 13 May 2007.http://www.museumindocklands.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Special/JourneyNewWorld.htm Another major special exhibition in the UK for the anniversary has been "A New World: England’s first view of America", running from
15 March to 17 June 2007 at the British Museum
and focussing on the drawings of John White
. http://www.britishmuseum.org/the_museum/museum_in_london/london_exhibition_archive/archive_a_new_world.aspx
Associate Justice
Sandra Day O'Connor
would become the honorary chair of America's 400th Anniversary. (In October 2005, she had accepted the ceremonial role of becoming the 23rd chancellor of the College of William and Mary
, which was founded in nearby Williamsburg
in 1693.) The Commonwealth of Virginia has made a major commitment to Jamestown 2007 and has enlisted the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation as well as large corporate sponsors such as Verizon Communications
and the Norfolk Southern Corp.
(which itself has a rich Virginia history, being involved in early railroads; the Norfolk Southern Railway's
predecessor railroads, including the Norfolk and Western Railway
and the Virginian Railway
, provided major transportation services for attendees at the 1907 Jamestown Exposition
).
The commemoration was launched in May 2007 with the 2006 Godspeed Sail, a visit of the replica ship to Alexandria, VA, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston and Newport, RI. Other major events included Tavis Smiley's 2007 State of the Black Union, the American Indian Intertribal Festival and Jamestown Live!, a webcast reaching more than a million students. The centerpiece of the commemoration was America's Anniversary Weekend, a three-day festival and observance held on the weekend of Jamestown's 400th anniversary (May 11-13, 2007).
In January 2007, the Virginia General Assembly
held a session at Jamestown, where a speech was given by then U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney
, and Virginia's Governor at the time Tim Kaine
delivered the "State of the Commonwealth" speech. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
and Prince Philip
attended the main ceremonies in May 2007.
Participating dignitaries included Queen Elizabeth II, President George W. Bush
, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
, actor James Earl Jones
, journalists such as Jim Lehrer
, Gwen Ifill
and Tavis Smiley
, and musicians Bruce Hornsby
, Ricky Skaggs
and Chaka Khan
. The commemoration's major partners included Colonial Williamsburg
, NASA
, the U.S. Mint, the U.S. Postal Service, the Virginia Arts Festival and Virginia Tech. Jamestown Partners included the National Park Service
, the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities
, and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
Some members of Virginia Indian tribes did not attend the festivities, out of concern over what they perceive the settlement to represent for their people.
announced that she and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
, would make a state visit to the U.S. in May 2007. http://www.jamestown2007.org/pdfdocs/Final%20QE2A4A.pdf, her first since 1991. She arrived in Virginia on May 3, 2007. http://www.jamestown2007.org/pdfdocs/Final%20QE2A4A.pdf As the current British monarch
, the queen's presence at this historic event further demonstrates the continuing significance of Anglo-American relations
. Elizabeth is not only direct descendant of James I of England
, the settlement's namesake, but also the direct descendant of George III of the United Kingdom
, under whose reign Great Britain lost the same territory in the American War of Independence.
Jamestown is also the subject of two United States commemorative coin
s celebrating the 400th anniversary of its settlement. A silver dollar
and a gold five dollar coin
were issued in 2007. Surcharges from the sale of the coin were donated to Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Secretary of the Interior and Preservation Virginia to support programs that promote the understanding of the legacies of Jamestown.
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
(quadricentennial) of the founding of Jamestown
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in 1607, the first permanent English-speaking settlement in what is now the United States of America. America's 400th Anniversary was an 18-month long commemoration including 10 Signature Events, hundreds of community programs and dozens of partner and programs and events. Activities took place throughout Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, in major cities along the East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
, and in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The 400th anniversary commemoration helped redefine Jamestown's role in American history. Long regarded by many Americans as a failed settlement or a historical footnote, Jamestown's contributions were brought into sharper focus. Jamestown's legacies of democracy, free enterprise and cultural diversity linked the nation's earliest days to contemporary American life. Claims to these legacies were supported by new archeological discoveries by Bill Kelso
Bill Kelso
William Eugene Kelso was an American professional baseball player who played four seasons for the Los Angeles/California Angels and Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball....
at Historic Jamestowne
Historic Jamestowne
Historic Jamestowne is the official name used for promotional purposes for the original site of the 1607 James Fort and the later 17th century city of Jamestown. It is located on the James River at Jamestown, Virginia and operated as a partnership between Preservation Virginia and the U.S...
and new scholarly research by respected historians such as James Horn of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
One of the commemoration's greatest achievements was active participation by the three Jamestown cultures - the Europeans, American Africans and Virginia Indians. While major Jamestown observances have been held every 50 years since 1807, America's 400th Anniversary marked the first time representatives of all three cultures developed their own events and messages.
UK events
The DiscoveryDiscovery (1602 ship)
Discovery was a 20-ton "fly-boat" of the British East India Company, launched before 1602.Discovery was the smallest of three ships that were led by Captain Christopher Newport on the voyage that resulted in the founding of Jamestown in the new Colony of Virginia in 1607...
, one of Jamestown Settlement's re-created ships, was replaced in early 2007 with a more historically accurate version. The older ship was then transported to the London Docklands, where she has been moored outside the Museum in Docklands
Museum in Docklands
The Museum of London Docklands is a museum on the Isle of Dogs, east London that tells the history of London's River Thames and Docklands...
in conjunction with the "Journey to the New World: London 1606 to Virginia 1607" temporary exhibition. This exhibition focussed on connections between London and the Virginia settlement, and ran from 23 November 2006 to 13 May 2007.http://www.museumindocklands.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Special/JourneyNewWorld.htm Another major special exhibition in the UK for the anniversary has been "A New World: England’s first view of America", running from
15 March to 17 June 2007 at the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
and focussing on the drawings of John White
John White (surveyor)
John White was an English artist, and an early pioneer of English efforts to settle the New World. He was among those who sailed with Richard Grenville to North Carolina in 1585, acting as artist and mapmaker to the expedition. During his time at Roanoke Island he made a number of watercolor...
. http://www.britishmuseum.org/the_museum/museum_in_london/london_exhibition_archive/archive_a_new_world.aspx
US celebrations
In February 2006, it was announced that retired Supreme CourtSupreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Connor is an American jurist who was the first female member of the Supreme Court of the United States. She served as an Associate Justice from 1981 until her retirement from the Court in 2006. O'Connor was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981...
would become the honorary chair of America's 400th Anniversary. (In October 2005, she had accepted the ceremonial role of becoming the 23rd chancellor of the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
, which was founded in nearby Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
in 1693.) The Commonwealth of Virginia has made a major commitment to Jamestown 2007 and has enlisted the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation as well as large corporate sponsors such as Verizon Communications
Verizon Communications
Verizon Communications Inc. is a global broadband and telecommunications company and a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average...
and the Norfolk Southern Corp.
Norfolk Southern Corp.
The Norfolk Southern Corporation is a publicly-traded stock corporation based in Norfolk, Virginia. It is the holding company for the Norfolk Southern Railway, a major Class I railroad system. The company was formed in 1982 to control the Norfolk and Western Railway as well as the Southern Railway...
(which itself has a rich Virginia history, being involved in early railroads; the Norfolk Southern Railway's
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
predecessor railroads, including the Norfolk and Western Railway
Norfolk and Western Railway
The Norfolk and Western Railway , a US class I railroad, was formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It had headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia for most of its 150 year existence....
and the Virginian Railway
Virginian Railway
The Virginian Railway was a Class I railroad located in Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The VGN was created to transport high quality "smokeless" bituminous coal from southern West Virginia to port at Hampton Roads....
, provided major transportation services for attendees at the 1907 Jamestown Exposition
Jamestown Exposition
The Jamestown Exposition was one of the many world's fairs and expositions that were popular in the United States in the early part of the 20th century...
).
The commemoration was launched in May 2007 with the 2006 Godspeed Sail, a visit of the replica ship to Alexandria, VA, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston and Newport, RI. Other major events included Tavis Smiley's 2007 State of the Black Union, the American Indian Intertribal Festival and Jamestown Live!, a webcast reaching more than a million students. The centerpiece of the commemoration was America's Anniversary Weekend, a three-day festival and observance held on the weekend of Jamestown's 400th anniversary (May 11-13, 2007).
In January 2007, the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
held a session at Jamestown, where a speech was given by then U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
, and Virginia's Governor at the time Tim Kaine
Tim Kaine
Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine is a Virginia politician. Kaine served as the 70th Governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, and was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011...
delivered the "State of the Commonwealth" speech. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
and Prince Philip
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
attended the main ceremonies in May 2007.
Participating dignitaries included Queen Elizabeth II, President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Connor is an American jurist who was the first female member of the Supreme Court of the United States. She served as an Associate Justice from 1981 until her retirement from the Court in 2006. O'Connor was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981...
, actor James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
, journalists such as Jim Lehrer
Jim Lehrer
James Charles "Jim" Lehrer is an American journalist and the executive editor and former news anchor for PBS NewsHour on PBS, known for his role as a frequent debate moderator during elections...
, Gwen Ifill
Gwen Ifill
Gwendolyn L. "Gwen" Ifill is an American journalist, television newscaster and author. She is the managing editor and moderator of Washington Week and a senior correspondent for the PBS NewsHour, both of which air on PBS. She is a political analyst, and moderated the 2004 and 2008 Vice...
and Tavis Smiley
Tavis Smiley
Tavis Smiley is a talk show host, author, liberal political commentator, entrepreneur, advocate and philanthropist. Smiley was born in Gulfport, Mississippi and grew up in Kokomo, Indiana. After attending Indiana University, he worked during the late 1980s as an aide to Tom Bradley, the mayor of...
, and musicians Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...
, Ricky Skaggs
Ricky Skaggs
Rickie Lee "Ricky" Skaggs is a country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, and banjo.-Early career:...
and Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
. The commemoration's major partners included Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the private foundation representing the historic district of the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The district includes buildings dating from 1699 to 1780 which made colonial Virginia's capital. The capital straddled the boundary of the original shires of Virginia —...
, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, the U.S. Mint, the U.S. Postal Service, the Virginia Arts Festival and Virginia Tech. Jamestown Partners included the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities
Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities
Founded in 1889, the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities was the United States' first statewide historic preservation group. In 2003 the organization adopted the new name APVA Preservation Virginia to reflect a broader focus on statewide Preservation and in 2009 it shortened...
, and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
Some members of Virginia Indian tribes did not attend the festivities, out of concern over what they perceive the settlement to represent for their people.
Royal visit
In November 2006, Queen Elizabeth II of the United KingdomElizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
announced that she and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
, would make a state visit to the U.S. in May 2007. http://www.jamestown2007.org/pdfdocs/Final%20QE2A4A.pdf, her first since 1991. She arrived in Virginia on May 3, 2007. http://www.jamestown2007.org/pdfdocs/Final%20QE2A4A.pdf As the current British monarch
British monarchy
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
, the queen's presence at this historic event further demonstrates the continuing significance of Anglo-American relations
Anglo-American relations
British–American relations encompass many complex relations over the span of four centuries, beginning in 1607 with England's first permanent colony in North America called Jamestown, to the present day, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of...
. Elizabeth is not only direct descendant of James I of England
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
, the settlement's namesake, but also the direct descendant of George III of the United Kingdom
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
, under whose reign Great Britain lost the same territory in the American War of Independence.
Commemorative objects
Jamestown is also the subject of two United States commemorative coin
United States commemorative coin
Commemorative coinage of the United States consists of coins that have been minted to commemorate a particular person, place, event, or institution. They are legal tender but are not intended for general circulation....
s celebrating the 400th anniversary of its settlement. A silver dollar
Jamestown 400th Anniversary silver dollar
In 2007, the United States Mint released a silver dollar commemorative coin which commemorates the 400th year after the founding of Jamestown. Surcharges from the sale of the Jamestown commemorative were donated to Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Secretary of the...
and a gold five dollar coin
Jamestown 400th Anniversary gold five dollar coin
In 2007, the United States Mint released a gold five-dollar commemorative coin which commemorates the 400th year after the founding of Jamestown. Surcharges from the sale of the Jamestown commemorative were donated to Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Secretary of...
were issued in 2007. Surcharges from the sale of the coin were donated to Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Secretary of the Interior and Preservation Virginia to support programs that promote the understanding of the legacies of Jamestown.
See also
- Historic JamestowneHistoric JamestowneHistoric Jamestowne is the official name used for promotional purposes for the original site of the 1607 James Fort and the later 17th century city of Jamestown. It is located on the James River at Jamestown, Virginia and operated as a partnership between Preservation Virginia and the U.S...
(current attraction) - Jamestown SettlementJamestown SettlementJamestown Settlement is a name used by the Commonwealth of Virginia's portion of the historical sites and museums at Jamestown. Jamestown was the first successful English settlement on the mainland of North America...
(current attraction) - Jamestown RediscoveryJamestown RediscoveryJamestown Rediscovery is an archaeological project of Preservation Virginia investigating the remains of the original settlement at Jamestown established in the Virginia Colony beginning on May 14, 1607. The period under study was from 1607-1698.Preservation Virginia archaeologist Dr...
(current archaeological project) - Jamestown Festival Park (1957 and later)
- Jamestown ExpositionJamestown ExpositionThe Jamestown Exposition was one of the many world's fairs and expositions that were popular in the United States in the early part of the 20th century...
(1907) - James City County
- Colonial ParkwayColonial ParkwayColonial Parkway is a scenic 23-mile parkway linking the three popular attractions of Virginia's Historic Triangle of colonial-era communities, Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown...
- Historic TriangleHistoric TriangleThe Historic Triangle is located on the Virginia Peninsula of the United States and includes the colonial communities of Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, and Yorktown, with many restored attractions linked by the Colonial Parkway in James City and York counties and the City of...
- U.S. Open Cycling ChampionshipsU.S. Open Cycling ChampionshipsThe inaugural U. S. Open Cycling Championships is a road bicycle racing event that was held April 7, 2007 and ran from Williamsburg to Richmond, Virginia. The race was broadcast nationally in the United States on NBC Sports from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time....