Editing Jamestown, Virginia (section)

==Commemorations==
With the national independence of the United States established by the end of the 18th century, Jamestown came to be looked at as a starting point. Its founding in 1607 has been regularly commemorated, with the most notable events being held every fifty years.

===200th anniversary===
The [[wikt:bicentennial|bicentennial]] of Jamestown on May 13–14, 1807, was called the Grand National Jubilee.<ref name="COLO NPS Commemorations Chronology">{{cite web|title=Chronology of Jamestown Commemorations|url=http://www.nps.gov/jame/historyculture/chronology-of-jamestown-commemorations.htm|publisher=Colonial National Historical Park (National Park Service)|access-date=March 4, 2014|date=April 15, 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208104821/http://www.nps.gov/jame/historyculture/chronology-of-jamestown-commemorations.htm|archive-date=December 8, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Over 3,000 people attended the event, many arriving on vessels which anchored in the river off the island.<ref name="COLO NPS Commemorations Chronology" /> May 13 was the opening day of the festival, which began with a procession which marched to the graveyard of the old church, where the attending bishop delivered the prayer.<ref name="COLO NPS Commemorations Chronology" /> The procession then moved to the Travis mansion, where the celebrants dined and danced in the mansion that evening.<ref name="COLO NPS Commemorations Chronology" /> Also during the festivities, students of the College of William & Mary gave orations. An old barn on the island was used as a temporary theater, where a company of players from Norfolk performed.<ref name="COLO NPS Commemorations Chronology" /> Attending were many dignitaries, politicians, and historians. The celebration concluded on May 14 with a dinner and toast at the [[Raleigh Tavern]] in Williamsburg.<ref name="COLO NPS Commemorations Chronology" />

===250th anniversary (1857)===
In 1857, the Jamestown society organized a celebration marking the 250th anniversary of Jamestown's founding.<ref name="COLO NPS Commemorations Chronology" /> According to the Richmond ''Enquirer'', the site for the celebration was on {{convert|10|acre|m2}} on the spot where some of the colonists' houses were originally built.<ref name="COLO NPS Commemorations Chronology" /> However, it is also speculated that the celebration was moved further east on the island closer to the Travis grave site, in order to avoid damaging Major [[William (Orgain) Allen|William Allen]]'s corn fields.<ref name="COLO NPS Commemorations Chronology" />

The attendance was estimated at between 6,000 and 8,000 people.<ref name="COLO NPS Commemorations Chronology" /> Sixteen large steam ships anchored offshore in the James River and were gaily decorated with streamers.<ref name="COLO NPS Commemorations Chronology" /> Former US President [[John Tyler]] of nearby [[Sherwood Forest Plantation]] gave a 2½ hour speech, and there were military displays, a grand ball and fireworks.<ref name="COLO NPS Commemorations Chronology" />

===300th anniversary (1907): Jamestown Exposition===
{{main|Jamestown Exposition}}
[[File:Jamestown Tercentennial Monument.JPG|thumb|The Jamestown Tercentenary Monument<!--proper name, the file name is incorrect-->, erected on Jamestown Island in 1907, which stands {{convert|103|ft|m}} tall]]
The 100th anniversary of the Surrender at Yorktown in 1781 had generated a new interest in the historical significance of the colonial sites of the Peninsula. Williamsburg, a sleepy but populated town of shops and homes, was still celebrating Civil War events. However, as the new century dawned, thoughts turned to the upcoming 300th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (now known as [[Preservation Virginia]]) started the movement in 1900 by calling for a celebration honoring the establishment of the first permanent English colony in the New World at Jamestown to be held on the 300th anniversary in 1907.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailypress.com/history/dp-nws-jamestown-expo-1907-20170511-story.html|title='Meet us on the War Path!': 1907 Jamestown Exposition drew millions to Hampton Roads|first=Mark St John|last=Erickson|website=dailypress.com|date=April 26, 2018 |access-date=August 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830024225/https://www.dailypress.com/history/dp-nws-jamestown-expo-1907-20170511-story.html|archive-date=August 30, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

As a celebration was planned, virtually no one thought that the actual isolated and long-abandoned original site of Jamestown would be suitable for a major event because Jamestown Island had no facilities for large crowds. The original fort housing the Jamestown settlers was believed to have been long ago swallowed by the [[James River (Virginia)|James River]]. The general area in James City County near Jamestown was also considered unsuitable, as it was not very accessible in the day of [[railroad|rail travel]] before automobiles were common.

As the tricentennial of the 1607 Founding of the Jamestown neared, around 1904, despite an assumption in some quarters that Richmond would be a logical location, leaders in [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]] began a campaign to have a celebration held there. The decision was made to locate the international exposition on a mile-long frontage at [[Sewell's Point]] near the mouth of [[Hampton Roads]]. This was about {{convert|30|mi|km}} downstream from Jamestown in a rural section of [[Norfolk County, Virginia|Norfolk County]]. It was a site which could become accessible by both long-distance passenger railroads and local streetcar service, with considerable frontage on the harbor of Hampton Roads. This latter feature proved ideal for the naval delegations which came from points all around the world.

The [[Jamestown Exposition]] of 1907 was one of the many [[world's fairs]] and expositions that were popular in the early part of the 20th century. Held from April 26, 1907, to December 1, 1907, attendees included US President [[Theodore Roosevelt]], [[Kaiser Wilhelm II]] of Germany, the Prince of Sweden, [[Mark Twain]], [[Henry H. Rogers]], and dozens of other dignitaries and famous persons. A major naval review featuring the United States' [[Great White Fleet]] was a key feature. U.S. Military officials and leaders were impressed by the location, and the Exposition site later formed the first portion of the large U.S. [[Naval Station Norfolk]] in 1918 during [[World War I]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Jamestown_Ter-Centennial_Exposition_of_1907|title=Jamestown Ter-Centennial Exposition of 1907|website=www.encyclopediavirginia.org|access-date=July 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719221140/https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Jamestown_Ter-Centennial_Exposition_of_1907|archive-date=July 19, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.earthstation9.com/index.html?1907_jam.htm|title=Earth Station Nine|website=www.earthstation9.com|access-date=July 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921060108/http://earthstation9.com/index.html?1907_jam.htm|archive-date=September 21, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Founding of Jamestown 3 stamps 1907 issue.JPG|center|upright=2.6|thumb|{{center|<big>Jamestown commemorative stamps, issue of 1907</big><br>The U.S. Post Office issued a set of stamps, on the 300th anniversary of the founding of the<br>Jamestown colony.}}]]

===350th Anniversary (1957): Jamestown Festival===
[[File:Queen elizabeth and prince phillip.gif|thumb|[[Queen Elizabeth II]] of the United Kingdom and her consort [[Prince Philip]] inspect the replica of ''Susan Constant'' at Jamestown Festival Park on October 16, 1957]]
With America's increased access to automobiles, and with improved roads and transportation, it was feasible for the 350th anniversary celebration to be held at Jamestown itself in 1957. Although erosion had cut off the land bridge between Jamestown Island and the mainland, the isthmus was restored and new access provided by the completion of the National Park Service's [[Colonial Parkway]] which led to Williamsburg and [[Yorktown, Virginia|Yorktown]], the other two portions of Colonial Virginia's [[Historic Triangle]]. There were also improvements of state highways. The north landing for the popular [[Jamestown Ferry]] and a portion of [[State Route 31 (Virginia)|State Route 31]] were relocated.<ref name="COLO NPS Commemorations Chronology" />

Major projects were developed by non-profit, state and federal agencies. [[Jamestown Festival Park]] was established by the [[Commonwealth of Virginia]] adjacent to the entrance to Jamestown Island. Full-sized replicas of the three ships that brought the colonists, ''[[Susan Constant]]'', ''[[Godspeed (ship)|Godspeed]]'', and ''[[Discovery (1602 ship)|Discovery]]'' were constructed at a shipyard in [[Portsmouth, Virginia|Portsmouth]], [[Virginia]] and placed on display at a new dock at Jamestown, where the largest, ''Susan Constant'', could be boarded by visitors. On Jamestown Island, the reconstructed [[Jamestown Glasshouse]], the Memorial Cross and the visitors center were completed and dedicated.<ref name="COLO NPS Commemorations Chronology" /> A loop road was built around the island.

Special events included army and navy reviews, air force fly-overs, ship and aircraft christenings and even an outdoor drama at [[Cape Henry, Virginia|Cape Henry]], site of the first landing of the settlers.<ref name="COLO NPS Commemorations Chronology" /> This celebration continued from April 1 to November 30 with over a million participants, including dignitaries and politicians such as the British Ambassador and U.S. Vice President [[Richard Nixon]].<ref name="COLO NPS Commemorations Chronology" /> The highlight for many of the nearly 25,000 at the Festival Park on October 16, 1957, was the visit and speech of Queen [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom]] and her consort, [[Prince Philip]].<ref name="COLO NPS Commemorations Chronology" /> Queen Elizabeth II loaned a copy of [[Magna Carta]] for the exhibition. It was her first visit to the United States since ascending the throne.

The 1957 Jamestown Festival was so successful that tourists still kept coming long after the official event was completed. Jamestown became a permanent attraction of the [[Historic Triangle]], and has been visited by families, school groups, tours, and thousands of other people continuously ever since.
<!--For the 300th anniversary of the settlement in 1907, transportation considerations at the isolated location did not even bring Jamestown into serious contention as the venue for its own celebration. Instead, the [[Jamestown Exposition]] was held 25 miles away, at [[Sewell's Point]] on [[Hampton Roads]] in the former [[Norfolk County, Virginia|Norfolk County]].

During [[World War I]], the Sewell's Point site of the Jamestown Exposition had become part of the massive [[Naval Station Norfolk]], the largest Navy Base in the world. That site was unavailable.

In the 1930s, the U.S. [[National Park Service]] (NPS) had acquired the rest of the land at Jamestown Island, and turned it over to the [[Colonial National Historical Park]]. Portions of the NPS's bucolic [[Colonial Parkway]] had been completed between [[Colonial Williamsburg]] and [[Yorktown, Virginia|Yorktown]].

For the 350th anniversary, plans were made for Jamestown to host its own celebration. In anticipation, the remaining portion of the Colonial Parkway linking Jamestown to the other two points of the [[Historic Triangle|Historic Triangle of Colonial Virginia]] was rushed to completion. For vehicular access, the [[isthmus]] linking the island to the mainland was restored by the NPS as part of the Colonial Parkway project. The [[Commonwealth of Virginia]] relocated the [[Glass House Point]] landing for the [[Jamestown Ferry]] and created the [[Jamestown Festival Park]] on adjacent land to the isthmus leading to the island (or peninsula) itself. Replicas of the three ships which had brought the original colonists were built, and placed on display.

The 1957 Jamestown Festival celebration was a huge success. Among many notable events, it featured a visit by U.S. Vice-President [[Richard M. Nixon]] and a state visit by Queen [[Elizabeth II of Great Britain]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]]. After 1957, tourism and interest in Jamestown became continuous, with both the state and the NPS's Colonial National Historical Park maintaining their complementary year-round attractions.-->

===400th anniversary: Jamestown 2007===
{{main|Jamestown 2007}}
 {{multiple image
  | width   = 150
  | footer  = Coins released in commemoration of the 400th anniversary
  | image1  = Virginia quarter, reverse side, 2000.jpg
  | alt1   =
  | caption1 = Virginia [[State Quarters|State Quarter]] (Reverse)
  | image2  = 
  | alt2   =
  | caption2 = [[Obverse and reverse|Obverse]] of [[Jamestown 400th Anniversary silver dollar]], the "Three Faces of Diversity" of Jamestown
  | image3 = Jtg5dobv.JPG
  | caption3 = Obverse of the [[Jamestown 400th Anniversary gold five dollar coin]]
 }}
Early in the 21st century, new accommodations, transportation facilities and attractions were planned in preparation for the quadricentennial of the founding of Jamestown. Numerous events were promoted under the banner of [[America's 400th Anniversary]] and promoted by the Jamestown 2007 Commission. The commemoration included 18 months of statewide, national and international festivities and events, which began in April 2006 with a tour of the new replica ''Godspeed''.

In January 2007, the [[Virginia General Assembly]] held a session at Jamestown. On May 4, 2007, Queen [[Elizabeth II]] of the United Kingdom and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]] attended a ceremony commemorating the 400th anniversary of the settlement's arrivals, reprising the honor they paid in 1957.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/05/nqueen05.xml |title=Telegraph Dead Link |access-date=April 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005150345/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2007%2F05%2F05%2Fnqueen05.xml |archive-date=October 5, 2007 }}</ref>

In addition to the Virginia State Quarter, Jamestown was also the subject of two [[United States commemorative coin]]s celebrating the 400th anniversary of its settlement. A [[Jamestown 400th Anniversary silver dollar|silver dollar]] and a [[Jamestown 400th Anniversary gold five dollar coin|gold five dollar coin]] were issued in 2007.

=== 2019 Commemoration ===
In 2019 Jamestown, in cooperation with [[Williamsburg, Virginia|Williamsburg]], held a commemoration that marked the 400th anniversary of three landmark events in American history: the first meeting of the General Assembly, the arrival of the first Africans to English North America, and the first Thanksgiving.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.historyisfun.org/jamestown-settlement/2019-commemoration/|title=2019 Commemoration – History Is Fun|website=Jamestown Settlement & Yorktown Victory Center|language=en-US|access-date=August 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810013331/http://www.historyisfun.org/jamestown-settlement/2019-commemoration/|archive-date=August 10, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=85 photos from events in Jamestown and Richmond to commemorate 400 years of democracy in America |url=https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/photos-from-events-in-jamestown-and-richmond-to-commemorate-years/collection_bf7ec862-7750-5b1e-9ece-e7e0f8f78984.html |access-date=July 31, 2019 |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731131623/https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/photos-from-events-in-jamestown-and-richmond-to-commemorate-years/collection_bf7ec862-7750-5b1e-9ece-e7e0f8f78984.html |archive-date=July 31, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>