| Historic Jamestowne |
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Historic Jamestowne is the official name used for promotional purposes for the Jamestown National Historic Site , which exists on 22 ½ acres (91,100 m&2) of land at the western end of Jamestown Island on the James River at Jamestown, Virginia , and the adjacent activities at the Colonial National Historical Park of the U.S. National Park Service . Jamestown, first established in May 1607, was the site of the first permanent British Colony in North America . Jamestown was the capital of the Virginia Colony , and saw Bacon's Rebellion in 1676, when the statehouse was burned. After a second burning in 1698, the capital was relocated to higher ground at Middle Plantation in 1699, which was then renamed Williamsburg . In the 19th century, Jamestown Island reverted to little used farmland, and became the the site of Confederate earthworks during the American Civil War intended to provide rivers defenses against Union gunboats. The Ambler Farm was burned by escaped Slaves , who found the desolate island to be a haven. By 1893 the site of Jamestown was owned by Mr. And Mrs. Edward Barney, who donated 22½ acres of land, including the 1639 church tower, to the Association For The Preservation Of Virginia Antiquities (APVA). By this time, erosion from the river had eaten away the island's western shore; visitors began to conclude that the site of James Fort lay completely underwater. With federal assistance, a sea wall was constructed in 1900 to protect the area from further erosion. In 1934 , Colonial National Historical Park obtained the remaining 1500 acre (6.1 km&2) island and partnered with the APVA to preserve the area and present it to visitors in an educational manner. In 2006, many preparations were underway for the Jamestown 2007 event celebrating the 400th anniversary of the settlement. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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