| Historic Triangle |
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| james city county, virginia | |
| historic triangle | |
| landmarks in virginia | |
| williamsburg, virginia | |
| york county, virginia | |
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The Historic Triangle is located on the Virginia Peninsula of the United States and includes the colonial communities of Jamestown , Williamsburg , and Yorktown , with many restored attractions linked by the Colonial Parkway . Describing the significance to America of the 3 main points of the Historic Triangle, the Reverend Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin , rector of Bruton Parish Church and co-founder of Colonial Williamsburg stated "Williamsburg is Jamestown continued, and Yorktown is Williamsburg vindicated." COLONIAL PARKWAY The National Park Service 's Colonial Parkway joins the three historic attractions of Colonial Virginia with a scenic and bucolic roadway carefully shielded from views of commercial development. Intended to helps visitors mentally return to the past, there are often views of Wildlife and Waterfowl along the roadway (and crossing it). Near the James River and York River ends of the parkway, there are several pull-offs, where some families allow their children to feed bread to the seagulls. The Colonial Parkway is free of tolls or user fees. JAMESTOWN FERRY To approach a return-to-the past experience in the Historic Triangle, some visitors approach the area from the south side of the James River by water from Surry County via VA 10 and VA 31 (the John Rolfe Highway) and a ride from Scotland Wharf to Glass House Point aboard one of the four Jamestown Ferries , which include the ''Pocahontas'' and ''Williamsburg''. As passengers cross, they can leave their vehicles and can walk about or go up to an enclosed viewing level with restrooms. During favorable weather and daylight hours, northbound passengers usually see the Jamestown Island much as the first colonists may have approached it. Replicas of Christopher Newport 's the three tiny ships, '' Susan Constant '', '' Godspeed '', and '' Discovery '' are docked near the northern ferry landing at Glass House Point. The state-operated Jamestown Ferry service is toll-free. JAMESTOWN The first permanent English settlement in the New World which was established at Jamestown in 1607 . Today, you can visit the Jamestown Festival Park and Jamestown Island attractions. Included are recreations of a Native American village and colonial fort, and archaeological sites where current work is underway. The are two major areas at Jamestown. The former Jamestown Festival Park, a living history museum which includes the replica ships and is operated by the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is now known as Jamestown Settlement. The National Park Service site which includes Jamestown Island and the ongoing archaeological projects in known as Historic Jamestowne. WILLIAMSBURG In 1699, the capital of Virginia was moved from Jamestown to a location on high ground at Middle Plantation at the suggestion of students from the College Of William And Mary , which had been established there in 1693 . Middle Plantation was soon renamed Williamsburg , in honor of King William III and was a busy place until the American Revolution . After the capital was moved to a more secure location at Richmond in 1780 , Williamsburg became a largely forgotten and sleepy little town for almost 150 years. All that changed in the early 20th century due to the preservation efforts of the Reverend Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin , rector of Bruton Parish Church and the generosity of Standard Oil heir John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his family, who shared a dream of restoring the old colonial capital city to its 18th century splendor, and made it come true. Today, the result of those efforts, Colonial Williamsburg , is a large Living Museum of early American life. It has dozens of restored and recreated buildings and reenactors. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The Visitor's Center (right off the Colonial Parkway) features a short movie and provides a place to start (and leave automobiles, which are restricted from the Restored Area, where wheelchair-accessible shuttle Bus service is provided). YORKTOWN The third point of the triangle is Yorktown where General Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington in 1781, ending the American Revolution . There are two large visitor centers, battlefield drives, and a waterfront area. COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES Notwithstanding the amazingly successful efforts to provide a non-commercial atmosphere at the three Historic Triangle areas (and on the Colonial Parkway between them), there are many hotels, motels, campgrounds, restaurants, shops and stores, gasoline stations, and amusements close by. Other major attractions nearby include:
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