In 1607, the first permanent English settlement in the New World was established.  A group led by Captain Christopher Newport and funded by the Virginia Company of London founded Jamestowne on the newly named James River, in honor of King James.  This venture had three primary goals.  Religious freedom from the Church of England,  to acquire wealth for the company's stockholders (most likely in the form of gold), and to discover the elusive north-west passage.  Prominent characters of the time were Captain John Smith, John Rolfe, Wahunsonacock, the chief ruler of the Powhatan Indians (natives to the land),  Pocahontas, favorite daughter of the chief, and many others....

_In 1699 the capital of the Virginia territory was moved inland from Jamestown to Middle Plantation (later called Williamsburg).  Williamsburg was the cultural center and capital city of England's largest colony in the New World.  In the 1770's it was the hotbed for separation from England and hosted men such as Patrick Henry, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson....

_In October 19, 1781, the British army commanded by Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown (a mere 12 miles from Williamsburg) effectively ending the American Revolution and giving birth to the United States of America....

_And today, visit the re-created Jamestown (fort, Indian village, museum, and harbor (complete with ships), the original site of Jamestown along with archeological digs and archaraeium (housing the found artifacts), renovated Williamsburg to its 18th century existence, and Yorktown its Victory Center, museum, and Surrender Field....