Today in History: Jamestown

Jamestown Exposition, 1607-1907
Today in History–May 14–the Library of Congress features Jamestown, Virginia, established on this day in 1607. The first winter was harsh and after eight months, only 60 of the 214 pioneers were still alive. By September of 1608, John Smith became a leader of Jamestown and the colony began to flourish. Learn more about the ups and downs of the Jamestown settlers by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more primary sources related to the first permanent British settlement in North America.

Jamestown Was Established from America’s Library

Jamestown primary source set (with teacher’s guide)

Jamestown books & other texts

Jamestown image set

Timeline of early Virginia history

The English Establish a Foothold at Jamestown, 1606-1610

Virginia Records, 1606-1737

John Smith’s Generall Historie of Virginia

Edward Maria Wingfield’s Discourse of Virginia

Ralph Hamor’s True Discourse of the Present Estate of Virginia

Early settlement of Virginia and Virginiola, as noticed by poets and players in the time of Shakspeare, with some letters on the English colonization of America