
JAMESTOWN — The Save Jamestown Campaign has secured $1.5 million in state funding which will be used to support the implementation of flood protection measures at the historic site.
Championed by Sen. Ryan McDougle, this allocation underscores the Commonwealth’s commitment to safeguarding Jamestown’s historical legacy, according to Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation.
The foundation notes in 2022, Jamestown was listed as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in response to the increasingly catastrophic environmental pressures affecting the site.
Jamestown is facing inundation by flooding from major storm events, sea level rise, and historic tides, the foundation explains. Worsening environmental impacts are already restricting Jamestown’s ability to share the history of this important place with the public, upending normal operations and forcing the site to close more frequently each year because of flooding.
Additionally, artifacts that have remained buried for hundreds, or even thousands, of years are at risk of disappearing due to the effects of water inundation, it added, and the future of the site — its historic landscape, archaeological discoveries, collection and exhibition spaces and educational programming — is in jeopardy.

“Jamestown is America’s Birthplace. Safeguarding this site for future generations is imperative,” said McDougle. “These funds will help begin the crucial efforts at the Island to protect this Virginia treasure for years to come.”
“Hundreds of thousands of visitors each year visit the Historic Triangle. Jamestown is essential to understanding our nation’s rich and complex history. However, the James River has risen more than 1.5 feet with projections increasing at an alarming rate. The scientific community has been very clear. We must act quickly to ensure that Jamestown is protected from a rapidly changing environment. The funding allocated in the state budget will be vital in making that happen,” said Jamestown Rediscovery president and CO James Horn. “I am most grateful to Senator McDougle and the state for their support.”
The Save Jamestown national campaign has raised $8.5 million in donor support towards the next phase of work, the foundation said, which includes site analysis, permitting, and rescue archaeology of at-risk areas, including a $1 million commitment from Norfolk Southern as a founding partner.