WILLIAMSBURG — Jamestown Settlement will host Prelude to Juneteenth — a day of special programming —on June 15, and will offer free admission on the federal holiday June 19.
The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation says Prelude to Juneteenth “will explore the precarious nature of freedom from 17th-century Jamestown to Juneteenth and the forgotten stories of African American contributions to river life in early America.”
Sunday, June 15 at 1 p.m., producer Horace Scruggs will present his documentary film, “Reclaiming the River: African American Life on Virginia’s Waterways.” Attendees will have the opportunity to learn his process behind creating the film using still photography, video, traditional and drone cameras, “and the lessons that can be taken from the convergence of culture and the environment to inspire deeper connections to history and heritage,” according to the foundation.
Admission to Jamestown Settlement is free to attend Juneteenth programming. JYF says advance registration is required to view the film.
Following the film, attendees are invited to join Scruggs for a guided paddle on Jamestown area waterways. The group, limited to 15 participants, will launch from the James City County Marina at 3 p.m. and return at approximately 5:30 p.m. Paddlers must be age 15 or older. Participants do not need to be expert kayakers but should be familiar with water safety and be comfortable on the river. Kayaks, paddles and life jackets will be provided and are included in the program cost. Advance registration is required and tickets to take part are $35.
Juneteenth at Jamestown Settlement
In honor of Juneteenth, admission to Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown is free on June 19.
According to JYF, museum guests at Jamestown Settlement can explore African and African American experiences in 17th-century Virginia through expansive gallery exhibits, dramatic films and engaging interactives that share the story of Virginia Indian, English and West Central African cultures. Using period artifacts and innovative technology, exhibits share historical accounts of the first documented Africans taken from their homeland in Ndongo (Angola) in 1619 to life in the Virginia colony and the evolution of a new African American culture.
Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Jamestown Settlement is located on Route 31 just southwest of Williamsburg and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown is located at 200 Water St. in Yorktown. Parking is free. For more information, call 757-253-4838 or visit jyfmuseums.org.
