Even though the first group of English settlers arrived in the New World in 1585, it would be more than 20 years later before the first permanent English settlement was established at Jamestown in North America. Often called the Lost Colony, the failed attempted at establishing the Roanoke Island settlement still intrigues history scholars today. Expedition leader John White returned to Roanoke Island in 1588 only to discover the colony members, 90 men, 17 women, and 11 children, had vanished without much of a trace. Still a mystery today, exploration parties continue comb the island for clues and offer theories of what became of that first attempt to colonization the eastern coast of what would become the United States.
   New World arrivals to the James River settlement in 1607 would be the beginning of a steady wave of English settlements all along the coast of North America. In December, 1606, settlers embarked on a five month journey across the Atlantic Ocean aboard three ships. In May, the following year, 104 colonists came ashore in Jamestown, naming the settlement after the King of England, James I. Although it was a constant struggle, this settlement became the first successful English colony in North America.
   Pictured here is a replica of the Susan Constant, one of the ships to make the historic journey. The original square rigged barque was accompanied by the Godspeed and the Discovery. The Susan Constant replica was completed in 1990 and offers visitors a detailed look into a 17th century ocean-going vessels.
   Jamestown, the birthplace of modern America, is governed by the National Parks Service and APVA Preservation Virginia. This historic town and museum is rich with displays of early American life, as well as Algonquian Native exhibits.

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