2 Historic Sites Worth a Visit: How to Get There + What to Expect
Jamestown, Virginia, and Moncks Corner, South Carolina
Backroads take us to the places that commemorate our country’s history.
Here are two of the historic sites featured on our Spring Nostalgia page. We’ve included additional photos, as well as information about how to find each site, and what to expect when you get there.
Jamestown Settlement
Founded May 13, 1607
In 1606, the Virginia Company of London was granted a charter to start a colony in Virginia. Thus, a group of settlers sailed to America on three ships: the Susan Constant, the Discovery, and the Godspeed. They landed on May 13, 1607, and founded the establishment of Jamestown.
These early settlers suffered from starvation and battled Native American tribes, such as the Powhatans. According to legend, Chief Powhatan was planning to have Jamestown leader John Smith killed when the chief’s daughter, Pocahontas, came to his rescue. She pleaded for her father to spare Smith's life. He agreed and let Captain Smith go.
See It for Yourself
Plan a visit to the Jamestown Settlement, American Revolution Museum of Yorktown, Historic Jamestowne, Yorktown Battlefield, and Colonial Williamsburg—along with a few amusement parks—the next time you’re in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Here are different itineraries to consider as you plan your trip.
A single-day itinerary encompasses a tour of the settlement and the American Revolution Museum of Yorktown.
The two-day itinerary includes a visit to the Jamestown Settlement, Historic Jamestowne, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, and Yorktown Battlefield.
The three-day itinerary covers Jamestown Settlement, Historic Jamestowne, Colonial Williamsburg, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, and Yorktown Battlefield.
The multi-day itinerary offers the ultimate American Revolution history experience: Jamestown Settlement, Historic Jamestowne, Colonial Williamsburg, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, Yorktown Battlefield, Busch Gardens, and Water Country USA.
The Colonial Parkway, a 23-mile scenic roadway connects Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. Here are the addresses for each site:
Jamestown Settlement: 2110 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, Virgina 23185
Historic Jamestowne: 1368 Colonial National Historical Parkway, Jamestown, Virginia 23081
American Revolution Museum at Yorktown: 200 Water Street, Yorktown, Virginia 23690
Yorktown Battlefield: 1000 Colonial National Historical Parkway, Yorktown, Virginia 23690
Colonial Williamsburg: 101 Visitor Center Drive, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
The Battle of Moncks Corner
April 14, 1780
The Battle of Moncks Corner in Berkeley County, South Carolina, was a British victory that took place during the American Revolutionary War on April 14, 1780. This win allowed the British troops to lay siege to Charleston by cutting off communication at Moncks Corner, along with any escape routes outside the city via the Cooper River. This ultimately led to the fall of Charleston.
British troops stored ammunition in nearby structures like Biggin Church (shown below), which had been originally built in 1711 but fell victim to a forest fire and had to be rebuilt, according to the South Carolina Picture Project. As the troops retreated, they burned the church and nearby stores. Biggin Church was later rebuilt but a forest fire destroyed it yet again in 1896. This time, parishioners left it in ruins.
You can see the Biggin Church ruins, churchyard, and cemetery by taking South Carolina Highway 402 near Old Cherry Hill Road in Moncks Corner. Use these GPS Coordinates to reach the site: 33.212405, -79.966709.
The location of the Battle of Monck’s Corner no longer looks like a battlefield, but you can view a historical stone marker at the intersection of State Road S-8-366 and North U.S. Highway 52 in the town of Monck’s Corner. Learn more here.
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