English Settlers’ First Landing to Be Celebrated on April 26

By STACI DENNIS

By Staci Dennis

Correspondent

OCEANFRONT

A celebration 400 years in the making is just days awa y.

On April 26, Virginia Beach 2007 a nd First Landing State Park will celebrate the anniversary of English settlers making landfall at Ca pe Henry in 1607 before fou nding Jamestow n.

“This commemoration gives an opportunity to reflect on our historic past to help us in the future,” said Stac i Ma rtin, district program specialist with Virginia State Parks. “These events are very important to the park, to the city of Virginia Beach and our nation as a whole.”

The site’s role in the history of the nation is often overlooked, Martin said. The English settlers stayed four days at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay before heading north to settle Jamestown.

They erected a cross at their original landing site in honor of Prince Henry of Wales , son of King James, before journeying up the James River .

Festivities on April 26 will include replicas of the ships Discovery, Godspeed and Susan Constant as well as a re-enactment of the first landing. The event is part of a four-day observance through April 29 in celebration of the quadracentennial.

“It all started here,” said Mac Rawls , chairman of the Virginia Beac h 2007 committee, “and that is the major thrust .”

The re-enactment will involve more than 500 volunteers, including partnerships with the city of Virginia Beach, Deltaville Maritime Museum, Reedville Fisherman’s Museums, local American Indian tribes, living history portrayer s, and First Landing State Park staff and volunteers.

The re-enactment of the 160 7 landing at Cape Henry will be at 9 a.m. and 3 p .m. Advance tickets and parking passes are required. Visitors will see demonstrations about life a board ships and can take part in question-and-answer sessi ons with people portraying John Smith and other figures from hi story.

Tour s of the replica Chesapeake Indian communit y, featuring five, full-size long houses, artifacts and exhibits, will be offere d.

Guests will have access to the beach for photographs of the visiting sea vessels during a “farewell to ships” from 1 to 6 p. m.

On April 27, a special performance will be held for more than 2,000 area school children . The event is already full an d will feature the same attractions as the day prior.

Event parking is $10 , and admission tickets are $5 per person. Th e parking fee includes a shuttle from Spring Branch Community Church. All v isitors must use the shuttle bus system.

Staci Dennis, sdennis@cox.net

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