WILLIAMSBURG, Va., June 9, 2026 — Jamestown Settlement’s Godspeed, a re-creation of one of the three vessels that brought America’s first permanent English colonists to Virginia in 1607, will join Sail250® Virginia, an international fleet of tall ships and military vessels in mid-June to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding in 1776 – the United States of America’s Semiquincentennial.

The Godspeed will take part in Sail Virginia℠ Affiliate Harbor events at the Sail Yorktown Festival, June 12-14, and Sail250® Virginia in Norfolk, June 19-23, offering opportunities to view the ship in the Parade of Sail during both events and tour the re-creation of the merchant ship that sailed from England in 1606-1607. As part of its outreach voyage, the ship also will visit Mathews County’s Williams Wharf on June 17.

At Jamestown Settlement, a museum of 17th-century Virginia, a dedicated crew of maritime staff and volunteers have worked this past winter and spring to get the Godspeed ready for the voyage and for thousands of visitors to climb aboard to learn about the 1607 voyage to Virginia.

Sail250® Virginia, a 10-day statewide maritime celebration across 12 localities in partnership with the VA250 Commission, is expected to welcome 77 tall ships and military vessels representing over 36 nations, along with thousands of officers, cadets, and crew.

On June 12-14, the Sail Yorktown Festival, an official Sail Virginia℠ 2026 Affiliate Harbor, will host a three-day waterfront celebration with tall ships and military vessels on the York River, complete with a Parade of Sail, live entertainment, living-history demonstrations, military drills, re-enactments, storytelling, food vendors, and family friendly activities throughout the weekend. The Godspeed will be open for deck tours on June 12, 12-5 p.m., and June 13-14, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

On June 19-23, Norfolk will host the international fleet during Harborfest, launching with the iconic Parade of Sail with a fleet of international tall ships and military ships sailing into the port of Virginia as part of Sail250® America. The festival will encompass ship tours, international crew events, maritime exhibitions, and waterfront activities, including concerts and fireworks. The Godspeed will be open for deck tours on June 19, 3-6 p.m., and June 20-22, 12-6 p.m.

The Godspeed is marking its 20-year anniversary this year. After its 2006 commissioning at Jamestown Settlement, the Godspeed sailed to six ports along the Eastern seaboard in advance of America’s 400th Anniversary commemoration in 2007, including an iconic sail past the Statue of Liberty in New York. The Godspeed, along with the Susan Constant and Discovery, have been designated by the Virginia General Assembly as the “official fleet of the Commonwealth.”

While the Godspeed is away from Jamestown Settlement, visitors will have access to the Discovery. The Susan Constant, the flagship of the fleet, is undergoing a multi-year restoration. Jamestown Settlement is located on State Route 31 South (2110 Jamestown Road) near the Colonial Parkway.

Join the maritime celebration by visiting visityorktown.org/sailyorktownfestival and sail250virginia.com.

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Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

In time for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown offer endless discovery of early America. Shared stories of our nation’s beginnings and their relevance today unfold through innovative galleries, artifacts, interactives and 4D films, and immersive living history. Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown are administered by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and a commemorative partner of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission. Learn more at jyfmuseums.org/250.

Photo Caption: Jamestown Settlement’s Godspeed will participate in the Sail Yorktown Festival and Sail250® Virginia in Norfolk in June. Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation photo.

Jamestown Settlement Media Contact: Tracy Perkins, tracy.perkins@jyf.virginia.gov