Honor Black History Month in February at Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Engaging events, along with permanent exhibits, interactives, rare artifacts and films recount the experiences of African and African American in early America, from the first known Africans in Virginia in 1619 to the role of African Americans in the Revolutionary War.

Black Artist Showcase

Annually, the Black Artist Showcase connects the past and present through vivid intersections of contemporary art and 17th-century history, this special exhibit will display visual works from Virginia artists showcasing the significance of Black History Month.

The Black Artist Showcase is included with admission to Jamestown Settlement.

Revving up to the weekend

Join us on Thursday evenings, February 12, 19 & 26, 2026, at Jamestown Settlement for an opportunity to listen to live music, socialize, enjoy a drink at the cash bar and see the art on exhibit during our annual Black Artist Showcase. Enjoy unique performances in a variety of musical styles by celebrated artists Sammy Lee, Roberta Lea and Akeylah Simone. Tickets are $15 for adults (13+) and $10 for students with valid ID. 

After Angelo

^{Finding Angelo - Portrait by Austin Miles}

After Angelo, a one-day program honoring the legacy of one of the first African women mentioned by name in the historical record at Jamestown, is a lively celebration of African American culture and heritage.

A series of dynamic programs will take place in the Robins Foundation Theater including entertaining performances. Event activities included with museum admission.

After Angelo complements the Black Artist Showcase, and attendees are encouraged to explore the special exhibit, as well as peruse artwork for sale from vendors and become the artist in a craft activity.

Museum Gallery Exhibits & Films

Jamestown Settlement • 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Jamestown Settlement’s expansive exhibition galleries tell the story of Virginia Indian, English and West and Central African cultures who converged in the 17th century. The documentary film, “1607: A Nation Takes Root,” traces the evolution of the Virginia Company spanning three continents and chronicles the forced arrival of the first recorded African captives in Virginia in 1619.

Period artifacts, immersive films and interactive exhibits share historical accounts of the first recorded West Central Africans to Virginia in 1619, their homeland in Ndongo (Angola), life in the Virginia colony, development of the transatlantic slave trade and the evolution of a new African American culture.

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American Revolution Museum at Yorktown • 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

At the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, visitors can explore the contributions of both well-known and little-known participants in the Revolutionary War from the first shots fired at the Boston Massacre to the decisive victory at Yorktown and points in between.

Stories of enslaved and free African Americans including both Patriots and Loyalists are shared throughout the galleries, like that of Benjamin Banneker, a free African American who became famous in the 1790s as a scientist and writer. Accounts of Billy Flora, an African American hero of the Battle of Great Bridge in 1775, and James Lafayette, an enslaved African American from New Kent County, Virginia, who successfully spied on the British for American forces, come to life in films and an interactive exhibit.

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Join us during Black History Month

Daytime performances, activities and speaker presentations are included with museum admission however admission may be limited and advance registration is recommended to reserve your seat. 

Admission is $20. for adults, $10 for ages 6-12 and free for children ages 5 and under. Tickets can be purchased online or in person. A value-priced combination ticket with the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown is $34.00 for adults and $17.00 for ages 6-12.

Residents of James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg, including William & Mary students, receive free admission with proof of residency. 

Explore other activities and events happening throughout the year.

About Jamestown Settlement

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days), Jamestown Settlement is located on State Route 31 just southwest of Williamsburg. The museum features expansive exhibition galleries and films that connect visitors with the lives of the Powhatan, English and West Central African cultures that converged at 17th-century Jamestown. Outdoor living-history areas feature historical interpretation in re-creations of Paspahegh Town, 1607 English ships and a colonial fort.

Admission tickets can be purchased online or in person.