WILLIAMSBURG, Va., Jan. 13, 2009 – Total paid visitation at Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Victory Center, living-history museums operated by the state’s Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, totaled 692,086 in 2008. Paid attendance was 510,407 at Jamestown Settlement and 181,679 at the Yorktown Victory Center.
While Jamestown Settlement attendance in 2008 was 33.5 percent below 2007, when the 400th anniversary of the founding of America’s first permanent colony was commemorated with major events throughout the year, it was 1.7 percent ahead of 2006. It was the sixth time in the museum’s 52-year history that annual paid attendance surpassed a half million.
The Yorktown Victory Center was 28.2 percent below 2007 and 10.7 percent below 2006. Combined paid museum visitation was 32.2 percent below 2007 and 1.9 percent less than in 2006.
Admission sales at the two museums amounted to $5,714,418, a drop of 32.3 percent from 2007, and 12.5 percent more than in 2006.
Ticket sales to individuals accounted for 63 percent of total paid visitation at the two museums. Group visitation comprised 37 percent of the total.
In addition to paid visitation, there were a total of 69,258 complimentary admissions at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation museums in 2008, including residents of the City of Williamsburg and James City and York counties, children under 6, group escorts and promotional admissions.
Jamestown Settlement is located on State Route 31 just southwest of Williamsburg. The Yorktown Victory Center is on Route 1020 in Yorktown. The museums are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 2009 general admission is $14 for adults and $6.50 for ages 6 through 12 at Jamestown Settlement, and $9.25 for adults and $5 for ages 6 through 12 at the Yorktown Victory Center. A combination ticket for both museums is $19.25 for adults and $9.25 for ages 6 through 12. For more information, call (888) 593-4682 toll-free or (757) 253-4838.
