Jamestown was founded in 1607 (Pocahontas anyone?) on what was then a peninsula poking out into the James River. It was the capital of Virginia until 1699 when the capital was moved to Middle Plantation, later named Williamsburg. The town of Jamestown began to fade away as the majority of commercial life followed the government to Williamsburg but several families stayed on what became an island and prospered.

Through marriage and inheritance, the primary landowner was Richard Ambler by 1724. Richard died in 1766 and divided his holdings between his three sons. Edward, the eldest, inherited Richard’s Yorktown properties, John inherited the majority of Jamestown properties, and the youngest, Jaquelin, inherited smaller holdings in both. John died not long after Richard; his holdings went to Edward. Edward moved his family to Jamestown; when he died in 1768, his family remained until the American Revolution. Jaquelin died in 1798.

The Ambler mansion was first built in 1750. Built in the Georgian-style, it was a 2-story structure centered about a central hall with two rooms on either side. The home was surrounded by extensive garden walkways. It was burned in the American Revolution and rebuilt by John. The Ambler family sold its Jamestown holdings in 1831 to David Bullock. The home was burned again in the Civil War and rebuilt again. The third burning in 1895 was not rebuilt and the ruins are now part of the Colonial Historical National Park.

Although the Jamestown site has fee-based access like other national parks, there is an island loop road which is open-access (as is Colonial Parkway – the main road between Jamestown and Yorktown through Williamsburg. Obama shut the road down during one of the now common govt shutdowns. Like closing statues.)