2019 Commemoration

A branch of the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation, the American Evolution celebrates the impact of several events in 1619.

The 2019 Commemoration, AMERICAN EVOLUTION™, seeks to leverage partnerships throughout Virginia to highlight the events of 1619 that shaped America’s beginnings; the meeting of the first legislative assembly in the New World, the arrival of the first Africans to English North America, the emerging presence and impact of women on the Virginia colony, the first official English Thanksgiving in North America, and the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurialism that kept the colony thriving. The Commemoration will feature events and activities that inspire local, national, and international participants to engage in the themes of democracy, diversity, and opportunity and position Virginia as a global leader in education, economic development, and tourism.