Near Williamsburg in James City County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Backstreet – Jamestown’s Main Street 1620-1699
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 14, 2008
1. Backstreet – Jamestown’s Main Street 1620-1699 Marker
Backstreete served as Jamestown’s main street throughout the 17th century. The church anchored the street to the west, and a cluster of homes owned by Virginia’s ruling gentry to the east. Building incentives encouraged prominent citizens like Richard Kemp, William Sherwood, Henry Hartwell, and William May to build fine brick homes along Backstreete.
Even when Williamsburg became Virginia’s new capital, Backstreete remained the best location in Jamestown. In the 1750s, Richard Ambler built a mansion, now in ruins nearby, as a centerpiece of his plantation.
Erected by Colonial National Historic Park.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1624.
Location. 37° 12.502′ N, 76°
this page online
Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula, in Coastal Virginia, and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Tidewater. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Greate Road – An Early Highway pre-1607-1700s (within shouting distance of this marker); Jamestown Tercentenary Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); A Jamestown Warehouse 1630s-1699 (within shouting distance of this marker); Foundations at Jamestown (within shouting distance of this marker); The Tombs of James and Sarah Blair (within shouting distance of this marker); The Tombstones (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Extension, Blockhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); East Bulwark (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Williamsburg.
More about this marker. The right side of the marker contains a drawing of some of Jamestown’s gentry. The left of the marker features a current photo of Backstreet and a map of it’s length in New Towne.
Also see . . .
1. Backstreete - Main Street of Jamestown 1620 – 1699. Colonial National
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 14, 2008
2. Marker in Historic Jamestowne
2. Historic Jamestowne. Historic Jamestowne is the site of the first permanent English settlement in America. The site is jointly administered by APVA Preservation Virginia and the National Park Service. (Submitted on March 16, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 14, 2008
3. Marker in Jamestown’s New Towne
The Backstreet of Jamestown can be seen beyond the marker.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 14, 2008
4. Ruins of the Ambler House
The remains of the mansion of Richard Ambler is located on Jamestown’s Backstreet, a short distance from the marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 1, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,561 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 16, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
