Black History in Jamestown
Learn about the rich history of Jamestown’s Black community.
Places to Visit
See Jamestown’s historic sites and learn its history through its artifacts
Current Exhibits
Learn about this summer’s museum exhibit and other displays around town
Map of Historic Places
Click to explore the island and get driving directions around town. Take it on the road
From our Online Catalog
Search and view our online catalog of materials in the JHS collections

JHS Museum 2023 Grand Opening
On May 26, the 2023 JHS Museum opened a new exhibit, "Celebrating Jamestown Ferries: 150th Anniversary of Jamestown’s First Steam Ferry". JHS members enjoyed a reception highlighting the anniversary of the first steam ferry going into service in Jamestown in 1873. The...

Ferrying across bay once a dangerous duty
Dinah Battey, of Jamestown, 20, married her husband in 1711. Six days after her wedding, on the sailing ferry home from Newport, the boat capsized, and she tragically drowned. Little was more dangerous in Colonial Rhode Island than crossing the bay in ferries. Family...

2023 Spring Newsletter
Our Spring Newsletter is now available for download. We had a busy winter with many major preservation projects getting underway. Enjoy our photos and descriptions of all our planned and past activities. Also listed are all the new donations made over the past year....

Mackerel Cove Beach Pavilion
In 1927, construction of a beach pavilion, a town facility, began. The pavilion was designed by Ralph G. P. Hull (1885-1941), a local Jamestown building contractor. The 272-foot-long pavilion opened in July 1928. It was originally situated on the Sheffield Cove or...