2007 Annual Report Jamestown 2007 Steering Committee The annual Jamestown 2007 Progress Report to the Governor and chairs of the Senate Finance Committee and the House of Delegates Appropriation Committee is produced in-house at the Jamestown 2007 office in accordance with Item 252, Paragraph 3, of the 2000 Appropriations Act. For a more in-depth report of activities that occurred in 2007, we encourage you to visit our Web site at www.Americas400thAnniversary.com or email us at [email protected]. Jamestown 2007 Steering Committee May 2006 marked the beginning of events observing a landmark American moment – the 400th anniversary of Jamestown’s founding. Since then the international spotlight has been on the Commonwealth many times. In January 2007, Vice President Dick Cheney addressed a special commemorative meeting of the General Assembly at Historic Jamestowne’s Memorial Church. He noted that “much of America’s story began with a little three-sided fort, raised on the banks of the James River.” That evening, Governor Tim Kaine delivered his State of the Commonwealth message from Jamestown Settlement. In the past 18 months, Jamestown 2007 has held more than a dozen Signature Events, developed hundreds of statewide and national partnerships, recognized nearly 200 official communities, and compiled a remarkable record of achievement. The commemoration has produced markedly increased visitation with guest attendance up an average of 50% at the Jamestown sites, increased awareness of travel opportunities throughout Virginia, brought international attention to the Commonwealth, and raised understanding of Virginia’s pivotal role in the nation’s history. An economic impact study is being completed that will help us gauge the full benefit of the commemoration. One of the major highlights of the commemoration was the two-day visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to both Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestowne, the state Capitol in Richmond and Colonial Williamsburg. The Queen’s visit brought international attention to America’s 400th Anniversary and a heightened sense of excitement that served as a catalyst to Anniversary Weekend culminating with the visits of President George W. Bush, Honorary Chair Sandra Day O’Connor and other distinguished guests during three days of Anniversary programs and events. This report provides an overview of the programs and events during fiscal year 2007 that have created these accomplishments. The support of the Governor and the General Assembly has been the underlying element allowing commemoration planners to make America’s 400th Anniversary an international success. With foresight dating back a decade, the Commonwealth has made available the resources necessary to revitalize Jamestown’s story as an integral and important part of the American landscape. As a representative from St. Augustine, Florida observed, “Jamestown 2007 has raised the bar for everyone planning historical commemorations.” Indeed, the successes of this commemoration have prompted planners of similar events from Plymouth, Santa Fe, Baltimore, Quebec, Vermont and New York to study Jamestown 2007 as a model of what can be achieved. On behalf of Jamestown 2007 Steering Committee and staff, we thank you for your support of Jamestown 2007 and America’s 400th Anniversary. Courtesy of AP Photos America’s 400th Anniversary by the Numbers The success of Jamestown 2007 takes many different forms, but one of the best ways to understand the great scope of the commemoration and its reach is to look at the stories told by numbers. Here is a look at some of the key numbers of America’s 400th Anniversary. Media impressions generated between May 2006 and June 2007 7 Billion America’s 400th Anniversary Signature Events 12 Godspeed Sail 456,000 visitors Yorktown’s 225th Anniversary 48,000 visitors Virginia Indian Symposium and Tribal Tours 500 visitors Jamestown Live! webcast/broadcast participants 1 million+ students and teachers - Foreign countries participating in Jamestown Live! 16 - States represented by student ambassadors at Jamestown Live! 49 African-American National Symposia: African American Imprint on America Jamestown: 400 Years in Retrospect (attendance) 2,000+ 2007 State of the Black Union (attendance) 10,000 (approx. 4800 registrants from out of state) -Total television reach 90 million Journey Up the James (Godspeed tour numbers) 22,550+ America’s Anniversary Weekend 63,000 visitors - Performers at Anniversary Weekend nearly 5,000 - Buses used for guest shuttles 268 - Number of volunteers 2,000+ representing more than 16,000 hrs - Media representatives 600+ - Languages spoken in media tent at Anniversary Weekend 6 - Broadcasts of one-hour “America’s 400th Anniversary” special 76 markets around the country The World of 1607 Exhibit - objects from private collections and institutions 40 Virginia Black Expo 8,200+ visitors - Cultural Exhibits and Business Exhibitors 200+ Smithsonian Folklife Festival (featuring “Virginia roots and culture”) 1 million visitors - Virginia presenters - 300+ American Indian Intertribal Festival 18,000 visitors - Participating tribes 15 Visitors to America’s 400th Anniversary Web site from June 2006 to June 2007 Visits: 2,299,746 Unique Visits: 541,747 300% Jamestown commemorative coins authorized to be produced by the U.S. Mint 100,000 Gold $5; 500,000 Silver $1 Jamestown commemorative stamps produced by U.S. Postal Service 60 million Increase in attendance at Historic Jamestowne 48% Increase in attendance at Jamestown Settlement during 2007 61% America’s 400th Anniversary National and Statewide Partners 150 Virginia 2007 Communities 181 official communities - Virginia 2007 Community Projects 1,000+ Miles traveled by the Shuttle Atlantis in June 2007 carrying a Jamestown artifact 5,809,363 million nautical miles and 220 and Jamestown commemorative coins aboard earth orbits Virginia peanuts handed out during commemorative events 150,000+ packages Jamestown 2007 staff members 14 3 America’s 400th Anniversary Sponsors and Donors Jamestown 2007 welcomed several corporations and organizations as sponsor, donor, or contributor during 2006-2007. Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. joined as a Chesapeake Donor, and AirTran Airways came aboard as a Legacy Sponsor and the official airline of America’s 400th Anniversary. Also enrolled as Legacy Sponsors were Dominion, SunTrust, and Wolseley PLC/Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. New participating sponsors included CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas, Lockheed-Martin, and McGuireWoods LLP, the City of Poquoson and Rutherfoord Insurance signed on as contributors. Sponsor resources and support, particularly provided by Founding Colony Sponsors, Norfolk Southern, Colonial Williamsburg and Verizon were instrumental to the successful realization of the Signature Events and many other commemorative activities encompassed by Jamestown 2007 Executive Director Jeanne Zeidler (center) rings the closing th bell at the New York Stock Exchange as representatives from America’s 400th America’s 400 Anniversary. Anniversary’s Founding Colony Sponsors and Jamestown Settlement museum’s honor guard look on. In addition to financial support, America’s 400th Anniversary sponsors played an integral role over the past year in: • Enhancing awareness of the commemoration through Official Airline of the Commemoration Jamestown-themed consumer promotions, such as customer premiums, special airfares, and online activities • Providing entertainment support during Anniversary Weekend, including performances by the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums and Verizon Brand Ambassador James Earl Jones • Hosting exhibits and hospitality events during Signature Events, including Anniversary Weekend • Participating in media events that underscored Jamestown’s legacies, such as the New York Stock Exchange Closing Bell ceremony • Hosting key visitors, business colleagues, conferences and board meetings in the Historic Triangle area • Providing support, security and transportation planning for Anniversary Weekend • Extending the reach and visibility of the Jamestown Rutherfoord City of Poquoson story and Jamestown 2007 messaging through communications to their executives, employees, suppliers, customers and other stakeholders 4 Marketing & Communications Tremendous interest in Jamestown and America’s 400th Anniversary resulted in more than 7 billion media impressions from international, national and local media outlets. The message of cultural diversity, representative government, free enterprise and the enduring spirit of exploration extended beyond North America to worldwide audiences in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Top-tier publications, including The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today and others devoted significant editorial space for Jamestown-related articles in the weeks leading up to Anniversary Weekend. The Jamestown story was also featured in cover stories by TIME magazine, U.S. News and World Report and National Geographic. Just days before Anniversary Weekend, a special section on Jamestown’s anniversary produced by The Washington Post went on sale, spurring interest in the commemoration to readers in and around the nation’s Capital. Flagship network morning programs including ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS Sunday Morning and NBC’s Today Show broadcast feature length news segments highlighting Jamestown in conjunction with Queen Elizabeth II’s visit the days leading up to Anniversary Weekend. Jamestown 2007,