The federal government shutdown will impact operations at some national parks in the Hampton Roads region.
Portions of Historic Jamestowne operated by the National Park Service will be closed during the shutdown, including the visitor’s center. Starting Thursday, Jamestown Rediscovery, the portion of Historic Jamestowne managed by Preservation Virginia, will be open to the public, including the James Fort site and the Voorhees Archaearium Museum. Programs and tours managed by Preservation Virginia will go on as scheduled.
Fort Monroe will remain open though some programs are on hiatus due to the shutdown. Open facilities at Fort Monroe include the grounds, the Visitor Center, the fort’s Casemate Museum and businesses located on the fort. The National Park Service operates walking tours and events on the fort, and all tours and programs at Fort Monroe have been canceled until the shutdown is over.
Because the Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum in Yorktown are operated by the state, facilities at the site will remain open.
In Virginia Beach, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is open, and access to the park will be through the West Dike Trail. Tours on the Blue Goose Wildlife Tram, a tram for visitors that goes between the refuge and False Cape State Park, will be canceled.
Government funding lapsed early Wednesday after a last-minute attempt to keep the government open failed.
It’s unclear how long the closure may last, but a long-term shutdown will likely have significant financial impacts on Hampton Roads.
Roughly 750,000 federal workers, including many National Park Service employees, are expected to be furloughed during the shutdown, meaning they do not work and generally receive backpay when the government reopens. Some employees with the service, though, are given an exemption, including employees that are considered law enforcement, border protection, public health and other jobs deemed essential.
Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com