Yorktown Battlefield — Attraction in Gloucester Point

This is a nice museum on the siege of Yorktown, which effectively ended the American revolutionary war. Just like the Jamestown museum nearby, this has an indoor part and an outdoor part.

The indoor part is well organized and well presented information, including a couple of films. I very much recommend the film on the actual siege. Kids love this part very much because it resonated with the stuff they learned in American history classes at different ages.

The outdoor part is also interesting. The first part of the outdoor exhibit features an army encampment, very similar to what the American army of the time would have looked like. Nice knowledgeable guides are able to show you what life there was like at the time. Particularly recommend talking to the cook and the doctor.

The next part of the outdoor exhibit has a couple of houses in which people of the time would have lived. In particular, one has a large kitchen and another one has a bedroom with a sleeper for a little child, and a large room with a weaver stand. The kids were very much intrigued by the process of making cloth from wool, all stages of which are illustrated there with specific machinery used to do this in the time of the American revolution.

The final part of the outdoor exhibit has a garden and a storage room for a different vegetables...

Yorktown Battlefield, part of the Colonial National Historical Park in Virginia, is a must-visit for history enthusiasts, especially those interested in the American Revolution. This is the site where General George Washington and his allied forces secured victory over the British in 1781, effectively ending the war.

The park offers a blend of self-guided and ranger-led tours, allowing visitors to explore significant locations like Redoubts 9 and 10, the Moore House (where surrender negotiations took place), and the Yorktown Victory Monument. The driving tour is well-marked and provides a great overview of the battlefield, with pull-off areas to walk the trenches and read historical markers.

The visitor center features informative exhibits, including artifacts, a replica of Washington’s field tent, and a short film explaining the battle’s significance. The staff is knowledgeable and happy to answer questions.

For those who enjoy nature and quiet reflection, the battlefield is also a peaceful place to walk, with scenic views of the York River. If you're a fan of immersive history, consider visiting during a reenactment event for an even more engaging experience.

Overall, Yorktown Battlefield is a fantastic destination for history lovers, families, and anyone who wants to walk in the footsteps...

I've been lucky enough to visit many battlefields amongst my travels, and Yorktown, may be one of the most preserved one's, yet.

The earthworks are still extremely visible and in some areas of the battlefield, it isn't hard at all to imagine the events that had unfolded on these open fields, and within the walls of the town.

It's an incredible experience to stand within these fields and stand on the ground in which our nation's independence was surly won.

Surrender field, is by far my favorite spot of the battlefield and is my most recommended spot to see. Washington HQs, and crossing forging the streams with your car to get their is fun, too...

While the battlefield itself is a thrilling place to visit, it could be more so, with a little more TLC from the National Park Service. It is clearly, one of the more neglected battlefields I've seen. Signage throughout the battlefield is damaged, and sometimes almost not readable. Navigation isn't fantastic, especially in an area that doubles as an American Civil War location, and, there's little monuments or markers to mark such great historic feats and locations.

It's an incredible battlefield and historic location within our country that needs further intervention from both the NPS and General Public to continually preserve and share with future...