We had an incredible time exploring the battlefield and driving from location to location. My husband is a veteran so we got free admission which pleasantly surprised us that I also qualified as his wife. The staff was so nice and explained everything. We took the map and went to each site, read the plaques and paid our respect to those lost. The weather was perfect and everything was clearly labeled and well taken care of. We had a great time learning all about the battle and touring the grounds. read more

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We stopped at this attraction as part of the free trolley tour that circles Yorktown. My husband loves military historic and we were both bummed that the museum on site was closed for the government shutdown. We did however make the best of walking around the site and taking in all of the history we could on the grounds. We also observed a ceremony that was going on when we arrived at the Victory Monument and viewed various artillery pieces on the grounds. The town of Yorktown has lots of historic buildings and things to see and do. We enjoyed walking around and taking the trolley around this beautiful village. read more

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My family and I were unimpressed with the Yorktown Battlefield, especially given that we are in the midst of celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States' Declaration of Independence. We would have thought that every historical place pertaining to our country's founding would go above and beyond to ensure a grand presentation of important aspects of American history. The map to the various points of interest was difficult to follow, especially because we were told that it was created for the visitor to go in sequence. Many places were overgrown, the split rail fences were falling down and the signs were faded. It was a big disappointment. read more

Of the triangle of Virginia historic sites, this one offers the most drama given its war history, and also some riverside views. A national parks pass or fee is required. The introductory movie covers some pretty detailed history, and I find that history before the United States is not taught very heavily for most people. A small museum and some facilities round out the visitor center, but the main attractions are outside. One could spend hours perusing the battlefields and fortifications. Being limited on time, I focused on the war memorial, which apparently was not established for quite a long time after the battle here but which nonetheless reminds us, that without the heroics of the Revolution, we would all be speaking British English today. Ugh. read more

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Self guided tour was a waste, we were charged but everything was closed. They shouldn't be charging if everything is closed due to the government shutdown. We saw park ranger no idea why he can't open the gates. read more

Yorktown Battlefield - Yorktown Tour - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

I love Yorktown! It's probably the most beautiful place in Virginia. The tour is great. I've been here during all seasons and I totally recommend this historic site. It's honestly beautiful. I love how knowledgeable the guides are. The surrounding area is nice too and because of all the historical signage, it is nice to return back for a self guided tour. read more

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If you love American history, especially the revolution, this is a MUST see. The driving tour is easy to follow, with plenty of red arrows. We only spent 4 hours here, you definitely need more. read more

Unfortunately we only had time to see the museum and the monument. Will def be back to see the actual battlefield. I loved the ship!!! The Siege of Yorktown (Sept. 28-Oct. 19, 1781) The siege was a land-and-sea campaign in which American and French troops together entrapped a major British army on a peninsula at Yorktown, Virginia. The British army surrendered, virtually assuring that the American colonies would win their independence from Great Britain. Early Fall 1781 General Cornwallis and 9,000 British troops take control of the port city of Yorktown, awaiting more supplies and troops from England. Meanwhile, General George Washington, assisted by Lieutenant General Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau and his force of 4,500 French soldiers, devise a plan to retake the city. Washington ordered his troops to begin marching towards the city from New York, a total force of about 19,000 soldiers. September 5, 1781 French naval forces commanded by Admiral Francois Joseph Paul, Comte de Grasse, defeat the British navy at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay during the Battle of the Capes. This action denies the British an additional 8,000 troops and supplies that would allow them to hold the city for months longer. September 28, 1781 American and French forces arrive near Yorktown and begin constructing trenches around the city. October 9, 1781 American forces begin to bombard the British within Yorktown, as they now are within musket range. The siege lasts one week. October 17, 1781 A British drummer boy advances alone on American forces, bearing a sword with a white handkerchief tied to it. This signifies the surrender of British forces. Fighting ceases. October 19, 1781 The British forces, under General Cornwallis, requested an honorable surrender, which is denied to them by General Washington. Over 7,000 British forces march between gatherings of French and American soldiers on both sides of the road out of Yorktown, defeated. The war was over and a new nation was born read more

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If you are into history, this is one of those place that you must visit. It's also a great place to walk around. read more

Yorktown Battlefield - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

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Not to be confused with the museum. This is the national park site. The inside has a well done museum and great rangers to answer questions. Make sure your kiddo does the junior ranger badge activities. Outside, you can walk all over creation OR you can do the driving tour. We drove. There is a great app that tells you about each spot. It's also a lovely drive. We saw quiet a few deer out and about. As a note, please don't let your children approach the herds of deer. They are wild animals. SMDH. There is so much to learn it's almost overwhelming. read more

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Nice indoor museum, not big, and really appreciated the battle of Yorktown in a new way, imagining it while standing where it took place. Blessings and gratitude to those brave and hardy men and women. It got dark and hard to see in evening (November) No lights on roads on the driving tour. You could drive around free, but I wouldn't have found places without the map and audio. Was very interesting for 2 adult history buffs, not sure if kids would enjoy spending as much time as we did, but I wish we brought our kids here as children. read more

Awesome to see this place preserved. The battlefield, monument, and moore house have so much meaning to our country. To think you stand where the country won its independence! read more

Beautiful! It's an informative place to learn how America gained its freedom and nailed the final nail into England coffin for independence.

Wonderful American Revolutionary exhibits & battlefields with plenty of history & displays for youngsters through adults. My grandsons love cannons so they're always happy to visit there! The staff is very Informative & helpful; great location to explore inside & out! If you're a senior your senior parks pass can get your younger friends & relatives in for free on your card!!bits a perfect addition to complete your Yorktown experience! read more

I love National parks. Period, full stop. This park however was a disappointment and it pains me to say so. It was much better ten years ago on my last visit. There used to be a nice display of artillery behind the museum, it is gone apparently because the staff member who maintained the carriages retired and was not replaced. As the carriages degraded they became unsafe and had to be removed. In addition the river bank has been allowed to overgrow so you can't see the river that played such an important role in the battle. The earthworks have similarly been allowed to over grow. Overall it just seems neglected but the removal of the artillery is unforgivable considering the nature of this battle/ siege. read more

While still a pretty significant site, as an attraction the Yorktown Battlefield (and visitor center) was the least interesting of the 5 major historic attractions in the Williamsburg area. Yorktown Battlefield is composed of basically the visitor center (run by National Parks) and the driving tour of the actual battlefield locations. The museum was smallish and could easily be completed in under 2 hours. The film presentation wasn't memorable and was likely outdated. Highlights of the museum was the actual tent used by Washington during this period and a good mock-up of the interior of a ship used during the battle. While the driving trip showed various actual locations important to the battle/siege, no admission fee is required to visit these locations, and descriptive information at these locations is very limited. Still, being at the site where it all went down is always cool. So I would recommend getting a ticket (e.g., multiple site historic triangle) that would include Yorktown Battlefield so you can get the complete story of why this area is important. read more

Yorktown Battlefield - Nice miniature diorama in museum - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

What a learning experience! We had a fantastic half day exploring, educating and just being in such a historical location. I would highly recommend visiting and learning the important role Yorktown had in ending the Revolutionary War! read more

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Historical setting that some would not understand because it commentates the struggle for freedom. Staff friendly and knowledgeable and

I was torn interpersonally with this battlefield because it is very picturesque but one also has to honor those who sacrificed. The monuments throughout are a testament to those who paid the ultimate price. The visitor center is a great place to start for those new to the battlefield. read more

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Thanks to high school history, I did go into the Yorktown Battlefield knowing the basics of the battle and it's aftermath. However, the tour was definitely worth it - our guide had additional information and there's something about an enthusiastic lecturer that helps bring history to life. The grounds are huge, and hard to see in a day if you want to do something else read more

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I might have watched the patriot on the flight to Virginia before coming here. The Yorktown National Battlefield is an open public park where you can walk around and see where our countrymen fought to win the revolutionary war. It was super cool to see where they fired mortars from without the Brits knowing, and thinking about how many people died on that battlefield. Yes, cool cuz its history. And if not for that history we wouldn't have yelp. They still have a few old cannons, some of the wooden protective barriers, trails, and other historical items that were there during the battle. I also saw a few deer roaming around which was kind of cool and its a huge place that you can drive around to see different spots with some beautiful scenery. read more

Yorktown Battlefield - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

Lots of history here, good views with restaurants and shops all around. You can definitely spend a few hours here

Let me start with if you are a veteran, you can visit this for free! They had a small museum and gift shop. Upon arriving, they give you a map. The map is a driving tour of the battlefields. If you do the entire thing, it is 16 miles in length. It took us several hours to complete this and we could have spent all day. It was interesting, but there is alot of walking even thought it is a driving tour. We wish we had gone here earlier in the day so that we could spend more time walking around. read more

My wife and I spent some time here on our vacation and really loved it. I love history, so it was right in my wheel house. She's not a big history person, but loves the musical, Hamilton, so she was singing the songs and playing the music in the car on the ride there. We enjoyed it, we just wish we could've walked around a little more, but it was very rainy. read more

When you arrive at Yorktown National Battlefield, you can stop by the Visitor Center to start off with a 16-minute introductory film of the store of the Siege at Yorktown. There's also a museum exhibit area that has tents on display that George Washington used throughout the war. Park staff is on-site that can answer all questions, and there's also a free trolley that provides transportation throughout the town. You can explore the battlefield as a self-guided tour, which is about 16 miles long. The maps of the driving tours are available at the Visitor Center. A cool place to come by if you're in the Williamsburg area as it can be part of your Historic Triangle Pass. +part of the Historic Triangle Pass read more

Yorktown Battlefield - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

This National Park is gorgeous and the information provided is invaluable. The land is absolutely beautiful and the Revolutionary driving tour takes you from rolling fields through the hilly forests. I absolutely loved being able to visit these historic sites and learn about the Revolutionary War and the historic roll that Yorktown played. The most memorable part was walking along Surrender Field on the paved walkway and reading a plaque about how this paved walkway was where George Washington had his troops stand while they awaited the British Armies Surrender. So much history in one park, it's almost impossible to see it all. That being said the interior museum was a bit of a let down, especially after experiencing the two great museums at Jamestown and the Revolutionary Museum at Yorktown. The museum takes about 5 minutes to walk through and appears disregarded compared to its Historical Triangle counterparts (the highlight is truly Washington's tent). We received very gruff service when we arrived and didn't receive thorough instructions on the driving/walk-in tours of the sites. Furthermore, we weren't even told they sold CD's with full audio tours on them in the gift shop! My recommendation is to hop in and grab the audio tour CD (it's only $5.00) and take your time to explore each site during the 16 mile driving tour. This really is a nice, all day affair. Many of the sites where you can just pull over contain information on encampments, which is interesting, but you'll need (or want more time) at the two houses and Surrender Field where there is a trail to walk with a lot of information. TLDR: amazing, don't miss it, all day affair, and get the audio tour from the gift shop. read more

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Very informative ranger, a lot of knowledge about the Yorktown battle in about 40 minutes.

This is not a restaurant! These are the fields and forests where Washington and his men fought and defeated the British troops under Cornwallis. It is often said to be the last battle of the Revolutionary War, but other lesser battles took place later. This was the decisive battle that broke the British will. There are state and national museums nearby, worth visiting. There are cannons, earthworks, and other artifacts of the battle. If at all interested in America's origins, you should visit this area. The small town of Yorktown has some reasonable eating and drinking spots, and in the summer, a sailing vessel upon which to tour the river. read more

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Update: While visiting Colonial Williamsburg, we decided to spend part of a day taking in the Revolutionary War Yorktown Battlefield. In this epic battle, General George Washington along with Alexander Hamilton and French troops commanded by Comte de Rochambeau and Marquis de Lafayette won a decisive victory over the British army commanded by General Lord Charles Cornwallis. We started our tour at the Visitor Center. There we picked up a map, saw a short film and purchased an auto tour CD (highly recommended). We then drove around the battlefield, listened to the narrative on the CD and stopped to visit the various sights. We found Redoubt 9 especially interesting. The Battle at Yorktown secured independence for the American colonies. If you have the opportunity, I think you'll find a tour of the battlefield interesting and educational. read more

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A visit to Yorktown should be required for every American student before graduation. The museum was spacious and engaging for both the adults and children in our group, and the park ranger who led the outdoor information session was passionate and entertaining and took pains to make connections to current events. Without being patronizing or partisan, she highlighted our responsibility to continue the work of our nation--and to do this we need to understand what we got right (and what we didn't) back the so we can protect our future. The driving tour was easy to navigate, offering not only beautiful scenery to enjoy but a series of stops where we could imagine what happened from the perspectives of different participants. We also appreciated the opportunity to visit the Civil War Cemetery and discuss with our children how we ended up so divided less than a century after we fought for independence from Britain, and it's a short drive to the waterfront historic area if you want to decompress in the sand for a bit after all that heavy history. read more

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Well laid out, we had the cd to listen to although you really didn't need it. The signs they have up (if you read) will tell you the same thing. Very pleasant trip. read more

National Treasure. I grew up here and never appreciated it until I moved away. Visits were are so special. Note the because of covid the Battlefield museum is closed but they have many self serve options. The gift shop at the battlefield has limited hours which are not posted correctly online. The Revolution museum is open just down the street. It is excellent. read more

Yorktown Battlefield - Allied Trenches - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Yorktown, Virginia

Was a great day even in the rain. The employees are full of information and are very polite and professional.

This place is huge, and really you can be here all day touring the battlefields, reading the plates regarding history, and taking pictures. It is just incredible to see how big the fields are, and is also humbling when you think about the people that perished. read more

One of the finest historical sites I have been to. The trail was awesome. The cemetery was really good. Very well marked and lots of information about the place. The gift shop was very affordable. read more

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I just want to say that I might be spoiled by Gettysburg experiences. Compared to that park this one needs some help. I really really wish there was a detailed map on the brochure the NPS gives out with the description of the stops on the auto tour. The app isn't great and I really don't want to waste my cellphone data every little thing. It would be nice to have a lookout tower near the readouts so you can get a overhead view of the field. With the high grass I was a disoriented a lot of the time. The audio tour cd I purchased in the gift shop was great and I'm very glad I bought that. It may also be helpful to have some information about whatever type of biting insect is in the fields. I was walking around not knowing that my ankles and legs were being bitten. I would have used bug spray if I was aware this was happening because I am super itchy now. read more

A must-see for people interested in Revolutionary War history. The American Revolutionary War Museum was very good but trying to see all of battle sites was more difficult than it should have been. It's a self-guided driving tour using a phone app that detects your location. It starts narrating what happened at each location automatically. We were given a paper map with spots labeled A through F. Finding even the first location was difficult due to poor or nonexistent signage. We followed the signs as best we could but still didn't see everything in order for some reason. The narration didn't activate at the last site, and we stumbled upon it by accident when we got out to walk. The sites themselves were all empty fields with signs. No statues or cannons or else were on display to give you a better idea of what happened. It is interesting to see where these battle were fought, but they could have been presented better. read more

Historic Battlefield. Site of the last battle of the Revolutionary War this park doesn't look like much of a battlefield these days. It is quite a good size and you can walk to it from Colonial Williamsburg if you don't mind hoofing it for a while. It is easier to get over by car and all the roads are well marked. There are guided and self guided tours and it is the kind of place where you can close your eyes and imagine the lines of troops standing shoulder to shoulder blasting away at each other. Very interesting in that it is also part of the "historic triangle" consisting of Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown - you can get a whole lot of history shoved down your throat in a day's time here. read more

This place is amazing. I ended up spending six and a half hours meandering around the battlefield and driving the well-marked tour. Leave time for the driving part! It's well worth it. Thank you Ranger Chad Parkening for an awesome talk! The Visitor Center itself is a fairly quick visit. Jump on a Ranger talk if you can. The highlight is undoubtedly Washington's tent. Any more museum-type info at this site would be duplicative to the American Revolution Museum. The two go hand-in-hand. Thank you National Park Service for knocking it out of the park! read more

Yorktown Battlefield...we finally got here last month completing our tour of the Colonial Triangle and I'm glad that we did as this is indeed a place where amazing history played out (although most people's take on what actually happened here is wrong) although out of the three triangle spots to me Historic Jamestowne is still the best. As usual a few thoughts and observations: * Two of the three rangers we encountered here were miserable wretches. Having been to more than my fare share of National Park sites I've noticed that a lot of the rangers at the larger locations like Castle Clinton, Statue of Liberty, Independence Hall or at Yorktown seem to either have major attitude issues or I guess are so ground down from being busy all the time that they cashed in their customer service chips ages ago. The one volunteer who was working the visitor center desk (name I forget but his pin said that he was a 2,000 hour volunteer) was A LOT better than they were in terms of caring and demeanor. * We did watch the 15 minute movie and it was typical NPS quality. Cheesy and low budget but necessary and it gets the job done in terms of explaining what happened here albeit in a very Cliff's Notes kind of way. * We did not explore the visitor center as the one ranger told us to skip it. She said it was small, outdated and aside of seeing a few of General Washington's Original Campaign Tents there was no reason. Although the gift shop is stocked with tons of excellent books and should not be missed. * Being post-Labor Day there was only one ranger program being run when we went and it was a 30 minute talk/short outside walk about the events at Yorktown which was happening three of four times during the day right after the movie let out. The ranger who did it was friendlier than the other two although I can't say that she explained things any better than what was in the movie. It seemed like if you did one you really didn't need to do the other. * We did the red half of the 7 mile driving tour and some of it was very interesting. You get a closer look at redoubt #9, redoubt #10, the Moore House (open seasonally), the Grand French Battery, the Second Allied Siege Line and most importantly the Surrender Field. There is another half (yellow) but we skipped it as it supposedly it's a lot farther drive with fewer & less interesting stops (according to grumpy ranger dude). http://www.nps.gov/york/planyourvisit/upload/yorkmap3.pdf * Speaking of the Moore House, it was the house chosen to host the surrender negotiations in 1781. It along with the National Cemtery Lodge, the Nelson House and Poor Potter are open either seasonally or as NPS funding staffing allow. The day that we came all of the houses were not opening until 1pm which stinks when you get to the visitor center when they open because honestly Yorktown is not an all day stop. The hours are not updated/listed on their website page so either you need to call ahead or show up see what you get. * The one piece of history that no one seems to talk about here is what saved Yorktown Battlefield. What saved it you ask? The Great Depression of course. In 1926 the 18-hole Riverview Golf Course was constructed around the earthworks remaining from the Civil War and Revolutionary War on the Yorktown Battlefield, and work was begun on a large hotel. The Great Depression halted construction on the hotel in 1929 and ended plans for a second golf course on the battlefield. (According to the ranger who gave the talk, if stand close to the tree line near Redoubts 9 and 10, you might notice a small area of raised ground. To the casual observer, the spot could appear to be an overlook of sorts, providing a view of the York River and battlefield. She said it's probably a tee for one of the holes on the former golf course. Those sweeping vistas across the flat perfectly mowed fields? They were once the fairways for the golfers) The other thing to keep in mind about Yorktown is the fallacy that is taught in schools or in popular culture that when Cornwallis surrendered that it somehow ended the war and that victory was imminent. In reality that could not have been farther from the truth. The British still controlled large parts of the south, New England and present day Canada. Cornwallis had sent for reinforcements from New York that arrived five days too late. If they arrive earlier than the American/French soldiers who were marching down from Rhode Island who knows how things turn out? Also George III had said several times that he would rather abdicate the throne than lose the colonies so clearly the Red Coats even after Cornwallis's surrender on October 19th 1781 were not going anywhere anytime soon. The proof of that being that the last British soldier did not leave for another two years until November 25th 1783. read more

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