Uncovering America’s Past: A Road Trip to the Revolutionary War Museum in Yorktown, Virginia

 

Dear Henry,

While Fish and I were visiting Jamestown, we also saw the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Let me tell you all about it.

The U.S. Revolutionary War was a conflict between 13 British colonies on the eastern edge of the North American continent and Great Britain. The whole thing kicked off over "taxation without representation." Essentially, the colonies were shouldering the costs of British wars and policies without any representation in Parliament. What started as protests turned into a full-blown war in 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. Eight long, bloody years later, it all wrapped up with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, officially recognizing the independence of the United States.

The final major battle of the war took place in Yorktown, Virginia. In 1781, General George Washington and his French ally, General Rochambeau, cornered British General Cornwallis and his troops. With American and French forces closing in on land and the French navy blocking escape by sea, Cornwallis surrendered after a brutal siege. That victory effectively ended the major fighting of the American Revolution and opened the door to peace talks.

Now, if you're a history buff or even just mildly curious, the museum at Yorktown is a fantastic place to soak it all in.

Back in 1976, during the U.S. Bicentennial celebrations, the original Yorktown Victory Center opened right near the historic battleground. It initially focused on the Battle of Yorktown itself. But in 1990, the center widened its scope to tell the whole story of the American Revolution, from the seeds of rebellion to the founding of a new nation.

Fast forward to 2012, and the site underwent a massive transformation. The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation started building what would become the new 80,000-square-foot museum complex, complete with expansive indoor exhibits, interactive galleries, and a living history area that really brings the 1700s to life. The project wrapped up with a big reopening on April 1, 2017, when the museum officially became the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.

We had such a good time.

The museum is packed with Colonial-era artifacts. There are uniforms, weapons, maps, documents, and interactive exhibits that make you feel like you're stepping right into history. We spent hours wandering through the galleries, reading every sign and watching some of the really well-done short films that bring the Revolutionary War to life.

Outside, the living history section was just as cool. We caught a super loud and surprisingly exciting colonial cannon firing demonstration. You can walk through recreated army camps and see how soldiers and camp followers lived day-to-day. There's also a working colonial farm complete with crops, animals, and interpreters in full 18th-century garb showing traditional farming methods.

And of course, no road trip is complete without a gift shop. The museum store is excellent; they've got everything from period crafts and toys to full-on Revolutionary War kitsch. We added a new shot glass to our travel collection, naturally.

Tickets are a very reasonable $20, and the museum is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on major holidays. I wouldn't recommend arriving after 3 p.m. There's a lot to see, and you'll want time to soak it all in.

If you ever find yourself in coastal Virginia, definitely make the stop. Whether you're a history buff or just looking for a fun and educational detour, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown is well worth the visit.

PS You can check out my YouTube video of the museum here: https://youtu.be/gdjT-ClsRXM

xoxo a.d. elliott

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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Springdale, Arkansas 

In addition to her travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

Her online photography gallery can be found at shop.takethebackroads.com

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