"Must see at Yorktown!" Topic

Yes- this is the Napoleonic board
Yes I am mostly Napoleonic and thus not connected to nor could not get to the other board on AWI to start the thread so i started here to then cross post.
So fire away on the remarks!

Seriously though…
I am looking for suggestion of things to see while visiting this battle field of AWI and of that not necessarily covered by any brochure.
thank you in advance!

MG

I thought sunk at Midway, and found by that chap with the subs….

All I can say is that the rebel colonists are brilliant at preserving their heritage.

OK, I know….their's does not go back too far. I have never forgotten the enthusiasm of our guide in Michigan, in 1983, taking us around a genuine transported English cottage in Dearborne Park (I forget the spelling). We were too embarrassed to say that it was a century younger than the place we were renting out back home, while I was at the U of M.

Any US site puts to shame something like how the Belgians treat Waterloo or even their own dead from two world wars. Sorry, it is a thing that gets me going every time.

I hope you get a more helpful response and enjoy it immensely. Meet the local folk, not just the tourists.

Fort Lee, Virginia, not too far from Yorktown, is the site of the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum. A good place to visit for wargamers who are interested in seeing original items of uniforms and equipment from all eras of the Army's history.

There is the National Park of course with all the siege lines and redoubts 9 & 10. But there is also another privately owned park(sorry do not recall the name), but it has the fusilier redoubt held by the 23rd foot during the siege. Jamestown is also within 20 minutes.

Well, there's the Visitor Centre which is very absorbing, especially if you aren't familiar with the campaign, particularly the naval aspects. They have Washington's campaign tent!

Then there's what's left of the earthworks and the redoubts, one of which might fall ino the sea before too long, so you might want to hurry. The latter are surprisingly small.

Some cannon.

That's about it. It's very simple. On a fine weekday, Yorktown NBP is a rather beautiful and, ironically, very peaceful place to visit.

I advise attaching yourself to one of the ranger tours. I found that very illuminating, even if the ranger concerned was somewhat opinionated regarding Lord Cornwallis' generalship and spun me a line about one particular event, (I later learnt), he could certainly hold an audience.

For better or worse, his comments made me realise that I knew nothing about my ancestor's service in America and that is the reason I am typing this today.

Williamsburg and Jamestown are worth seeing.

Yorktown is one of the most pristine battlefields in the U.S.! Definitely take one or more of the Park Ranger guided tours to the various parts of the battlefield.

You will want to check out the French part of the Siege lines and the spot of their main encampment!

The park is also very pet friendly, however be careful in the section located adjacent to the Visitor's Center, as during a drought in the early part of the last century someone planted a mass of cactus in the open area between the British and Continental lines, the spines of which are not very nice to bare feet, or open toed shoes!

The film presented in the Visitor's Center is the best place to start! Be sure to wear comfortable shoes as you'll want to spend most of your time walking! It's the best way to see the battlefield!!

Colonial Williamsburg is only a few miles up the road, which is another good place to spend a nice long day!!

NPS Museum and battlefield

Do not waste your money on the Yorktown Victory Center (across from the Fuslier redoubt) as it is not fully open yet. They have not transfered the collection from the old museum – which has been closed for months. Not fully reopening till the summer or fall.

Jamestown (state park) is a nice recreation of the historic site. NPS park not worth the time.

The Virginia War Museum has a stunning collection or original uniforms and is worth the trip:

warmuseum.org

The Mariner's Museum if you like naval history:

marinersmuseum.org

and the Nauticus Museum and battleship Wisconsin

nauticus.org

Yorktown river walk is also worth seeing along the York River.

Nothing to see across the bridge in Gloucester (except the view of Yorktown), so save the trip.

Of course Colonial Williamsburg and if you go, don't miss the De Witt Museum.

Also, numerous close by Civil War battlefields and museums up by Richmond.

As Fredrick noted, the area is a complication of a lot of things to see. When I was assigned to Fort Lee near the Petersburg battlefield, I visited the area often.
Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown colony, the Busch Gardens amusement park, Naval museum ships and Yorktown.

There's also the American Civil War Siege of Yorktown on basically the same site! :)

I'd agree the Ranger tours are well while; the NPS takes battlefield history extremely seriously.

-Will

I second the Mariner Museum If you have a chance Cold Harbor battlefield is close and worth a stop.

If you are into uniforms that VA War Museum is really a must see. They have a jaw dropping collection (CMH's) of stuff.

Yorktown, Jamestown, Williamsburg all within 15 minutes of each other. FT Lee is only an hour or so away.

There is a lot of ACW history as well.

Yep, really glad this is on the Napoleonics board.

I must completely disagree about the Jamestown NP. Well worth a visit if you really like history. It is the site of original research. And the actual site. There is a nice museum. The other Jamestown is a recreation – also worth a visit and a very different experience.

However, Yorktown is much more a ACW site than a Revolution site from what I recall. But not entirely. I do remember driving out on road that ran past what was probably a 'covered' way from the camps.

"Nothing to see across the bridge in Gloucester (except the view of Yorktown), so save the trip."

I have to disagree with this statement. There are British earthworks at Glouscester Point that you can walk around.

During the Civil War gen John Magruder, CSA, built the Warwick Line to slow US operations up the Peninsula. The northern anchor was at Yorktown and was built on top of the British works. If you go to Newport News park a large portion of the line is within the park, preserved, and you can see the site of the battle of Dam number 9.

The other suggestions given above are all very good.

Not sure what earthworks survived in Gloucester. The land side ones had to be ploughed under by development. Not sure what is left on the water side, but I recall a park there.

If you had to pick one of the Jamestown Parks to see, I'd pick the state one. More visual (reconstructed buildings) unless you are into the archeology – though they have a good display of that as well.

I am assuming this person has limited time so I am making recommendations with that in mind, looking for the best bang for the buck time-wise.