Yorktown

This past weekend we went on an excursion to Yorktown sans Alex (he is getting at that age where hanging out with the family is not fun anymore...sigh). We visited the Yorktown Victory Center. It was a nice museum that had a huge gallery that chronologically dated the American Revolution...from colonial status to nationhood. You may remember from American History class that Yorktown is significant because of the victory of General George Washington's army over the British army. In Oct. 1781, Lord Cornwallis surrendered, thus ending the American Revolution (where battles covered much of the eastern seaboard).

After watching a short film we headed outdoors to watch a canon firing demonstration.


There was also a re-created Continental Army encampment where historical interpreters described the daily life of American soldiers at the end of the war. The kitchen shown below was actually dug out by Alex's Boy Scout Troop for an Eagle project this past spring.


Another section outdoors brought us to a re-created 1780s farm, complete with a house, kitchen (separate from the house), tobacco field and barn, and crop fields.


After visiting the Yorktown Victory Center we drove over to a scenic overlook of the York River.


Then we headed over to historic Yorktown and walked along the "Riverwalk". Quaint shops and restaurants lined the Riverwalk. We rode on a free trolley which the kids enjoyed and ate a light dinner at a cafe with views of the York River.


It was a pleasant surprise to discover yet another local beach in the area. It kind of reminded me of Moreau Lake (NY) because it was divided in sections and roped off. Matt wanted to go swimming so Ted took the kids there the next day for a couple of hours.


We didn't make it to the Yorktown Battlefield located just up the road from the Victory Center...perhaps another day. (More pics in the Yorktown slideshow link below.)