Road trip, day 6 part 1

 

Our last day. We packed up the car checked out of the hotel and headed towards Yorktown.

Yorktown, as you may know, was the site of the last decisive battle of the Revolutionary War, where George Washington defeated Cornwallis  and secured American independence.

We started with the American Revolution Museum.  This venue is operated by the same company as the Jamestown Sett.   There’s a gallery that shows the history of the revolution.

Outside there is a mi,Italy encampment, and interpreters dressed as soldiers.

There’s also a middling farm.  That’s a small farm owned by a middle class family.  The family would grow its own food, but they’d also grow a cash crop — tobacco or cotton.  They’d rely on enslaved people  as labor for the cash crop.

Here’s a loom, probably operated by the lady of the house.

The white building is 5ge house, the brown one is the kitchen.

Then it was time to go down the road to the battlefield.  

There’s a gallery and a short introductory movie.

Cornwallis’ ship

Washington’s tent 

Then we met up with a park ranger, who took us onto the battlefield and gave a talk about the battle.  Definitely worthwhile. If you get the chance — the rangers are very knowledgeable.

We also got to see something different — the crew setting up for a special event. The park was preparing to host a special screening of a Ken Burns documentary.

Then we walked over to the monument.  It was authorized by the Continental Congress in 1781, just a few days scythe battle, but wasn’t erected until 100 years mlater,

If you want an ore comprehensive tour of the battlefield you can get a map from the visitor’s center and download an app that provides narration.  Drive around, following the signs to each point of interest.  We thought it was a bit boring, to be honest, and probably wouldn’t do it again.

And then it was time to point the car north, towards home.