Visit Yorktown Battlefield

See where American independence was won at the Yorktown Battlefield, administered by the National Park Service as part of the Colonial National Historical Park. Here on October 19, 1781, British forces under Lord Charles Cornwallis surrendered to the combined American and French armies led by General George Washington. Start at the Visitor Center and watch the orientation film. Then walk through the museum exhibits, including the field tents used by General Washington during the battle. Join a Ranger for a guided walking tour of the battlefield and 18th-century town. Drive through the battlefield and see the numerous fortifications and cannons; the Moore House, the scene of surrender negotiations; and Surrender Field, among other sites. Stroll through the historic town and view the many historic sites in Yorktown, including the Nelson House, home to a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and the Yorktown Victory Monument.