Yorktown

     As the final point on Virginia's Historic Triangle, Yorktown complements the story that Williamsburg and Jamestowne have started to tell. Although today it is a sleepy town on the bank of the York River, Yorktown was the site of the Battle of Yorktown, the last major battle of the Revolutionary War. Here, in the fall of 1781, the Americans and the French quickly encircled the British and surprised them with a definitive battle that turned the tide toward an American victory in the War for Independence. Ultimately, the Battle of Yorktown led to negotiations for peace and the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. All events in history are connected in an endless continuum, and nowhere is this more clear than in Virginia's Historic Triangle. Successful colonization of Jamestowne led to the establishment and success of colonial towns like Williamsburg. Discontentment and frustration with the British government led to tumultuous times in Williamsburg. This tension erupted in the Revolutionary War, which ended with the Battle of Yorktown. But the connections do not stop there. All these events influenced and continue to influence our world today. This realization reveals the true importance of places like Williamsburg and Jamestown and Yorktown. Without the preservation of the past, the future is bleak. However, if the future can learn from the past, then there is nothing to fear.

Purple Passion Flower

Cornwallis’ Cave; Legend has it that the British General retreated here to avoid bombardment during the Battle of Yorktown. The National Park Service claims otherwise, giving the less exciting explanation that the cave dates back to before the Revolution and was likely used for potato storage during colonial times.