Yorktown Brings History to Life—And Makes Memories That Last a Lifetime

History never dies—especially in Historic Yorktown, where America won her independence. In fall 2025, the town will honor the nation’s momentous victory with a series of commemorative events destined to become the highlight of your year (and the subject of many dinner conversations for years to come).

On September 6–7, 2025, Historic Main Street will travel back to 1781 for Before the Siege, an immersive look at the British Occupation. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors can wander through British encampments, watch authentic military drills, and discover what daily life was like in the colony during these tense pre-siege days.

The celebration continues on September 20, 2025, when Colonial National Historical Park, in partnership with WHRO Public Media, York County, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, and the VA250 Commission, presents We the People: A Yorktown Battlefield Event. From 3 to 9 p.m., guests will gather on the historic battlefield for a Revolutionary Festival and a special screening of Ken Burns’s highly anticipated documentary The American Revolution—a rare chance to watch history come to life on the very ground where it was made.

What’s the first thing you do after winning a war against the British? You celebrate with community and craftsmanship! On Saturday, October 18 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Yorktown Market Days’ Victory Market will showcase patriotic artistry—glassware, paintings, woodwork, and more. Visitors can also savor the flavors of the season with apples, cookies, meats, oysters, and other all-American delights from local vendors.

On October 19, the town commemorates the Siege of Yorktown and the Revolutionary War victory that secured America’s freedom. This Yorktown Day, enjoy a patriotic parade down Main Street at 1:30 p.m., as well as a spirited performance by the Fifes and Drums of York Town. Also, explore the town’s historic treasures, including the Nelson House, Yorktown Custom House, and the York County Historical Museum.

Museums & Attractions

If you can’t attend this year’s commemorative events, Historic Yorktown offers year-round opportunities to explore America’s revolutionary past.

The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
Open daily, this museum chronicles America’s fight for independence, from early colonial unrest to the birth of a new nation. Through engaging exhibits, films, and outdoor living-history areas, visitors can muster with Continental Army troops or lend a hand at a re-created Revolution-era farm.

Watermen’s Museum
This waterfront gem tells the story of life along the Chesapeake Bay and the people who have worked its waters for generations. In addition to exhibits, the museum offers school field trips, summer camps, and a variety of events.

Yorktown Battlefield
Begin at the Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center for an orientation film, museum exhibits, and a bookstore. From there, explore the fields, earthworks, and historic buildings where independence was won. Take a driving tour of siege lines and encampment areas or join a ranger-led tour. Junior Ranger programs are available for younger history lovers.

Victory Monument
One of Yorktown’s most beloved landmarks, the Victory Monument was commissioned by Congress just days after Lord Cornwallis’s surrender in 1781. While the directive came quickly, it took more than a century before the monument was finally erected—a lasting tribute to the victory that shaped a nation.