Yorktown Victory Center, Construction Views, (Part 3)

We received some of the inside construction pictures to allow everyone to see what is presently going on at the Yorktown Victory Center and how the new museum is progressing.  Pictures are courtesy of the Jamestown/Yorktown Foundation.  The above picture is of the finishing of the center basement slab of the upcoming American Revolution Museum.

This picture is the south elevation.

Here we have the installation of the basement concrete masonry looking west.  Starts to put the entire project into perspective as to just how big this museum is going to be.

Here is the foundations of the north elevations.  This is the section closest to the entrance into the present living museum.  

  The Yorktown Victory Center is open everyday with the exception of Christmas Day.  Yes they will be open for Thanksgiving and have a very special day planned for Thanksgiving where they will be demonstrating the collection of food from the farm and food preparations of the period.  

  Average length of a tour is about 2 and half hours.  Now of course that is just an average and is dependent on one's level of interest.  A history buff could spend and entire day here and still want more.  The indoor museum which we are not able to show pictures of, because indoor photography is not permitted, could easily take up half your day.  But allow us to clue you in.  If you have ever been to Disney, the level of displays are easily comparable.  It's the best of both worlds.  Living history and traditional museum history and an incredible movie theater showing even more.

  It's a great way to step back in time and immerse yourself into the 18th century period.  To see what our forefathers fought for and why.  What the struggles of life were really like.  Put your cell phone away while you are here.  You do not want modern distractions to spoil the experience.  

  Yorktown offers incredible history and it is found throughout a number of streets in the historic area.  But the best is found right here at the Yorktown Victory Center, soon to be the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.  

  Oh and let's not forget what we are expecting of the new structure.  It's going to be an 80,000 square foot super center to be considered a nationally recognized facility with classrooms and event space.  Plus the farm and encampment areas will be expanded and an amphitheater will be added to the mix.

   Even though we are still a while away from the new American Revolution museum being completed, it's an amazing journey through time exploring the Yorktown Victory Center.  Put a trip through this place on your calendar as soon as you can.  You will be glad you did.  

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Yorktown Victory Center Continental Army Encampment (Part 2)

Earlier this week we had the privilege of touring the Yorktown Victory Center and it's various areas of living history.  Today we are going to cover the Continental Army Encampment.  Again, a super job of recreating an historical view of what life was like during the American Revolution has been extremely well done and again, this one area alone is worth the visit for anyone seeking to further their knowledge of American History.

  One section of the encampment focuses on military operations and demonstrations of firing both muskets and canons are done throughout the day.

An interpreter, well versed in history, explains every step of preparing to fire a musket in a military lineup.  He goes through all the steps and fires the musket into an area free from any form of endangerment to any humans or species.  Once done, he further explains the steps for reloading and demonstrates the process until he once again fires a second shot.

Pictured above is part of a table of tools and weapons used during the period.

Multiple canons are on display and yes one of them does actually get fired.

There are a number of muskets on display and if you have never had the opportunity to hold one in your hands, you get a chance to do so here at the encampment.  Again, this is a living museum and many areas are hands on.  How often do you get such a grand opportunity?

There are numerous tents that you can go into and explore what life was like inside one of these.

Attention to detail is never lacking.  There are surprises around each corner and if you have your camera ready, you have some great opportunities to take advantage of.

An entire area has been dedicated to what cooking for the troops was like and even includes the supply shed.

Foods and their preparations are fully demonstrated.  The above is only a very small sampling of what you will see.

Pictured here is the troops laundry area and costs for having someone wash your cloths for you based on the money used during that period.

There is also the encampments doctor with all his tools and medicines used during the time and he covers their uses in full detail.  Sure we have pictures, but the objective is to get you to pay a visit and see everything for yourself and start your own educational process.  While we seek to educate as many people about our nation's history, we have found that taking a hands on approach gives a more true appreciation for such.  With that said, this is why we are promoting area museums and sites and will continue to do so.  It's a combined effort to bring our nations history to as many people as possible for a greater appreciate of what this country really is and can once again be.

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Yorktown Victory Center Remodeling Updates, Part 1

The Yorktown Victory Center has been under a remodeling for some time now, however, their doors have remained open to the public and the experience is just as grand as it has always been.  We took some time this week to explore the facility and take a number of pictures and meet with some of the staff as well as the reenactors to get a better picture of what is going on.  Though they have a large wall up surrounding the new construction site, giving the appearance that maybe they are closed, the living museum experience has not suffered in the least by the new construction.

  The staff at the facility were great and very helpful.  While we walked around the the colonial American farm section of the living museum, one of the staff members was cooking some incredible meals that both looked and smelled very delicious.

Meals are made in period fashion to give visitors a real world idea of what life was once like for our forefathers and foremothers for that matter.

The entire farm section of the living museum is incredibly recreated in very rich detail and includes tobacco farming common during the era.

The details recreated in a typical family farmhouse are amazing.  The dinner table all set for the family to sit down and eat once the food is ready.

  Details in every area of daily life are not spared.  Even the laundry area was set up to give visitors and idea of what a typical day consisted of during the period.

 Even the socks were hung out to dry along with other laundry.  Obviously someone earlier in the day had spent time doing the daily load.

There was so much to see and do here alone that this area itself is well worth the visit.  If you have not been to the Yorktown Victory Center in awhile, it's time for a return trip.  If you have never been and you have even the slightest bit of interest in history, then this is a must for your list.  If you are a photographer, then this is a dream place to shoot.

Below is a PDF that shows what is under construction and what we can all expect in the future.  The plans are very exciting.

New Yorktown Museum Highlights Flyer 10 2013 from Chuck Thompson

To view the PDF in full screen mode, please left click the icon at the far bottom right hand side of the Slideshare container.  To exit full screen mode, just hit the escape key on your keyboard.  This is part one in our series on the Yorktown Victory Center.

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Liberty's Kids 2, The Intolerable Act - Battle of the Hook Pre Launch

We are once again hosting the entire Liberty's kids video series as part of our celebration pre launch to the upcoming Gloucester, Virginia Battle of the Hook re enactment.  This is something history buffs who can afford the time off and able to travel will not want to miss as there has never been a battle reenactment like the one coming up.  With 20 ships expected for sea battles, 1,500 soldiers, 20 to 35 horses for cavalry battles, an incredible amount of ammunition already committed to the event, nowhere else has a reenactment of such grand scale ever been produced.  Gloucester is only about a 30 minute drive from Williamsburg, a jump across the bridge from Yorktown, about 1 hour from Richmond and about 4 hours from Washington, DC.

 Warren Deal who is one of the members of the planning committee has been doing an outstanding job on this living history project as has everyone else who has been working hard at getting the entire project to full fruition.  Mr Deal has been one of Gloucester's most outspoken and best historians of the area and greatly appreciated.

Battle of the Hook from Chuck Thompson

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The Battle of the Hook Reenactment in October To Include Amphibious Landing, Cavalry, Recreated Period Tavern and More, According to Recently Released Schedule of Events

Battle of the Hook Revolutionary War Reenactment Returns to Gloucester Oct. 19-20 at the Inn at Warner Hall

Gloucester, Va. (PRWEB) July 25, 2013

The British are coming back, with the Americans and French, too.
And now we know exactly what time. On Oct. 19 and 20, the Allies will engage the British Legion and other Crown forces in a reenactment of the 1781 Battle of the Hookthat took place in Gloucester County, helping win the Siege of Yorktown and America's independence.
A full schedule of events for the event – the largest Revolutionary War reenactment in the country – was released this week for the community.
Saturday, October 19 at the Inn at Warner Hall
9 a.m.

Site opens to the public.
Live field archeology dig and demonstration on the grounds of historic Warner Hall.
Display of actual artifacts from the Battle of the Hook and related historical paintings and art.
Period music, civilian and military.
18th century farm setting with live animals.
Colonial tavern demonstration.
Dramatic presentations.
Camp life in the British, French, and American camps.
Display of art and writings done in commemoration of the Hook.
Period sutlers and craftsmen displaying and selling their wares.
Food service.


9:30 to 10 a.m.

Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Warner/Lewis Cemetery


9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Battalion Drill.


10 to 10:30 a.m.

Artillery demonstration, battlefield.


11 to 11:30 a.m.

French Boat Landing and Skirmish.
Colonial Ladies Program.


1:30 to 2 p.m.

Cavalry Demonstration, battlefield.


2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Battle of the Hook, battlefield, all troops.


6:30 to 7 p.m.

Dusk Artillery Demonstration, battlefield.


7 to 7:30 p.m.

Storming of Redoubt.
Closed to the public.


Sunday, October 20 at the Inn at Warner Hall
10 a.m.

Site opens to the public.
Live field archeology dig and demonstration on the grounds of historic Warner Hall.
Display of actual artifacts from the Battle of the Hook and related historical paintings and art.
Period music, civilian and military.
18th century farm setting with live animals.
Colonial tavern demonstration.
Dramatic presentations.
Camp life in the British, French, and American camps.
Display of art and writings done in commemoration of the Hook.
Period sutlers and craftsmen displaying and selling their wares.
Food service.


10:15 to 10:40 a.m.

Period Church Service.


11 to 11:30 a.m.

British Boat Landing, and Skirmish.


1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Attack on the Gloucester Redoubts, Battlefield, all troops.


4 p.m.

Event closes.


The reenactment will bring together more than 1,000 infantry, cavalry, artillery and maritime landing reenactors from across the country at the Inn at Warner Hall, home of President George Washington’s ancestors.
“This Revolutionary War reenactment celebrated General Washington’s victory over the British Army,” said Warren Deal, the Battle of the Hook planning committee’s chairman. “Historic battles will be brought to life by living historians. Recreated military units from across the country will encamp near the actual battlefields where the American Revolution was won after six long years of fighting.”
This is the second Battle of the Hook reenactment. The first took place at the same location nearly five years ago.
The events leading up to the Revolutionary War’s Yorktown Campaign and the subsequent victory of the Allies that insured the independence of the United States are well known. Less well known is the Battle of the Hook – the battle that took place across the York River from Yorktown 16 days before the British capitulation. Although rather brief, it included the largest cavalry engagement of the war, with more than 500 horsemen involved.
The Battle of the Hook reenactment in Gloucester is being financed entirely by donations, including the educational programs.
Donations are tax deductible and checks should be made out to First Virginia Regiment and mailed to Battle of the Hook c/o First Virginia Regt., 1596 N. Village Rd., Reston, VA 20194.
The Inn at Warner Hall is located roughly three and a half miles from U.S. Route 17 and a 30-minute drive from Colonial Williamsburg. The battlefields of Yorktown are within 15 minutes and Jamestown, America’s first settlement, is a 50-minute drive along the scenic Colonial Parkway. The state capitol of Richmond, the Norfolk Harbor, and Virginia Beach are within an hour’s drive.
For more information about the Battle of the Hook, visit http://www.battleofthehook.org.

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