American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

This review just covers the inside of the museum, not the interactive farm and encampment outside. The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown offers several films and exhibits to learn about the war for independence. We really enjoyed our morning here! Start with the film about the revolution. It's won several awards and is fun and entertaining. The other major film is about the Siege at Yorktown, which is in a 4-D theater. Both films run about 20 minutes each. They have other short films throughout the museum that elaborate on the exhibits. They also have holograms portraying historic figures, like Daniel Morgan. They also have hands-on exhibits. I suggest allocating 2-3 hours to the museum. Add another couple to explore outside. They have a cafe that offers pre-made sandwiches and drinks. There also are places for lunch in historic Yorktown.Parking is free and plentiful. If you live in the local area, admission is free with a form of ID.

It's very hard for me to review thisuseum without bias. Being Native American and walking thru a museum that definitively declares this place as "Where the country began" strikes of Hubris However, as a student of American History, this place is tops. It is not your standard museum where you do the slow museum crawl. There are LOTS of interactive exhibits for both the kids and adults as well as several short films that tell the story of the times.Nothing (of course) about the Natives displaced by this war but at least there are mentions and a few wall placards mentioning how the Natives were concerned what would happen to them (rightly) when/if the war were won.Walking thru the exhibits one can't help but become immersed in how it must have been at the time. Take an hour and f your day if you are in Williamsburg to visit. I can guarantee that you won't regret it. There are both student and senior discounts available but the cost is not high.

I love a good museum, especially about history. It was fun to walk through and see some history. We came in a day that it was raining so we stayed inside to see what they had. But there was an outside area that we could see as we were leaving that we didn't get to explore. They had tents all set up. Looked like it would have been fun to see. Next time I guess.

I was honestly very surprised at how good this museum was. Living in Northern Virginia/DC, you get a bit snooty since you're surrounded by famous museums. But Yorktown was better than many in my area, they've put a ton of thought, love and care. There are two parts - an indoor museum and an outdoor Revolutionary War era village. Starting with the museum, it has a bit of something for everyone. If you're a history buff who likes to read, then they've got plenty of panels and artifacts. But if you like a lighter, interactive experience, you're in luck as the museum also has plenty of modern touches. Some exhibits are holograms. You have plenty of things you can touch (including French, British, and American sabers). And a very impressive 4D movie on an ultra-wide screen that you don't even pay extra for (which I very much appreciated). The village is standard for this type of thing, but still very high quality. And there's a lot of fun stuff. They had a musket shooting demonstration (where they shoot a blank into the nearby woods), a doctor's tent where you can interact with the brutal looking medical equipment of the day, a garden (my daughter was allowed to pull up some carrots) and various dwellings (including those of the enslaved people who lived there). The volunteers were all very knowledgeable and very nice, and bonus points for being equally as comfortable talking to me as my kids. I also have to give a real thumbs up to the small cafe. They have an espresso bar FULL of fun drinks that taste good too. There is a very small offering of food and a sizable selection of local products. I usually skip cafes in museums, but this one is high quality.They've built a really impressive experience that appeals to history buffs and novices of all ages. Highly recommend.

We had an absolutely fantastic time here! The intro video is welllll worth watching. The museum is very informative and walks you through the stages of the way. Such a good job. History lesson time: In the 1760s, the British government tried to take more control over the colonies. A major reason was the French and Indian War. Britain defeated France in the war in 1763, but the war was very costly. Afterward, Britain decided that its American colonies should help to pay its debts.Taxation without Representation: To raise money, Britain forced the colonies to pay new taxes. In 1765 the British lawmakers, called Parliament, passed a law called the Stamp Act. The act put a tax on legal papers, newspapers, and other printed items. The colonists protested. They were especially angry because Parliament was taxing them even though they had no representatives in Parliament. Because of the protests, the British government ended the tax in 1766.In 1767, however, a British official named Charles Townshend got Parliament to pass several new tax laws. The Townshend Acts taxed tea, lead, paint, paper, and glass coming into colonial ports. These taxes made the colonists even angrier.Boston Massacre and the Tea Party:To keep order, the British government sent soldiers to Boston, Massachusetts. On March 5, 1770, British soldiers fired shots into a crowd. Crispus Attucks and several other Americans were killed. This event became known as the Boston Massacre.On the same day as the Boston Massacre, Parliament did away with most of the Townshend Acts. They kept a tax on tea, however. Then, in 1773, Britain passed a law that allowed a British company to sell tea more cheaply than colonial merchants. On December 16, 1773, colonists boarded British ships in Boston Harbor and threw their cargo of tea into the water. This event became known as the Boston Tea Party.Intolerable Acts:The British government then passed laws that were even harsher. The colonists called them the Intolerable Acts. The strongest of these acts closed the port of Boston until the colonists paid for the tea they had ruined. Massachusetts was put under military rule.The colonists realized that the colonies had to act together. In 1774 representatives from every colony except Georgia met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The meeting was called the Continental Congress. The representatives called on Britain to cancel the Intolerable Acts. The British government answered by sending in even more troops.Let the War Begin: The colonist formed groups of soldiers called minutemen. The minutemen were to be ready to fight "at a minute's warning."In April 1775, Britain sent a force to seize the colonists' military supplies in Concord, Massachusetts. Paul Revere and William Dawes rode through the countryside to warn the colonists that the British soldiers were coming. On April 19, a group of minutemen met the British in Lexington. After a short fight, the British moved on to Concord. Another group of American soldiers forced them to turn back. The Battles of Lexington and Concord began the American Revolution.The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in May 1775. It brought together the military forces of the colonies to form the Continental Army. It put George Washington in charge of the army. Washington spent months preparing his troops for battle.Meanwhile the first major battle of the war took place at Bunker Hill. The British captured Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775, but they lost so many soldiers that the colonists claimed victory. The battle encouraged the colonists.Fighting for Independence: On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. With this document, the 13 colonies became the United States of America.In the summer and autumn of 1776 the British forced George Washington's troops out of New York. The Americans were driven across New Jersey into Pennsylvania. On Christmas night, however, Washington crossed the Delaware River to return to New Jersey. He had 2,400 troops with him and won important battles at Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey. These victories kept the struggle for independence alive.

We had so much fun here! The museum was beautiful! It looked so well throughout and so well put together. I absolutely love the workers, in their colonial attire, and how so knowledgeable they were. Very cool that they based the outside area on a particular family and we could walk through it and learn all about it. The gift shop is so nice as well. Definitely enjoyed, will return!

Very cool & interesting spot. This is both an indoor AND outdoor museum- the outdoor being the most fascinating to me. Two separate areas. One area showing what soldiers fighting in the war in the mid/late 1700's (shows the tents they would've crammed in, the higher ranking sleeping quarters, the "kitchen area," and had many different demonstrations going on around (if you hear a whistle blow a few times, the gun is gonna on off, but that's after an entire demonstration, and the actor gave fair warning to cover ears for those with noise sensitivities, which I thought was so thoughtful!).The second area was the life of a farmer- his home, kitchen (separate from the home), crops/fields, enslaved persons' home, tobacco house, etc... and the cute resident cat, who is up to date with all its shots & vet visits.Very enjoyable!! Don't skip the movie that has the countdown outside the doors they close (I think it's included with the museum, and is different than the theater up front). This movie has lights that go off, as well as light smoke & vibrations to go along with it. A must see for History Lovers!

Came here after getting rained out of Water Country USA (they're right around the corner from each other). Being used to Smithsonian museums in D.C., I had low expectations, but wow, this is a really professional, well-designed museum with a big budget! Lots of interactive exhibits as well as video clips to watch in themed rooms. The highlight is the Battle of Yorktown film room, of course. We didn't make it outside because of the rain, but there was still plenty to do inside to fill two hours. Staff was very nice as well.

Your could easily, easily, spend several hours here. The indoor museum is extensive. So much to see and do. Very well put together and produced. It's a lot. Again, if doing the historic triangle do your research on ticket packages. We got a great homeschool discount. Outside is also a ton too see with interpreters and stuff to touch. A mini camp and farm. Musket demos. Very cool stuff!

Just amazing. A must visit. The staff is great especially the elderly man who let the kids try on the revolutionary outfits.