Yorktown in York County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Yorktown's Sunken Fleet
In the 1930s, many objects, including bottles, ceramics, and cannon were recovered from some of these sunken ships using a barge, clamshell buckets, and a hard-hat diver. From 1975 to 1981, Virginia Department of Historic Resources archaeologists surveyed the river bottom using remote sensing technology. Nine vessels were located by 1981 and the best preserved site was selected for intensive excavations. This later proved to be the brig Betsy.
Map depicting the locations of some of the scuttled ships. Courtesy of Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
Erected 2010 by York County.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Revolutionary • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1655.
Location. 37° 14.092′ N, 76° 30.284′ W. Marker is in Yorktown, Virginia, in York County. Marker can be reached from Water Street west of Comte de Grasse Street, on the right when traveling west. Located along Yorktown's Riverwalk. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Yorktown VA 23690, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Brig Betsy (here, next to this marker); Yorke Village (within shouting distance of this marker); Remembering Ancestors (within shouting distance of this marker); York “Under The Hill” (within shouting distance of this marker); York Under Siege 1781 (within shouting distance of this marker); An Archer House (within shouting distance of this marker); Pirates in Yorktown? (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yorktown.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 604 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 21, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.