Yorktown in York County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Tobacco Press

York River Maritime Heritage

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Tobacco Press Marker

Inscription.
Tobacco was Virginia's Cash Crop. It was often used instead of coins as a currency during the colonial period
Yorktown is the deepest natural harbor on the East Coast. The York River opens onto the Chesapeake Bay with a direct path to the Atlantic Ocean, It was the primary port of import and export for the Virginia Colony through the 1760s. Most of the tobacco from the Middle Peninsula came to the warehouse in Yorktown.

The tobacco was loosely packed in barrels and transported to the warehouse to be inspected by the Customs Agent. If declared bad it was burned, If it passed inspection it was then tightly pressed into the wooden barrels and loaded onto the ships bound for England. Instead of 200 pounds of loose tobacco, the barrel could contain 700 pounds of pressed tobacco.

The demand for tobacco is a root cause to the development of slavery in the colonies. Six out of ten slaves entering Virgmia came through the docks at Yorktown.

Erected by Waterman’s Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 37° 14.366′

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N, 76° 30.659′ W. Marker is in Yorktown, Virginia, in York County. It can be reached from Water Street 0.3 miles west of Buckner Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is located on the grounds of the Waterman’s Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 309 Water Street, Yorktown VA 23690, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula,

in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Virginia State Navy Gunboat Henry (a few steps from this marker); Pages Rock Lighthouse (a few steps from this marker); The Yorktown Windmill (within shouting distance of this marker); John Smith Explores the Chesapeake (within shouting distance of this marker); Join the Adventure (within shouting distance of this marker); The Watermen's Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Naval Weapons Station (within shouting distance of this marker); Yorktown's Windmill (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yorktown.

Also see . . .
1. The Yorktown Tobacco Press. (Submitted on February 8, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Waterman’s Museum. (Submitted on February 8, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Tobacco Press Marker

Tobacco Press image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

3. Tobacco Press

Credits. This page was last revised on February 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 8, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 175 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 8, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.