Yorktown in York County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
For Freedom
June 10, 1781 - Oct. 14, 1781
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, June 7, 2026
1. For Freedom Marker
Baron Gaspard de Gallatin
Aide de Camp to Count de Rochambeau
Led the French Grenadiers
In Their Attack on Pigeon Quarters Oct. 6, 1781
Erected by State of Virginia D.A.R.
1931
Erected 1931 by Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1781.
Location. 37° 14.088′ N, 76° 30.472′ W. Marker is in Yorktown, Virginia, in York County. It is on Main Street near Read Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is on the northeast wall of the Old Custom House, only accessible via the yard when the building is open to the public (typically every Sunday afternoon in the summer, and on the annual Yorktown Day celebration in October). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 410 Main Street, Yorktown VA 23690, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula, in Coastal
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Early Colonial Custom House (a few steps from this marker); Revolutionary War Patriots (a few steps from this marker); Comte de Grasse (a few steps from this marker); Custom House, circa 1720 (a few steps from this marker); Cole Digges House, circa 1730 (within shouting distance of this marker); Cole Digges House, circa 1925 (within shouting distance of this marker); William Rogers' (the "poor potter") Pottery Ruins (within shouting distance of this marker); Earl Cornwallis (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, June 7, 2026
2. For Freedom Marker
Marker stands on the northwest porch of the Old Custom House, home of the Comte de Grasse DAR chapter. Visitors are allowed in the yard during the chapter's open houses, typically held during the afternoon each Sunday during the summer and on the annual Yorktown Day celebration. Otherwise the marker can only be viewed from outside of the brick fence. This porch was added to the house in 1929 and only predates the marker by a couple of years.
More about this marker. Below the marker is a presentation tablet that reads: Presented to Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution by Major William E. Besse of Torrington, Connecticut"
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, June 7, 2026
3. Old Customs House
View from the house's backyard, taken during a DAR open house day. Marker is on the porch shown. The building, which was a storehouse before it became a customs office, was seized for use as a barracks during the 1781 Siege of Yorktown. It was later used as a hospital during the Civil War, and the lot around it (including the demolished Ambler House that was connected to this building to the immediate northwest along Main Street) served as Gen. John Magruder's Headquarters when Gen. George McClellan besieged Yorktown in 1862.
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 5, 2026
4. For Freedom Marker
View from Main Street. This is as close as one can get when the building and grounds are not open.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 20, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 20, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia.
