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

East Along Main Street

Historic Yorktown

— Colonial National Historical Park —

East Along Main Street Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, December 9, 2011

1. East Along Main Street Marker

Inscription. “Yorktown, a small but pleasant and well built little city, close to the river; has an English church and a courthouse… Upon our arrival the inhabitants fled with their wives and children, leaving behind all their furniture and belongings.” Lieutenant Johann Ernst Prechtel, Ansback-Bayreuth Regiment, August 2, 1781

Yorktown’s main street was surveyed in 1691 when the town was founded. Since then it has felt the tread of feet and the roll of wheels for more than three centuries. This painting portrays the scene along Main Street as it may have appeared while the British were setting up their occupation of Yorktown in late summer of 1781.

(caption)
Painting by Sidney King

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1781.

Location. 37° 14.117′ N, 76° 30.501′ W. Marker is in Yorktown, Virginia, in York County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and Church Street, on the right when traveling east on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 408 Main Street, 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. West Along Main Street (here, next to this marker); Somerwell House

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(a few steps from this marker); Two Mercenary Units (within shouting distance of this marker); Medical Shop (Reconstructed) (within shouting distance of this marker); Cole Digges House, circa 1925 (within shouting distance of this marker); Swan Tavern (within shouting distance of this marker); Cole Digges House, circa 1730 (within shouting distance of this marker); Custom House, circa 1720 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yorktown.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, October 23, 2016

2. East Along Main Street Marker

In this view towards the north, the marker is to the right with the Somerwell House in the background.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, October 23, 2016

3. East Along Main Street Marker

A view along Main Street towards the east, with the marker to the far right.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 24, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 6, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 467 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 6, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 2, 3. submitted on October 24, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.