Moore House (Yorktown, Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Moore House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Virginia
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| Nearest city | Yorktown, Virginia |
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| Built | ~1725 |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| Restored | 1931–1934 |
The Moore House is a very old and important building in York County, Virginia. It is part of the Colonial National Historical Park. This house became famous during the American Revolutionary War. It was here that British General Charles Cornwallis agreed to surrender to the American and French forces. This surrender happened after the Siege of Yorktown, a major battle that helped America win its independence.
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The Moore House: A Historic Landmark
The Moore House was built around 1725. It stood on a large piece of land called Temple Farm, which was about 500 acres. This land also had a dam and a mill for grinding grain.
Early Owners of Temple Farm
The land where the Moore House stands was first given to John Harvey, who was the governor of Virginia, in the 1630s. Back then, it was known as the York Plantation. Later, a man named Lawrence Smith II built the Moore House on Temple Farm. The house stayed in his family for many years.
In 1754, Lawrence Smith II's son, Robert, sold the house to his brother-in-law, Augustine Moore. Robert sold it because he was having money problems. Augustine Moore and his family lived there until the Siege of Yorktown began. To stay safe, they left their home and moved to Richmond.
The Yorktown Surrender
The Moore House played a key role in the end of the Revolutionary War. On October 17, 1781, British General Cornwallis asked for a ceasefire. This meant he wanted to stop fighting. He chose the Moore House as the place to talk about surrendering. It was a good spot because it was easy to reach and seemed neutral.
The next day, representatives from General George Washington's army and General Cornwallis's army met at the house. They worked out the "Articles of Capitulation," which were the terms of surrender. A first version was sent to Washington, who made a few small changes. The final agreement was signed on October 19, 1781. This event marked a huge victory for the American forces.
The House Through the Years
After Augustine Moore and his wife passed away, the Moore House was owned by Hugh Nelson starting in 1797. Over the years, the house had several different owners. It also suffered a lot of damage during another battle, the Siege of Yorktown in 1862, during the American Civil War. Soldiers even took wood from the house to use for their campfires.
The house was not repaired for a long time. It finally got some attention for the Battle of Yorktown Centennial Celebration in 1881. Much later, the National Park Service took on the job of restoring the house. They worked on it between 1931 and 1934, using old photographs to make it look like it did before. The restored house was officially opened on October 18–19, 1934. This restoration project was very important because it was the first time the National Park Service had done such a detailed historical restoration.
