Yorktown Wrecks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Yorktown Wrecks
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The York River at Yorktown
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| Nearest city | Yorktown, Virginia |
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| Area | 3,550 acres (1,440 ha) |
| Built | 1781 |
| Built by | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Frigate;Fifth rater |
| NRHP reference No. | 73002069 |
| Added to NRHP | October 9, 1973 |
The Yorktown Wrecks are a special area in Virginia's York River. This area holds important sunken ships from the American Revolutionary War. These shipwrecks are like underwater time capsules. They tell us about a big battle that happened there in 1781.
Experts explored the river in the 1970s. They found at least ten sunken ships. These ships were either sunk on purpose or by accident. This happened around the time of the Siege of Yorktown.
Sunken Ships of Yorktown
The Yorktown Wrecks are a group of ships at the bottom of the York River. They are important pieces of history from the American Revolutionary War. This war was fought for America's independence. The ships sank during a key event called the Siege of Yorktown in 1781.
During this time, American and French forces worked together. They were fighting against the British. Before the siege began, these forces sank some British ships. This happened near Yorktown. The British General, Charles Cornwallis, also ordered some of his own ships to be sunk. This was done to stop them from falling into enemy hands.
After the siege ended, many British ships were missing. At least 26 British vessels could not be found. Experts believe these ships are still lying in the York River.
Discovering History Underwater
Finding these wrecks was a big deal for history. In the 1970s, special surveys were done in the York River. These surveys helped experts find the sunken ships. Each ship tells a part of the story of the Battle of Yorktown.
The area where the ships are found is called "archaeologically sensitive." This means it holds important historical items. It needs to be protected so we can learn more from it.
Protecting These Historic Sites
The Yorktown Wrecks are very important. Because of this, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This list helps protect important historical places in the United States.
The Yorktown Wrecks site was the first underwater location ever added to this list. This shows how special and valuable these sunken ships are for understanding our past. Protecting them helps future generations learn about the American Revolutionary War.
