Moore House (Yorktown, Virginia)

The Moore House, located in Yorktown, Virginia, is a historic home best known as the site where the Articles of Capitulation were drafted and signed, effectively ending the Siege of Yorktown and securing American victory in the Revolutionary War. Constructed sometime between 1725 and 1730, the house was originally owned by Augustine Moore, a prominent Yorktown merchant and planter.

The house's significance stems from its role in the surrender negotiations between representatives of the Continental Army and the British Army in October 1781. After General Cornwallis's surrender, commissioners from both sides met at the Moore House to finalize the terms of the surrender. The American commissioners were led by John Laurens, and the British representatives were led by Viscount de Noailles. The Articles of Capitulation, drafted and agreed upon at the Moore House, formalized the British surrender, a pivotal event in the outcome of the American Revolutionary War.

Following the war, the Moore House remained a private residence, passing through various owners and undergoing alterations. In the 20th century, the National Park Service acquired the property and restored it to its 1781 appearance. Today, the Moore House is a preserved historic site within Colonial National Historical Park. Visitors can tour the house and learn about its role in the Siege of Yorktown and the American Revolution. The house serves as an important reminder of the crucial negotiations that led to American independence.