Skip to Main Content

Yorktown, Virginia: Cornwallis' Cave

Dug into a cliff, barred by a gate, supposedly sheltered the cowardly British general Corwallis during the patriot bombardment of Yorktown in 1781. Unlike most caves, it's right next to a street and has informative outdoor signage.

Address:
624 Water St., Yorktown, VA
Directions:
From US Hwy 17, turn west just south of the bridge onto Mathews St. Drive until it dead-ends at the stop sign, then turn right. Drive under the bridge. Make second right onto Ballard St. Drive to the top of the hill. At the stop sign, turn left onto Main St. Drive several blocks. Just past the white house with the white picket fence on the left, turn left onto tiny Comte De Grasse St. Drive to the bottom of the hill. Turn left onto Water St. In a half-block you'll see, on the left, the tiny parking lot for the cave.
Save to My Sights

Visitor Tips and News About Cornwallis' Cave

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Cornwallis' Cave.

Cornwallis' Cave

Located on Water Street in downtown Yorktown, legend has it that this is where British General Cornwallis hid during the Siege of Yorktown. While this has been debunked, the natural cave was used for ammunition storage during the Civil War. The interior of the cave has been gated so visitors cannot enter the cave.

[Nancy Sheppard, 09/18/2017]

Nearby Offbeat Places

U.S. Army Transportation MuseumU.S. Army Transportation Museum, Fort Eustis, VA - 6 mi.
Giant Propeller From SS United StatesGiant Propeller From SS United States, Newport News, VA - 12 mi.
Viking Leifr Eiriksson StatueViking Leifr Eiriksson Statue, Newport News, VA - 12 mi.
In the region:
U.S. Army Women's Museum, Fort Gregg-Adams, VA - 47 mi.

Latest Tips Across Roadside America

Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.

Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!

Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Create and Save Your Own Crazy Road Trip! ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Virginia Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

JFK's World Famous Twine Ball, Highland, Wisconsin (Mar 18-24, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings