Revolutionary Williamsburg and Yorktown -2026

A BGES Revolutionary War Field University Program

With Robert “Bert” Dunkerly

February 7, 2026; from Williamsburg, VA

Join historian Bert Dunkerly, author of the BGES publication, An Explorer’s Guide to America’s Revolutionary War, for a focused field study of Williamsburg and Yorktown—mixing essential highlights with hidden, seldom-visited sites. Walking about 2 miles (with places to sit along the way), we’ll trace the story from prewar protests to the final campaign, hitting the highlights but also visiting seldom-seen and off-the-beaten-path locations—including campsites, battles, and more. We’ll stop by Green Spring to visit a couple of interesting sites. Nearby Yorktown rounds out our tour, where, depending on time and the group’s wishes, we’ll visit key sites and lesser-known spots.

Note: Colonial Williamsburg’s streets and public spaces are free to access; we will not enter ticketed historic buildings.

Itinerary

Saturday, February 7, 2026 (8 a.m.–5 pm.)

8:00 A.M. – Williamsburg

We’ll meet at Christiana Campbell’s Tavern, 101 S. Walker St., Williamsburg, for an overview of Revolutionary Williamsburg. We’ll discuss the tavern, one of the many businesses run by widowed women, and its role as a meeting place. Free parking is located behind the tavern.

MORNING IN WILLIAMSBURG

1. Capitol Building We’ll receive an overview of the building’s history, including prewar protests here led by Patrick Henry and others and Virginia’s declaration of independence in May 1776.
2. Raleigh Tavern This is where delegates gathered after dismissal to coordinate resistance to British laws. Geroge Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry were among those who met here.
3. Kings Arms Tavern Here we’ll consider wartime events associated with the tavern.
4. Ludwell-Paradies House Clementina Rind published the Virginia Gazette here; she was the official printer for the State of Virginia.
5. Gunpowder Magazine The 1775 Gunpowder Incident was a flashpoint on the road to revolution. We will also reflect on the Civil War burials recently discovered at this site.
6. Governor’s Palace We’ll discuss how the building transitioned from the resident of Virginia’s royal governor to the home of Patrick Henry as the state’s first elected governor, and later served as a hospital after the Battle of Yorktown.
7. Wythe House We’ll see where British Gen. Charles Cornwallis established his headquarters before Yorktown, followed just a week later by Gen. George Washington.
8. Bruton Parish Church Congregants included George Washington, James Madison, John Tyler, Benjamin Harrison, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson. The church still rings its original 1761 bell, which celebrated both the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
9. St. George Tucker House We’ll look at Tucker’s role in the Revolution.
10. Peyton Randolph House Randolph, the first President of the Continental Congress, is an overlooked Revolutionary leader.
11. The Wren Building The oldest building at the College of William and Mary was used as a barracks and hospital during the war.
12. Public Goal Prisoners-of-war were confined here during the Revolution.
13. French Cemetery This little-known site provides a somber reminder of the Revolution’s cost.

Noon: Lunch is on your own at a restaurant selected by the group. Then we’ll commute to Green Spring Battlefield Site, where we’ll visit both the Church on the Main, with its Revolutionary-era burials, and the battlefield itself.

AFTERNOON IN YORKTOWN

In the afternoon, we will begin at the Yorktown Visitor Center, which offers exhibits, restrooms, and orientation to the battlefield. The park charges admission, but those with National Park Passes will be admitted free. If enough group members have passes, they may cover admission for others. Depending on time and the interest of the group, we will visit these sites along the driving tour:

1. British Defenses We will examine the British positions and discuss the army’s challenges.
2. First Parallel This is where the Americans began their siege lines.
3. Second Parallel Here the Allies concentrated their artillery for the final bombardment.
4. Redoubts The only significant infantry action took place here and sealed the fate of the British.
5. Surrender Field This is the site of the formal surrender of arms
6. French Monument A lesser-known spot, the monument honors the French who were killed in the campaign. This was the site of a French attack and a British redoubt.

• Optional Stop: Untouched Redoubt If time permits, we will visit one of the only original earthworks from 1781.
• Optional Stop: Moore House If time permits and the group is interested, we will visit the house where the surrender negotiations took place.

The tour ends at 5:00 p.m.

About the Faculty

Robert M. (“Bert”) Dunkerly is a historian, award-winning author, and speaker active in historic preservation and research. He holds a B.A. in History from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and an M.S. in Historic Preservation from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He has worked at 14 historic sites and published more than a dozen books and numerous scholarly articles. His research spans archaeology, colonial life, military history, and historic commemoration. A past president of the Richmond Civil War Round Table, he serves on the Preservation Commission for the American Revolution Round Table–Richmond and has taught at Central Virginia Community College, the University of Richmond, and the Virginia Historical Society. He is currently a park ranger at Richmond National Battlefield Park. Off duty, he enjoys exploring local bookstores, battlefields, and breweries.

Hotel Information

There is no sponsoring hotel for this one-day, private driving–walking tour. There are numerous hotels nearby in Williamsburg and Richmond, VA.

Transportation

The servicing airport is Richmond International Airport (RIC). It is 48 miles from Williamsburg, VA.

Recommended Reading

The following books are suggested to enhance your readiness for the program.

• Cecere, Michael. Williamsburg At War: Virginia’s Colonial Capital in the Revolutionary War. Berwyn Heights, MD: Heritage Books, 2023. ISBN: 978-0788444043.
• Davis, Burke. The Campaign That Won America: The Story of Yorktown. Eastern Acorn Press, 1979. ISBN: 978-0915992010.
• Dunkerly, Robert M. An Explorer’s Guide to America’s Revolutionary War. Danville, VA: Blue and Gray Education Society, 2023. ISBN: 979-8218005719.
• Greene, Jerome. The Guns of Independence: The Siege of Yorktown, 1781. El Dorado Hills, CA: Savas Beatie, 2009. ISBN: 978-1932714685.

Tour Pricing

Current BGES member (one-time payment only, no deposit): $100
Non-BGES member (one-time payment, no deposit): $150
Annual membership fee: $75

Registration

Revolutionary Williamsburg and Yorktown (2026)

Registration includes maps, the academic program, and support of a historian.

Complete your registration by filling out the form below and making your secure payment.

Step 1 of 3

33%

Current BGES Member RWYrk-26

Price:

Quantity

Please enter a number from 1 to 2.

Non BGES Member RWYrk-26

Price:

Quantity

Please enter a number from 1 to 2.

Membership RWYrk-26

I am not a member but would like to join so that I can get the member’s rate or I am a member who is past due to renew. Please accept my donation of $75 or more, which is tax deductible.

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Billing Address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly SeeHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine, State ofPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaRéunionSaint BarthélemySaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwedenSwitzerlandSyria Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, the United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluTürkiyeUS Minor Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaViet NamVirgin Islands, BritishVirgin Islands, U.S.Wallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweÅland Islands

Shipping Address

Same as billing address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly SeeHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine, State ofPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaRéunionSaint BarthélemySaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwedenSwitzerlandSyria Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, the United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluTürkiyeUS Minor Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaViet NamVirgin Islands, BritishVirgin Islands, U.S.Wallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweÅland Islands

Payment Method(Required)

PayPal CheckoutCredit Card

American Express

Discover

MasterCard

Visa

Supported Credit Cards: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Card Number Expiration Date Security Code   Cardholder Name

Discount Code

Newsletter

I want to receive BGES emails to stay up to date on tours, projects, fundraisers and more. I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time.

Total

To register by mail or fax, download: Printable Registration Form

Questions? Need more information? Please Contact Us

RETURN POLICY