Thomas Nelson House

The Thomas Nelson House is a Georgian mansion in Yorktown built around 1730 with symmetrical design, red brick walls, and white-trimmed windows. It sits on a raised foundation overlooking the York River and contains formal rooms including a dining room and parlor that visitors can tour today.

The house was built around 1730 by Thomas Nelson Sr. and later became home to his son Thomas Nelson Jr., who signed the Declaration of Independence. The younger Nelson also served as Governor of Virginia during the Revolutionary War period.

The rooms display furniture and decorative items from the 1700s that show how wealthy colonial merchants lived and what mattered to them. Walking through these spaces gives you a sense of daily life among Virginia's elite families of that era.

The National Park Service maintains the house and offers guided tours that allow visitors to explore the first floor. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, and it is best to allow enough time to fully experience the tour.

During the Siege of Yorktown in 1781, Thomas Nelson Jr. ordered artillery fire directed at his own house when British forces occupied it as their headquarters. This act of rebellion demonstrates the family's complete commitment to independence over personal property.

GPS coordinates: 37.23440,-76.50710

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:47