Moore House

First, the history...

The Moore House is a historical piece of architecture. Located in Yorktown, Virginia, this house was a key point in the Revolutionary War. It saw a great deal of tragedy.

The Moore House was first built and owned by Lawrence Smith II and passed on to his son, Robert. By the mid to late 1700's, Robert came upon some money problems and was not able to support the home and was forced to sell. Trying to keep the property in the family, he sold to his brother in law, Augustine Moore.

As the war advanced to Yorktown and Lord Cornwallis pushed into the area, most people left their homes, the Moore family may also have left. However, there was a larger part that this house was playing.


On October 17, 1781, notice was sent to General George Washington that Cornwallis wished to discuss negotiations for a cease fire. The meeting place, the Moore House. The reasons why Lord Cornwallis wanted to meet here was unknown, but there have been many theories. In either case, the house represented the beginning of the end of the war. After the war, the house did remain part of the Moore family but did end up being bought and sold many times. It was finally restored back to its original beauty by using archaeological information as well as historic images.

Next, the lore, legend and ghosts...

There are reported incidents of the bed in the master bedroom being disturbed as if someone has been laying on the bed, even when no one has been in the house. This supposedly is the ghost of Augustine Moore Jr.

Guests as well as tour guides can feel a presence inside the home. They say that as you walk through the building, you can feel someone watching you.

There have also been reports of people hearing the sounds of the war such as gunshots and drums playing.

Why is all this so spooky? Because there had been no reports of any paranormal activity until the house began its restorations. Could it be that the restoration stirred up the spirits of its former inhabitants. Those that lay at rest in the cemetery just to the left of the house may have finally moved back in.

Now, what can you do...

Visit the house yourself, take a tour. The house/museum is open daily from mid July to mid August and is open weekends during the spring and fall. So book a tour now and come face to face with the ghosts of the historic Moore House.

Personal Encounters....
Honestly, I have not personally been inside of the house. I am planning a visit in the Spring of next year, so hopefully I can have some new and great stuff then.