Construction Prompts Closures At Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP

From National Parks Traveler
Compiled from NPS releases

July 27, 2025

Two important sites at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park in Virginia are closing for several months for construction, renovations, and maintenance upgrades.

The Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center and Chatham will both shut down Aug. 4. The visitor center is expected to be closed for six to seven months. Work at Chatham, a former slave plantation that was occupied by the U.S. Army in the Civil War, is expected to take about a year. 

The grounds of both locations will remain open sunrise to sunset, and the park store near the visitor center will continue to be open daily. Park staff will be present for educational programming and orientation.

Work at the visitor center includes the installation of a fire suppression system as well as waterline and electrical system upgrades. Chatham will undergo an interior rehabilitation project that includes lead paint encapsulation, new carpet, and plaster repair. The site has only been partially open this summer due to other ongoing construction. 

As part of the project, employees will move and store historic artifacts from each building. 

The Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center and other park sites remain open. Visitors should check the park's website for the latest updates.

Saving History at Pamplin Park

Mary Koik or Jim Campi (202) 367-1861, Option 3 or news@battlefields.org
Amanda Jones, AJones@pamplinpark.org   

July 16, 2025

(Petersburg, Va.) — The American Battlefield Trust is embarking on one of the largest preservation projects in its history, a national fundraising campaign that will result in an 857-acre protected swath of land associated with one of the Civil War’s most significant battlefields. The 417 acres currently owned by Pamplin Historical Park and Museum of the Civil War Soldier have been enjoyed and appreciated for decades by heritage tourists and countless school students, but until now has not been fully protected for future generations. 

The Trust has agreed to acquire the property for $11 million. Thanks to anticipated matching grant funding from the federal American Battlefield Protection Program, which has helped protect approximately 35,000 acres of hallowed ground across 20 states, and a major landowner donation, the Trust is seeking to raise $660,000 by year-end to complete the transaction. Learn more at www.battlefields.org/breakthrough.   

“There is no denying that this is an ambitious undertaking,” said American Battlefield Trust President David Duncan, “We begin the endeavor with the conviction that our members will rise to the occasion and the certainty that future generations will be enriched by the permanent protection of this incredible landscape.”  

“This process will not only secure the battlefield for all time, but proceeds from the sale will create an investment fund that will finance the new Breakthrough Battlefield Foundation and enable Pamplin to continue operations in perpetuity,” said Colin Romanick, executive director of Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier.  

Following a nine-month siege, the Union Army of the Potomac launched a massive assault on the Southern defenses southwest of Petersburg, Va., on April 2, 1865, an attack remembered by history as “The Breakthrough” for breaking those lines clearing the road to the Confederate capital at Richmond. Within weeks, the Civil War was over. 

Through a series of transactions over the course of 30 years, the Trust has acquired 439 acres associated with the Union advance and gradually restored them to their wartime appearance by removing modern buildings and other intrusions. Meanwhile, the contiguous Pamplin campus occupies a significant section of the Confederate line and includes two miles of pristine earthworks. Acquisition by the Trust and establishment of a long-term agreement with the newly formed Breakthrough Battlefield Foundation will play to both entities’ strengths: historic landscape preservation and immersive educational experiences, respectively. It will also create improved interpretive and recreational opportunities by unifying trail systems.   

The campus was assembled in phases through purchases made by businessman and philanthropist Dr. Robert B. Pamplin, Jr., beginning in the early 1990s when the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites, a predecessor of the American Battlefield Trust, alerted him of a development threat to land once owned by his family. Pamplin went on to acquire adjacent parcels, including Tudor Hall, the plantation home of his ancestors, and Banks House, Ulysses S. Grant’s headquarters on April 2-3, 1865. The 25,000 square-foot National Museum of the Civil War Soldier opened on Memorial Day 1999 and the park was named a National Historic Landmark in 2006.  

“I'm absolutely delighted that the Trust and Pamplin Historical Park have combined to ensure that this important educational facility will be preserved forever and continue to inspire tens of thousands of visitors each year,” said A. Wilson Greene, a founder of the Trust’s predecessor organization who went on to serve as the executive director of Pamplin Park from its opening until his retirement in 2017.

Captain Charles G. Gould of the 5th Vermont Veteran Volunteers leads his men into the earthworks defended by the 37th North Carolina at Petersburg on April 2, 1865. Don Troiani

Fighting at The Breakthrough was intense — sometimes hand-to-hand — and climactic, resulting in perhaps the greatest concentration of Medals of Honor ever awarded. Researchers at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society believe that 31 Medal citation actions occurred across the now-combined site, which also witnessed subsequent assaults on Fort Gregg and Fort Whitworth and further medals.  

“This battlefield is where courage met consequence,” said Congressional Medal of Honor Society President Britt Slabinski, who received the Medal during the Global War on Terrorism, Afghanistan. “The men who fought here embodied duty: in the dirt, under fire, when everything was on the line. This ground speaks plainly about what courage truly looks like. By preserving it, we give future generations the chance to stand where they stood, carry the weight they bore, and grasp the true cost of service. This is how we honor them — not just with words, but by protecting the very place where their legacy was forged.”  

To learn more about the fighting at the Breakthrough or make a gift to this remarkable opportunity to ensure this hallowed ground is protected forever, visit www.battlefields.org/breakthrough. 

Special Summer Evening Programs at the George Spangler Farm

Gettysburg, Pa. (July 10, 2025)—The Gettysburg Foundation presents a summer series of evening programs at the historic George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital, offering visitors and area residents unique opportunities to explore the medical, military and civilian history of Gettysburg. These expert-led sessions will take place in the restored barn on the 80-acre site, beginning at 6 p.m. with gates opening at 5:30 p.m.

 

The series kicked off June 27, 2025, with "Bonded in Misery," presented by historians Doug and Wendy Shupinski. This moving program delved into the lives of eight young soldiers treated at the 11th Corps field hospital, sharing their stories from before the Civil War through the Battle of Gettysburg and beyond. Attendees also learned about the dedicated medical staff who cared for these men at the very site where they were treated and where history was made.

 

On Friday, July 25, 2025, local historian Erin S. Pearce will present "Camp Letterman to Camp Colt: Military Medicine & Civilian Care in Gettysburg". This presentation highlights the vital roles of Camp Letterman and Camp Colt from the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg to World War I, including insights into the leadership of then Captain Dwight D. Eisenhower. Pearce will discuss how military medicine and civilian support shaped the experiences of the men and women who served in and utilized these hospitals and the impact they had on the local community. Ticket reservations are required and can be made now.

 

The final program will take place Thursday, July 31, 2025, featuring living historian Trevor Steinbach with “General Custer’s and the Almost Fatal Gettysburg Charge”. Guests will uncover the lesser-known and “real” story of the Battle of Hunterstown Road, where General Custer faced General Hampton Wade on July 2, 1863. The presentation reveals the true story behind this crucial cavalry engagement during this second battle at Gettysburg. Tickets are now available for this event.

 

“These programs bring the history of Gettysburg to life in a deeply personal way,” said Jackie Spainhour, President and CEO of the Gettysburg Foundation. “We are excited to offer visitors the chance to connect with the stories of individuals who played an important role in the historical events that took place here in Gettysburg.”

 

A successful family farm before and after the Battle of Gettysburg, George and Elizabeth Spangler’s home and farm served as the Union Army’s 11th Corps field hospital where more than 1,900 wounded soldiers received care. The site also served as an artillery reserve, an ammunition reserve, a provost and a temporary cemetery for Union and Confederate soldiers. Today, the 80-acre George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital is one of the best-preserved field hospitals from the Battle of Gettysburg. Its original buildings have been thoughtfully restored and renovated, providing a powerful place to learn, reflect and connect with the human cost of war.

 

Tickets for programs can be purchased online at GettysburgFoundation.org, by calling 877-874-2478 or 717-334-2436, or at the Ticket Counter inside the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center. Guests with advance tickets for these programs may drive to the property and park on-site.

American Battlefield Trust acquires last Gettysburg Country Club parcel

From Gettysburg Connections
July 1, 2025 by Community Contributors

The American Battlefield Trust (ABT) has finalized the purchase of the remainder of the former Gettysburg Country Club, securing the parcel on the corner of Chambersburg St. and County Club Lane that includes a swimming pool, tennis courts, and a clubhouse building.

ABT spokesperson Jared Herr said the Trust has now raised all the funds necessary to acquire the property. “When we declare victory on a property, that means we’ve secured all the funding for all the costs,” he said. The purchase concludes a fundraising campaign that relied primarily on member donations.  Herr said ABT intends to launch a restoration campaign to remove non-historic structures from the property and return it to a landscape more representative of its 1863 appearance. “Our goal is to restore the land so visitors can understand what happened there,” he said.

The 14.5-acre property saw significant fighting on July 1, 1863. After the first shots of the battle were fired to the west, Union cavalry under General John Buford fell back in part over this tract. Confederate troops under General James Archer advanced over the property and were later driven back during a Union Iron Brigade counterattack. Additional Confederate brigades later moved across the same ground in a renewed assault. The property was littered with casualties, and a Confederate field hospital may have been established on the site. Confederate forces likely retreated over the tract on July 4 and 5.

The closure of the Gettysburg Country Club in 2007 opened a long and winding path to preservation. While the larger golf course joined Gettysburg National Military Park in 2010, the roadside frontage remained outside federal protection and became the subject of several development proposals, including plans for a large apartment complex. Local advocacy supported by the Trust helped prevent development and opened the door to this preservation solution.

The acquisition, which pushed ABT over 60,000 acres purchased nationwide, was marked with a ceremony attended by representatives from interested local organizations.

Herr emphasized that ABT aims to be a good neighbor in Gettysburg and stressed the organization’s commitment to working with the local community. “We’ve voluntarily remained a taxpayer in Adams County for 25 years,” he said, acknowledging concerns about the impact of federal land ownership on the local tax base. Properties transferred to the National Park Service typically cease to generate local tax revenue, but ABT retains ownership of several properties in Adams County — including Lee’s Headquarters and the site of the former Pickett’s Buffet—on which it continues to pay taxes.

ABT celebrated its 60,000th national acre acquired with a celebration at the Lincoln Headquarters property. Pictured left to right are Bob Iuliano (Gettysburg College), Kaleb Kusmierczyk and Codie Eash (Seminary Ridge Museum), Jill Sellers (Main Street Gettysburg), Judy Morley (Seminary Ridge Museum), Zach Bolitho (National Park Service), Gene Barr (Gettysburg Foundation), Randy Phiel (Adams County Commissioners), Andrew Dalton (Adams County Historical Society), Karl Pietrzak and Sandy Stewart (Destination Gettysburg), and Wendy Allen (Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania).

History At Sunset Series Starts At Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park's History at Sunset series features outdoor talks and history walks / NPS file

History At Sunset Series Starts At Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park

By National Parks Traveler

Compiled from NPS releases

June 28, 2025


Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park in Virginia launches its annual History at Sunset series on July 4th weekend, with programs including special walks and history talks. 

A different program takes place at 6:30 p.m. every other Saturday. Each lasts 90 minutes and there is no charge to visitors. Those participating in outdoor events should be prepared with bug spray, water, and comfortable walking shoes or a lawn chair or blanket.

The schedule is below, and anyone attending should also check the park website for updates and additional information.

July 5 – Summer 1862: The Occupation of Fredericksburg

During the summer of 1862, Union soldiers occupied Fredericksburg and experienced life around people whose perspectives on the war were vastly different from their own. For Fredericksburg’s civilians, the occupation put a spotlight on war’s ability to impact a community and be a catalyst for change. This program explores the ways the 1862 occupation of Fredericksburg challenged the assumptions of soldiers and civilians about the nature of the Civil War and shaped how they understood their place in it.
This will be a stationary program on the Chatham lawn. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Park at Chatham, 120 Chatham Lane in Fredericksburg.

July 19 – Old Salem Church

At the beginning of its history Old Salem church was a house of worship for a community of enslavers and the people they enslaved. In time, this structure became a refuge from war for Fredericksburg’s civilians, the epicenter of a battle, and finally a protected historic landscape. Join us inside Old Salem Church for a program that explores the many-faceted history of this storied place.
Park at (new) Salem Baptist Church, 4044 Plank Road, Fredericksburg. Accessible parking is available at the Old Salem Church lot.

August 2 – Fact and Fiction: Exploring Red Badge of Courage at Chancellorsville

Stephen Crane’s Red Badge of Courage tells the story of a young Civil War soldier’s first taste of combat - capturing the fear, doubt, and courage that come with it. Lauded by some veterans and criticized by others, the novel has long sparked debate for its vivid, emotional portrayal of war. But how closely does it reflect the true experiences of soldiers who fought at Chancellorsville? Join park staff for a 2.5-mile walking tour and compare Crane’s fictional narrative with the real voices of those who lived the battle.
Park at Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center at 9001 Plank Road in Spotsylvania.

August 16 – Lore, Legacy, and Liability at the Slaughter Pen Farm

Speculation abounds regarding the convoluted events on the southern end of the Fredericksburg battlefield that eventually resulted in a congressional investigation. Join us for this 1.5 mile walk where we examine the intentions of the commanders, implications of their decisions, and how their actions have been regarded by the participants and historians.
Park in the field at Slaughter Pen Farm, 11190 Tidewater Trail in Fredericksburg.

By

Compiled from NPS releases

June 28, 2025

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Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park's History at Sunset series features outdoor talks and history walks / NPS file

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park in Virginia launches its annual History at Sunset series on July 4th weekend, with programs including special walks and history talks. 

A different program takes place at 6:30 p.m. every other Saturday. Each lasts 90 minutes and there is no charge to visitors. Those participating in outdoor events should be prepared with bug spray, water, and comfortable walking shoes or a lawn chair or blanket.

The schedule is below, and anyone attending should also check the park website for updates and additional information.

July 5 – Summer 1862: The Occupation of Fredericksburg

During the summer of 1862, Union soldiers occupied Fredericksburg and experienced life around people whose perspectives on the war were vastly different from their own. For Fredericksburg’s civilians, the occupation put a spotlight on war’s ability to impact a community and be a catalyst for change. This program explores the ways the 1862 occupation of Fredericksburg challenged the assumptions of soldiers and civilians about the nature of the Civil War and shaped how they understood their place in it.
This will be a stationary program on the Chatham lawn. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Park at Chatham, 120 Chatham Lane in Fredericksburg.

July 19 – Old Salem Church

At the beginning of its history Old Salem church was a house of worship for a community of enslavers and the people they enslaved. In time, this structure became a refuge from war for Fredericksburg’s civilians, the epicenter of a battle, and finally a protected historic landscape. Join us inside Old Salem Church for a program that explores the many-faceted history of this storied place.
Park at (new) Salem Baptist Church, 4044 Plank Road, Fredericksburg. Accessible parking is available at the Old Salem Church lot.

August 2 – Fact and Fiction: Exploring Red Badge of Courage at Chancellorsville

Stephen Crane’s Red Badge of Courage tells the story of a young Civil War soldier’s first taste of combat - capturing the fear, doubt, and courage that come with it. Lauded by some veterans and criticized by others, the novel has long sparked debate for its vivid, emotional portrayal of war. But how closely does it reflect the true experiences of soldiers who fought at Chancellorsville? Join park staff for a 2.5-mile walking tour and compare Crane’s fictional narrative with the real voices of those who lived the battle.
Park at Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center at 9001 Plank Road in Spotsylvania.

August 16 – Lore, Legacy, and Liability at the Slaughter Pen Farm

Speculation abounds regarding the convoluted events on the southern end of the Fredericksburg battlefield that eventually resulted in a congressional investigation. Join us for this 1.5 mile walk where we examine the intentions of the commanders, implications of their decisions, and how their actions have been regarded by the participants and historians.
Park in the field at Slaughter Pen Farm, 11190 Tidewater Trail in Fredericksburg.

Gettysburg Taps Ceremony Expands to Lincoln Cemetery

Taps Ceremony Expands to Lincoln Cemetery

From Gettysburg Connections

June 24, 2025 by Leon Reed

For the ninth consecutive year, the solemn sounds of “Taps” are echoing through Gettysburg National Military Park each evening as part of the One Hundred Nights of Taps program. Traditionally held at the Soldiers’ National Monument, the nightly tribute now takes place at the Pennsylvania Memorial, where it continues to draw volunteer buglers and history enthusiasts from across the country.

This year, the program is expanding. Beginning last Sunday, June 22, a weekly Taps ceremony is being held at Lincoln Cemetery every Sunday at 6:00 p.m. through August 31. The inaugural performance at the historic site was sounded by Priscilla King of York, Pennsylvania.

Lincoln Cemetery, established in 1867 by the Sons of Good Will, served as a final resting place for African American veterans who were denied burial in national cemeteries. Since 1999, the cemetery has been maintained by the Lincoln Cemetery Project Association. Formerly led by the late Betty Dorsey Myers, the association is now headed by Jean Howard Green.

The main One Hundred Nights of Taps program continues each evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Memorial, located on Hancock Avenue at Pleasonton Avenue, a stop on the official Gettysburg Battlefield Tour. Each ceremony includes a brief historical presentation—known as Enduring Pathways—delivered by licensed battlefield guides and representatives of the Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania. Topics vary nightly and cover figures such as Abraham Lincoln, the Soldiers’ National Monument, and the history of “Taps.”

Participants in the bugler corps include active-duty military musicians, veterans, Civil War re-enactors, music educators, students, and community band members.

The program is organized by the Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania. The Lincoln Fellowship also sponsors the annual Dedication Day ceremony each November 19, marking the anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

Second Battle of Kernstown 161st Anniversary Tour on July 26

Second Battle of Kernstown 161st Anniversary Tour

Saturday, July 26th at 9:00 a.m.

610 Battle Park Drive, Winchester, VA 22601

Scott Patchan, author of the Shenandoah Summer: The 1864 Valley Campaign, will lead a walking and driving tour of the Second Battle of Kernstown on Saturday, July 26.  Sign-in starts at 8:30 a.m. with the tour kicking off promptly at 9:00 a.m. and ending no later than 12:00 p.m. 

The tour will begin with a strategic overview of the battle followed by a short battlefield walking tour in the vicinity of the main Union line.  The walking tour will then be followed by a two-stop driving tour to see the battlefield from the Confederate perspective.  

Also be advised, we can accommodate people with mobility issues on this tour.  Please let the Kernstown Battlefield Association personnel know if you need mobility assistance during tour sign-in.

This tour is free, but donations will be graciously accepted and appreciated. 

REGISTER HERE

Battle of Cool Spring 161st Anniversary Commemoration on July 19th

Battle of Cool Spring 161st Anniversary Commemoration

Saturday, July 19th at 9:30 a.m.

1400 Parker Lane, Bluemont, VA 20135

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Shenandoah University’s McCormick Civil War Institute will commemorate the 161st anniversary of the Battle of Cool Spring at the University’s River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield.

The day will include a tour with Prof. Jonathan A. Noyalas, director of Shenandoah University's McCormick Civil War Institute, “Now Out of the War”: Exploring Cool Spring’s Aftermath. This program will visit various sites at Shenandoah University's River Campus at Cool Spring to explore the battle's impact on soldiers and their families, the care of the wounded, and the battle's transformative effects on those who fought there. The tour, free of charge and open to the public (no pre-registration required), will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Lodge and last approximately ninety minutes.

After the tour, Noyalas will be available to sign copies of “The Blood-Tinted Waters of the Shenandoah”: The 1864 Valley Campaign’s Battle of Cool Spring and A Civil War Journey at Cool Spring: A History for Young Learners, co-authored with his wife, Brandy, in the Lodge. The exhibition area will also be open in the Lodge throughout the day.

Battle Brief: The End of the Valley Campaign: Virtual Presentation


Battle Brief: The End of the Valley Campaign:
The Battle of Port Republic, 1862

Tuesday, July 1, 2025 | 7 p.m. ET | Virtual

Tuesday, July 8, 2025 | 12 p.m. ET | Virtual and In-person

National Museum of the United States Army

1775 Liberty Drive, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Erastus B. Tyler made his name in the fur industry before the outbreak of the U.S. Civil War. Despite having no formal military training, he helped raise the 7th Ohio Volunteers under the leadership of future president Maj. Gen. James A. Garfield.

Tyler first experienced combat in the late summer of 1861. Less than a year later, in May 1862, he was promoted to brigadier general and given command of a brigade. Tyler led his men through several battles during the Valley Campaign, attempting to catch and destroy Confederate forces led by Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson in early June. Despite his efforts, Tyler was ultimately unsuccessful; his brigade was routed while outnumbered along the banks of the Shenandoah River at Port Republic.

Join Museum educator John Maass to learn more during the July Battle Brief: The End of the Valley Campaign: The Battle of Port Republic, 1862.