The eighty years between the American Revolution and the beginning of the Civil War saw significant developments in weapons technology. These changes affected the range and accuracy as well the dependability of the weapon that the American soldier carried into battle. Come hear Park historian and period weapons expert Gary Helm trace these developments as demonstrated on working reproduction... Read more »

The Civil War brought many forms of upheaval to America, not only in waking hours but also in the dark of night. Sleeplessness plagued the Union and Confederate armies, and dreams of war glided through the minds of Americans in both the North and South. Sometimes their nightly visions brought the horrors of the conflict... Read more »

Join Park Historians Tim Talbott and Gary Helm as they hit the road for a one-day tour on October 20, 2017 and the public is invited to join them. The tour will combine a walking/driving tour of the wartime fortifications southeast of Richmond, concentrating on what historians have come to call General Grant’s Fifth Offensive actions... Read more »

  From the depths of German and American archives comes a story one soldier never wanted told. The first volunteer killed defending Robert E. Lee’s position in battle was really a German assassin. After fleeing to the United States to escape prosecution for murder, the assassin enlisted in a German company of the Pennsylvania Volunteers... Read more »

Neither the Union or the Confederacy was prepared for the huge numbers of sick and wounded soldiers produced by the Civil War armies. Come hear Park historian Gary Helm discuss the state of medical science in 1861 and some of the procedures courageously conducted by surgeons to help save as many lives as possible. Included with regular... Read more »

Come learn about the richness of African-American history and heritage at Pamplin Historical Park and The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier. There will be plenty of educational and entertaining offerings both days, including tours, presentations, living history performances, music, storytelling, demonstrations and much more.  Harriet Tubman will be portrayed by Charmaine Crowell-White at the... Read more »