Pamplin Historical Park

Roundtable: Marching Masters
2022-09-01 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Pamplin Historical Park, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, 23803, United States
Join speaker Dr. Colin Woodward as he shares the story of “Marching Masters: Slaves, Race, and the Confederate Army.”
In Marching Masters, Colin Woodward explores not only the importance of slavery in the minds of Confederate soldiers but also its effects on military policy and decision making. Beyond showing how essential the defense of slavery was in motivating Confederate troops to fight, Woodward examines the Rebels’ persistent belief in the need to defend slavery and deploy it militarily as the war raged on. Slavery proved essential to the Confederate war machine, and Rebels strove to protect it just as they did Southern cities, towns, and railroads. Slaves served by the tens of thousands in the Southern armies. They served not as soldiers, but as menial laborers who cooked meals, washed horses, and dug ditches. Woodward continues the story into the Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras beyond the Confederacy’s surrender.
Drawing upon hundreds of soldiers’ letters, diaries, and memoirs, Marching Masters combines the latest social and military history in its compelling examination of the last bloody years of slavery in the United States.
Colin Edward Woodward was educated at Trinity College in Hartford and Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, where he received his Ph.D. in 2005. Dr. Woodward is a historian and writer, with fifteen years of experience working at colleges, universities, and museums. Past jobs have included the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, Smith College, the UALR Center for Arkansas History and Culture in Little Rock, Stratford Hall, and Hampden-Sydney College. He is the author of Marching Masters: Slavery, Race, and the Confederate Army during the Civil War, which is available through University of Virginia Press.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.
This is an in-person event.

World War II in the Pacific
2022-08-27 09:00 - 2022-08-28 17:00 | Pamplin Historical Park, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, 23803, United States
This living history event brings to life the experiences of fighting in the Pacific Theater and the home front during World War II. Guests will have the opportunity to learn from living historians portraying soldiers who fought in the Pacific Theater and about a number of different aspects of a soldier’s life to include weapons, signals and communications. Impressions will range from U.S. Army and Marines to those of British and Russian allies. Civilian living historians will portray goings on at the home front and USO activities stateside. Demonstrations will include weapons and a 1940’s military uniform and civilian fashion show. A special display of vintage pre-war cars will take visitors back to this pivotal time in America when the transition from peacetime to war took place.
Partner museums to include the MacArthur Memorial, U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum, U.S. Army Ordnance TSF, U.S. Army Women’s Museum and the Virginia War Memorial will have displays and more for visitors to see and experience. Presentations by authors and historians will be made on the following subjects: U.S. 11th Airborne Division and the Los Banos Raid by Jeremy C. Holm, Japanese Armor by Eury Cantillo, “Freedom and Food:” Civilian Experiences in the Philippine Internment Camps of WWII presentation by Jennifer Cottle and Propaganda Poster Art by Colin Romanick.
Jeremy C. Holm is a renowned expert on and historian for the 11th Airborne Division and is the author of the much-acclaimed book WHEN ANGELS FALL: FROM TOCCOA TO TOKYO, THE 511TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT IN WORLD WAR II. Jeremy is an experienced speaker and lecturer who has traveled around the world to inspire, educate and entertain audiences from Fortune 500 companies to small community gatherings. Jeremy also curates the 511th PIR’s online historical museum, www.511pir.com, and is laboring to build a similar online education center for the 11th Airborne Division at www.11thairborne.com. Jeremy is also excited to announce that he is currently working to produce a two-part series that will cover the full history of the 11th Airborne Division in World War II.
Eury Cantillo began a museum career shortly after college graduation, first working as a historic interpreter at Plimoth Plantation, later sailing a replica of one of Columbus’ ships through the Panama Canal, and then working as the Outreach Coordinator at the Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester, MA. At the height of the war in Iraq, he decided to enlist in the US Army. Cantillo served as an Artillery Officer in the 3rd Infantry Division, which included a 15 month deployment to the city of Ramadi in Western Iraq. In addition he lead a variety of supply convoys through the desert, and finally ended the deployment as a Battery Fire Direction Officer involved in the field testing of the Excalibur GPS guided artillery round. He then used the GI Bill to earn a Master’s degree in education, and began working for the National Park Service at the Lexington and Concord battlefield, the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings, and the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, DC. He then worked as the Director of Education for the Navy’s Submarine Force museum, moved to CMH as the Curator at the Army’s Aviation museum before becoming the Curator of the Army’s Ordnance Training Support Facility, the first operational TSF in the system.
Jennifer Cottle is a Museum Attendant and Museum Specialist working with the MacArthur Memorial and the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation. Since becoming a staff member she has worked with material in the museum collections to help share the stories of the thousands of Allied civilians interned in the Philippines during WWII with the public through virtual outreach and education programs. Jennifer graduated from Appalachian State University with a B.S. in Anthropology in 2014 and worked in the field of archaeology for several years before joining the staff at the MacArthur Memorial. She is currently pursuing a M.A. in Public History and plans to incorporate the food history of the WWII internment camps into her capstone project.
Colin Romanick is the current Director of Marketing & Development for Pamplin Historical Park and has worked in the museum field for over 20 years in the areas of education, finance and marketing. He is a graduate of Christopher Newport University where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration. Romanick worked for the City of Newport News, Historic Services Division for 13 years. During that time he conducted educational programs, tours and assisted in the acquisition of artifacts for the Virginia War Museum. Romanick is a published author and contributing writer of numerous historical articles for various periodicals. Prior to joining Pamplin Historical Park, he has worked as an educator for the US Army Quartermaster Museum at Fort Lee and conducted tours at historic Endview Plantation and Lee Hall Mansion in Newport News, VA.
Viewings of the Virginia War Memorials’, Virginians at War: Pearl Harbor which combines original footage with first-hand accounts to tell stories from the “day that will live in infamy” will be shown over the weekend in the park’s Education Center.
Children will enjoy craft activities to include World War II coloring books and making a take home project of the Roosevelt’s Scottie Dog “Fala.”
World War II, which was fought between 1939 and 1945, cost an estimated 85 million casualties both military and civilian worldwide. The United States military casualties amounted to 416,800. While many were thankful for the surrender in Europe on May 8, 1945 the war in the Pacific raged on and was far from over. The battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa during the first half of the year gave a glimpse of the carnage awaiting invasion forces set to strike the Japanese home islands. A planned Allied invasion on the island of Kyushu was set for November 1st. There 500,000 Japanese troops were in position and another 6 million were under arms or able to be called into service. This invasion did not come to pass. The dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki forced Imperial Japan to accept an unconditional surrender. The terms were accepted on August 14, 1945 and a formal document signing ceremony took place aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2nd.
All event activities and programs are included with regular daily paid admission and separately, beverages and food may be purchased from vendor Deacon Daddy’s on Saturday, August 27th.
Schedule
Saturday, August 27
Time Activity
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Living history camps and displays open to public
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM USO Children’s Craft Activities: WWII Coloring Book & The Roosevelt’s Scottie Dog “Fala” make & take home item at Freedom Garden (Diana Campbell)
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM US Army Quartermaster, Ordnance TSF, Women’s Museums “Angels of Bataan” and other displays at NMCWS alcove off of rotunda (power required)
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM MacArthur Memorial display at NMCWS alcove off of rotunda (power required)
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Virginia War Memorial display at NMCWS alcove off of rotunda
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Display of vintage pre-war cars at Education Center/Freedom Garden area
10:00 AM – 10:20 AM Viewing of Virginians at War: Pearl Harbor in Education Center
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM “Japanese Armor” in World War II presentation by Eury Cantillo (US Army Ordnance TSF) at Education Center
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM 1940s fashion show at Education Center
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM “US 11th Airborne Division” presentation by Jeremy C. Holm in Education Center w/book signing
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM WWII Weapons demonstration at Fortification Exhibit
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM “Freedom and Food:” Civilian Experiences in the Philippine Internment Camps of WWII presentation by Jennifer Cottle (MacArthur Memorial)
4:00 PM – 4:20 PM Viewing of Virginians at War: Pearl Harbor in Education Center
5:00 PM Park Closes to Public

Sunday, August 28
Time Activity
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Living history camps and displays open to public
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM USO Children’s Craft Activities: WWII Coloring Book & The Roosevelt’s Scottie Dog “Fala” make & take home item at Freedom Garden
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Display of vintage pre-war cars at Education Center/Freedom Garden area
10:00 AM – 10:20 AM Viewing of Virginians at War: Pearl Harbor in Education Center
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM “Propaganda Poster Art” in World War II presentation by Colin Romanick in Education Center
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM 1940s fashion show at Education Center
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM “Los Banos Raid” presentation by Jeremy C. Holm in Education Center w/book signing
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM WWII Weapons demonstration at Fortification Exhibit
3:00 PM – 3:20 PM Viewing of Virginians at War: Pearl Harbor in Education Center
5:00 PM Park Closes to Public

124th New York Living History at Pamplin Park
2022-08-13 09:00 - 15:00 | Pamplin Historical Park, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, 23803, United States
The recreated 124th New York Infantry Regiment living history group will be at the park on August 13, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with activities and programs.

Families will enjoy the chance to drill with the troops while they share why they fought and explain the equipment and life of the men during the American Civil War. Demonstrations during the day include “Load in Nine Times” where guests can experience the crackle of musketry and view “War So Terrible” in the Park’s Battlefield Center theater. Visitors can also learn about Virginia’s agrarian past as they explore our Tudor Hall Plantation landscape.

All will have the opportunity to tour the Breakthrough Battlefield which on April 2, 1865, resulted in the evacuation of both Petersburg and Richmond. A mere seven days later, the surrender at Appomattox helped to secure the Union.

The original 124th New York Infantry Regiment was a volunteer regiment raised in in the summer of 1862 from Orange County, New York. They became known as the “The Orange Blossoms” when their Colonel, Augustus Van Horne Ellis issued the men orange ribbons just prior to the Battle of Chancellorsville in May of 1863. The ribbon was to remind them of home and to identify them on the battlefield. They fought in every major battle of the war in which the Army of the Potomac was present. Out of an original strength of 1,000 new recruits, the regiment only had 138 original men remaining by June 15, 1865.

All event activities and programs are included with regular daily paid admission.

Roundtable: A Thousand May Fall
2022-08-04 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker Brian Matthew Jordan as he shares stories from his book in a presentation titled, “A Thousand May Fall: Life, Death, and Survival in the Union Army.”
Jordan’s presentation centers around the 107th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, whose men fought in two defining Civil War battles being Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Most in the regiment were ethnic Germans as were nearly 200,000 of the immigrants who fought for the Union. They fought the enemy on the battlefield and those at their adopted homeland who questioned their loyalty and patriotism.
Jordan’s book A Thousand May Fall, includes new research based on diaries, letters and unpublished memoirs. It reveals the history of the common Civil War soldier and the immigrant story to assimilate into their new home.
Brian Matthew Jordan is an associate professor of history at Sam Houston State University. His first book, Marching Home: Union Veterans and Their Unending Civil War, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for History.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.
This is an in-person event.

Roundtable: Cleburne Saves the Day: The Battle of Ringgold
2022-07-07 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker Jerry Desmond, Executive Director of Pamplin Historical Park as he shares, “Cleburne Saves the Day, The Battle of Ringgold, November 27, 1863.”
Following a disgraceful defeat at Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga, Tennessee on November 25, 1863, Confederate General Braxton Bragg needed someone to protect the rear of the Army of Tennessee and its vital supply train as he and his discouraged army hastily retreated into Northern Georgia. The Federal troops, led by General Ulysses Grant, were following in hot pursuit. The only troops available that were not completely disorganized in Bragg’s army was a division of men from Texas, Arkansas, Alabama and Tennessee led by General Patrick Cleburne. At a narrow gap in the mountains at Ringgold, Georgia, General Cleburne and his 4,000 men held off 16,000 Union troops from three different army corps for most of the day. Thanks to Cleburne’s division and their gallant stand, Bragg’s army survived to fight another day.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.
This is an in-person event.

Independence Day Celebration
2022-07-04 09:00 - 17:00 | Pamplin Historical Park, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, 23803, United States
Join us this Independence Day as Pamplin Historical Park will offer multiple programs throughout the day.
Families will enjoy the chance to meet founding father Patrick Henry portrayed by Charles Wissinger and hear his famous “Liberty or Death” speech, listen the the Harken Back String Band, participate in a period baseball demonstration and enjoy other period games. Living historians portraying Revolutionary War and Civil War soldiers will share why they fought and explain the equipment and life of the men during the War for Independence and the American Civil War. Visitors can also take part in a special ceremony with color guard, pledge of allegiance and a musket fire salute.
All visitors will have the opportunity to tour the Breakthrough Battlefield which on April 2, 1865, resulted in the evacuation of both Petersburg and Richmond. A mere seven days later, the surrender at Appomattox helped to secure the Union and began healing a nation.
All event activities and programs are included with regular daily paid admission.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Revolutionary War & Civil War Soldiers
What freedom means to each soldier, Weapons demonstrations, and camp life
Freedom Garden & Military Encampment
11:15 – 11:30 a.m.
Independence Day Celebration
Ft. Lee Color Guard, Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem, Gun Salute
Fortification Exhibit
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
“Liberty or Death”
Hear Patrick Henry deliver his freedom speech
Demonstration Area
1:45 – 2:30 p.m.
Harken Back String Band
Live band playing 19th century music
National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, Rotunda
2:45 – 3:15 p.m.
Baseball: Beginnings & the Civil War
Talk on 19th century baseball
Education Center
3:20- 3:50 pm
The Breakthrough Nine
Join in a period baseball game
Freedom Garden
4:00- 4:45 p.m.
Breakthrough Battlefield Tour
Please meet at the Battlefield Center Lobby
Ongoing throughout the day:
Independence Day Celebration & Games
Tudor Hall Yard
American Independence: Why they fought
18th century American Soldiers
Freedom Garden
Civil War: Why they fought
19th century Soldiers
Military Encampment

Roundtable: Attack at Daylight and Whip Them
2022-06-02 19:00 - 20:00 | Pamplin Historical Park, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, 23803, United States
Join speaker Greg Mertz as he shares the story of his book titled, “Attack at Daylight and Whip Them: The Battle of Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862.”
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.
This is an in-person event.

Memorial Day Commemoration
2022-05-30 09:00 - 17:00 | Pamplin Historical Park, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, 23803, United States
Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier will offer a full schedule of daily programs this Memorial Day. The Park will open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and activities are included with regular museum admission.
Schedule of Events:
9:00 – 9:30 am Dressing for Mourning at Tudor Hall Plantation
9:45 – 10:30 am Memory & Mourning at Education Center
10:45 – 11:15 am Load in Nine Times at Fortifications Exhibit
11:30 am – Noon Camp Life Demonstration at Military Encampment
12:45 – 1:15 pm Memorial Day Commemoration at Fortification Exhibit
1:30 – 1:45 pm Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for “292 Days: A City at War” Exhibit at Battlefield Center
2:00 – 2:45 pm “292 Days: A City at War” Exhibit Guided Tour at Battlefield Center
3:00 pm National Moment of Remembrance (Throughout the Park)
3:00 – 3:50 pm War So Terrible Film at Battlefield Center
3:10 – 3:45 pm Breakthrough Battlefield Walking Tour begins at Battlefield Center

3rd Annual Breakthrough Car Show
2022-05-14 10:00 - 15:00 | Pamplin Historical Park, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, 23803, United States
Join in the fun of this automotive extravaganza. Experience the sights and sounds of elegant autos from yesteryear to the technologically advanced super cars of today at the historic Hart Farm, which is part of Pamplin Historical Park located near Petersburg, Virginia. The Breakthrough Car Show is open to all makes, models and years of vehicles and anyone can bring out their ride and participate in the show.
The first 150 registered show vehicles receive goody bags and dash plaques. Pre-register your single vehicle by May 1, 2022 for $15.00 or vehicle registration is $20.00 per vehicle thereafter and at the show. The first 150 registrants will also receive a $5.00 food coupon.
Show day registration begins at 8:00 am. Participant’s Choice judging will result in over 60 awards. The award presentation will take place at 2:30 pm. Spectator parking and show admission is free. A reduced “day of show only” Pamplin Historical Park admission will be available for those who want to explore the 424 acres of battlefields, historic homes, museums and more.
Vendors will have food, drinks and more throughout the day. Everyone can take part in a silent auction, door prizes and more.
The event is Rain or Shine! All proceeds from this event benefit Pamplin Historical Park. This event is in partnership with Car Club Council of Central Virginia.
Special thanks to our Gold Sponsors: Southside Electric Cooperative, Strosnider Chevrolet, Virginia Motorsports Park and the following sponsors: Griot’s Garage, Dalton Watson Fine Books, Hagerty Insurance, Gary’s Automotive Again (Dinwiddie), JEGS, J. C. Taylor Insurance, Lincoln Electric, Meguiar’s, Moss Motors, Motorbooks, O’Reilly’s Auto Parts (Dinwiddie), NAPA (Dinwiddie), RockAuto.com, Stoner Car Care, Top Flight Automotive, Tractor Supply Company and White Post Restorations.
Located near Petersburg, Virginia, Pamplin Historical Park is about 30 minutes south of Richmond and is convenient to both Interstates 95 and 85 and US Highways 1 and 460. Pamplin Historical Park is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Click here for a downloadable and printable version of the show flyer.
Click here for a downloadable and printable version of the show registration form.
Click here for information on an event sponsorship.
Click here for a food vendor application to participate in the event.
Click here for a non-food vendor application to participate in the event.

Homeschool Day
2022-05-10 10:00 - 14:00 | Pamplin Historical Park, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, 23803, United States
Students will be led by an experienced park educator through three of our programs:

“Soldier Life,” which gives hands-on opportunities to understand the challenges faced by Union and Confederate soldiers;

“Plantation Life,” which discusses the lives of people in the antebellum South; and a visit through the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier.

“Slavery in America” features a powerful film probing various perspectives on the South’s “peculiar institution” before the war.

We ask that participating families or groups pre-register and pre-pay by calling 804-861-2408 or email aoneal@pamplinpark.org to reserve their spots. The event will be held rain or shine. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for that day’s expected weather. We suggest that attendees bring a brown-bag lunch. Covered picnic tables are provided.

Roundtable: Voices from the Attic
2022-05-05 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker Carleton Young as he shares the story of “Voices from the Attic: The Williamstown Boys in the Civil War.”
Young discovered a large collection of letters from two Civil War soldiers while cleaning out a relatives attic. This propelled Carleton Young on a more than decade long journey to research the two soldiers and explore the battlefields where the two Vermont soldiers fought. His book Voices From the Attic: The Williamstown Boys in the Civil War, tells the story of the two brothers and their journey in the Peninsula Campaign, then at South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, and Cedar Creek. Their history was preserved through their surprisingly detailed and insightful letters. Young will share their journey and his own at this special evening event.
Carleton Young earned his MA in history from Ohio University and completed his PhD in the history of education from the University of Pittsburgh. He was a teacher of AP American history at Thomas Jefferson High School in Pittsburgh for 37 years. Young has additionally taught as an adjunct professor at the Community College of Allegheny County, the University of Pittsburgh, Eastern Gateway Community College, and in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Carnegie Mellon University.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.
This is an in-person event.

Roundtable: Washington D.C. Defenses
2022-04-07 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker Steven Phan as he shares the story of “The Washington D.C. Defenses during the Civil War.”
In the wake of the Union defeat at First Manassas, federal engineers set to work constructing a ring of defenses around the capital. At wars’ end in 1865, around 68 major forts surrounded Washington D.C. which included 93 batteries consisting of over 900 cannons. This network of forts was connected by 30 miles of roads to supply and allow for the transferring of troops between forts.
This formidable ring of capital defenses were manned initially by volunteer regiments who mustered into service in 1861. They would become know as the “Heavy” regiments as their assignments included drill and training on the massive siege guns during their garrison duty. After a relatively cushy duty outside of the capital, the Heavies would be sent to the front lines in the spring of 1864. They would suffer some of the highest casualty rates while trying to prove themselves to the more veteran regiments.
Steven T. Phan is a Park Ranger and historian at the Civil War Defenses of Washington. Phan has also worked as an intern and park guide at Richmond National Battlefield Park, Hopewell Culture National park and Rock Creek Park. He is the author of several articles about Asians and Pacific Islanders in the Civil War and is currently writing a book on the Civil War Defenses of Washington. A military scholar of the Civil War era, Phan’s research mainly focuses on fortifications, military occupation, operational command and the Western Theater during the Civil War. He holds a Masters degree in American History, with a concentration in Public History.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.
This is an in-person event.

Breakthrough Battle Anniversary
2022-04-02 09:00 - 17:00 | Pamplin Historical Park, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, 23803, United States
Join us as we remember the 157th Anniversary of the Breakthrough Battle which ended the Petersburg Campaign and forced the Confederate withdrawal from Richmond.
At 4:40 a.m. April 2, 1865, some 14,000 Union soldiers moved forward in the chilly gloom toward the Confederate fortifications six miles southwest of Petersburg. Less than an hour later, the American flag flew over the Confederate line following one of the most important battles of the entire Civil War. This engagement led directly to the evacuation of both Petersburg and Richmond. One week later, Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House and our nation began the long process of healing.
The Park will hosts a full schedule of activities and programs for walk-in visitors each day. Visitors will have the opportunity to join in a walking tour of the battlefield, drill with the troops, see a presentation on period clothing and uniforms, meet Captain Charles Gould of the 5th Vermont Infantry Regiment (recreated) and more. Author John Selby will also be presenting a discussion on Union General George Meade and his performance during the Petersburg Campaign. Selby will be available afterwards for a book signing of his work “Meade: The Price of Command” and his book will be available for purchase.
All programs are included with Park admission. Daily admission for adults is $15, seniors (65+) and Military w/ID $12.00, children (6-12) $8, and children under 6 free.

Roundtable: Six Days of Awful Fighting
2022-03-03 19:00 - 20:00 | Pamplin Historical Park, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, 23803, United States
Speaker Eric Wittenberg will discuss, “Six Days of Awful Fighting: Cavalry Operations on the Road to Cold Harbor.”
Most students of the Civil War are familiar with the terrible infantry fighting that occurred on June 1-3, 1864 at Cold Harbor in Hanover County, Virginia. Many however, are unfamiliar with the concerted cavalry fighting that took place prior to the battle of Cold Harbor on May 27 to June 1. This fighting pitted the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac against the Cavalry Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia. These forces opposed each other at places like Hanovertown, Haw’s Shop, Matadequin Creek, Hanover Court House, Ashland, and, finally, Cold Harbor itself. The May 28, 1864, battle of Haw’s Shop was considered the fiercest cavalry battle of the war to date; but, it would be shadowed two weeks later by the battle of Trevilian Station. Haw’s Shop elevated Maj. Gen. Wade Hampton to prominence as the new commander of the Army of Northern Virginia’s Cavalry Corps following the death of the former cavalry chief, Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, 16 days earlier. Other notable characters involved in these actions include Philip H. Sheridan, Fitzhugh Lee, George A. Custer, and David M. Gregg.
Eric J. Wittenberg is an award-winning author of Civil War history from southeastern Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Dickinson College, the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. He is a partner in the Columbus, Ohio law firm of Cook, Sladoje & Wittenberg Co., L.P.A., where he manages the firm’s litigation practice.
Wittenberg has authored 22 books on the American Civil War and over three dozen articles published in national publications. He speaks and conducts battlefield tours regularly across the country. He continues to serve as a board member with several organizations to include the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust and the Little Big Horn Associates, and often works with the American Battlefields Trust on battlefield preservation initiatives.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.

Membership Gala
2022-02-25 19:00 - 21:00 | Pamplin Historical Park, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, 23803, United States
Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier is hosting its 4th Annual Membership Gala. Park members are invited to RSVP by February 21, 2022 and the general public wishing to attend can purchase a Park membership starting at $45.00 any time prior to the event or at the door. The evening will feature a State of the Park address by Executive Director, Jerry ‘Dez’ Desmond, door prizes, a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres and an open bar with beer and wine. Guests will also be invited to explore award-winning Duty Called Me Here exhibit.
Sponsored by: Casemate Publishers, Dixie Restaurant, El Caporal, Escape Old Towne (Petersburg), Firehouse Subs (Colonial Heights), Food Lion, Fort Lee Federal Credit Union, Haley’s Honey Meadery, Longstreet’s Deli, Route 1 Country Store, Savas Beatie, Saucy’s Bar.B.Q, Side Street Gallery & Gifts, Mike Soohey.

Valentine Tea
2022-02-12 14:00 - 15:30 | Pamplin Historical Park, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, 23803, United States
Join Pamplin Historical Park’s Valentine Tea where park staff are attired in mid- 1800s, clothing and will present a themed program. Due to the popularity of this program, reservations and prepayment are required.

The Victorians were creative in divining what their true loves would look like, what their names would start with, and other defining features. Victorian men and women attempted to divine their future spouses in all sorts of ways: pouring melted lead into cold water to figure out her future husband’s profession from the shapes made, dipping hands into various bowls of water blindfolded to determine whether they will marry a bachelor, widower, or remain single, roasting nuts over the fire to find out whether a couple is compatible.
This Valentine’s Day Tea we will divine our future loves and spouses. We will explore some of these fortune-telling methods to see how well they work with current couples, and allow single folks to explore their possibilities in romance.

This in person event cost is $30.00 per person for non-members and $25.00 for park members.
Purchase in person event ticket(s) by clicking here.
A separate virtual option is available. The virtual cost is $15.00 per person.
Purchase virtual event ticket(s) by clicking here.

Roundtable: Stephen A. Swails: Black Freedom Fighter
2022-02-03 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker Gordon Rhea as he shares the story of “Stephen A. Swails: Black Freedom Fighter in the Civil War and Reconstruction.”
Stephen Atkins Swails was a free Black in the North prior to the American Civil War. Swails would join the war effort and become the first African American combat officer in the United States military. He served with the famous 54th Massachusetts Infantry that was the main unit featured in the 1989 film Glory. Swails finished his war service and settled in South Carolina where he held important positions in the Freedmen’s Bureau. While there, Swails helped to draft the state constitution, served in the state senate and secured legislation to assist liberated Black citizens.
Gordon C. Rhea is the author of seven award-winning books about the American Civil War and most famously for his series on the Overland Campaign. His works include; The Battle of the Wilderness, The Battles at Spotsylvania Court House and the Road to Yellow Tavern, To the North Anna River, Cold Harbor, On To Petersburg, Carrying the Flag, and In the Footsteps of Grant and Lee. Mr. Rhea is a national lecturer at numerous historical societies, universities, and historic preservation organizations on military history subjects and the Civil War era. He has served on several boards associated with historical and preservation organizations. Mr. Rhea has also appeared numerous times as a historian and presenter on national television channels, including productions by The History Channel, A&E Channel, Discovery Channel, and C-Span.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.
This is an in-person event.

Roundtable: The Army of the Potomac on the Overland & Petersburg Campaigns
2022-01-06 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker Steven Sodergren as he shares the story of “The Army of the Potomac in the Overland and Petersburg Campaigns.”
The final year of the Civil War found the Army of the Potomac endured months of brutal trench warfare and fighting against their Confederate adversaries. Sondergren will explore the Overland and Petersburg Campaigns where the morale of the soldiers was tested as attrition and the new grim realities of a lengthy campaign set in.
Steven E. Sodergren is a professor and Chair of the Department of History and Political Science at Norwich University located in Norwich, Vermont. Sodergren earned his B.A. in history and philosophy from Cornell College followed by an M.A. and PhD in American and military history from the University of Kansas. Since 2007, he has taught in the history and political science department at Norwich University. He is the resident Civil War scholar and regularly leads students on staff rides to famous Civil War battlefields. In 2018, Sodergren was the first author associated with Norwich University to win the prestigious Colby Award.
Colby Award recipients receive a $5,000 author honorarium provided through the generosity of the Chicago-based Pritzker Military Foundation. Named for the late ambassador and former CIA director William E. Colby, the Colby Award recognizes a first solo work of fiction or non-fiction that has made a significant contribution to the public’s understanding of intelligence operations, military history or international affairs. The William E. Colby Award began at Norwich University in 1999.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.
This is an in-person event.

Tea & Tidings (In-Person & Virtual)
2021-12-04 14:00 - 15:30 | Pamplin Historical Park, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, 23803, United States
This themed tea offers tasty tea and treats with a program highlighting the holidays as they were celebrated at a distance during the Civil War.
Park staff attired in mid 1800s clothing will explore how Americans celebrated the Christmas season during the Civil War. It was a difficult time as letters were the only form of communication with family and soldiers often far away from home. Experience how these letters from home brought cheer to soldiers in the field and provided a connection to loved ones back at home.
Attendees will learn how holiday meals usually required substitutions at home with scarce provisions and soldiers made do with what they could forage around their camp. Even the gifts from home of knitted items or food brought tears to soldiers eyes, as they might provide the only physical connection to the loved ones who sent them.
The Park’s Tea & Tidings will only be offered one afternoon and space is limited. This event is offered both in person and virtually. Due to the popularity of the tea programs, reservations and prepayment are required. The event will be held at The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier located at 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA 23803. The cost is $30.00 per in-person ticket or virtual tickets are $15.00 per person. An additional “Tea Goody Box” can be purchased by virtual attendees for an additional $15.00 each. Call (804) 861-2408 to reserve your holiday experience.
Click here to purchase in-person tickets.
Click here to purchase virtual tickets.

Roundtable: Petersburg's Regiment: The 12th Virginia Infantry
2021-12-02 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker John Horn as he share the story of “Petersburg’s Regiment: The 12th Virginia Infantry.”
Horn spent decades researching the 12th Virginia Infantry through searching archives and uncovering scores of previously unknown accounts. In his book, Petersburg’s Regiment: The 12th Virginia Infantry, Horn shares personal glimpses of the men who served from the hanging of the abolitionist John Brown through the surrender at Appomattox 1859-1865. Tales of the hard fighting in between includes participation in the battles of Seven Pines, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Spotsylvania and the nine month siege of Petersburg.
John Horn is a native of the Chicago area who married his wife, a native of Richmond, Virginia. Horn received his B.A. in English and Latin from New College and a J.D. from Columbia Law School. Although he practices law, Horn has always had a passion for history. He has published several articles in Civil War Illustrated and America’s Civil War. He has authored books to include The Destruction of the Weldon Railroad and The Petersburg Campaign. Horn has also co-edited Civil War Talks with fellow author Hampton Newsome and blogs at petersburgcampaign@blogspot.com.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.
The health and safety of visitors and staff is a first priority. The park is following the governor of Virginia’s guidelines. Frequent cleaning and sanitation of high contact surfaces is performed daily. Staff members wear face coverings and visitors are encouraged to do so as well. Social distancing of a physical six feet will be maintained throughout the 424-acre park and building occupancy levels will be closely monitored. Hand sanitizer is available at locations throughout the park.

Veterans Day
2021-11-11 11:30 - 15:30 | Pamplin Historical Park, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, 23803, United States
Pamplin Historical Park will offer multiple programs throughout the day, to include presentations on artillery “The King of Battle”, a lecture and living-history demonstration on the Spanish-American War, a live musical performance of soldier’s songs and a ceremony with cannon fire salute.

A Veterans Day ceremony will start at noon with a presentation of colors followed by a cannon fire salute. Afterwards, Civil War programming will be joined by a Spanish-American War lecture and living-history demonstration in the park’s Education Center.

Park staff will conduct a guided walking tour at 1:45 p.m. of the Breakthrough Battlefield, which occurred on April 2, 1865. The tour will offer attendees a chance to hear about the events which unfolded on that fateful morning while viewing some of the most well-preserved earthworks in the country. A notable story to be shared is that of Captain Charles Gould of the U.S. 5th Vermont Infantry Regiment who is credited as being the first man to enter the Confederate held earthworks. Gould would later receive the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

Families are also invited to join in soldier’s songs with a live performance by the Harken Back String Band. Everyone will enjoy traditional songs of home and military life beginning at 2:30 p.m.

All visitors will have the opportunity to explore the 424-acre park to include the Breakthrough Battlefield which on April 2, 1865, resulted in the evacuation of both Petersburg and Richmond. A temporary exhibit titled “We Fight for Our Rights” tells the story of the both the enslaved and free African-Americans who fought for freedom during the American Civil War and their impact on later contributions through the 20th century. The exhibit focuses on the USCT or United States Colored Troops who were formerly enslaved and free African-Americans who joined the Union Army in their fight to end slavery and preserve the Union.

All event activities and programs are included with regular daily paid admission.

Annual Breakthrough Trail 5K
2021-11-06 08:00 - 17:00
This annual event is a partnership between the Park and Tri-Cities Road Runners. The race will take place on historic Civil War battlefield trails starting and ending at the Hart Farm located at 6619 Duncan Rd., Petersburg, VA 23803. The race course will guide participants through the Civil War Breakthrough Battlefield trails which ended the 292 day siege of Petersburg featuring a beautiful landscape with original earthworks from the decisive battle. Participants will enjoy the safety of a course run entirely on trails with no motor vehicle traffic.
Top adult overall male and female finishers and top youth finishers, in each age group, will receive awards. The start time is at 9:00 am and race day registration is open from 7:30 am to 9:00 am. Runner and walker registrations postmarked by October 15, 2021 are $30.00 adults and $10.00 youths with a guarantee of a t-shirt. Thereafter and race day, registration is $35.00 adults and $15.00 youths with no t-shirt guarantee.
All registrations include a Park admission. Payments can be mailed to 5K Breakthrough, 6125 Boydton Plank Rd., Petersburg, VA 23803 or online entry and payment can be made at RunSignUp.com. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.
This event is made possible through the generous support of the following sponsors; AdvanSix, Bank of Southside Virginia and Southside Electric Cooperative.
Click here for a downloadable and printable registration form.
Click here for an event flyer.
Click here to become a sponsor and to promote your business or organization. Sponsorship submissions must be received by September 24, 2021.

Roundtable: The New Market Campaign
2021-11-04 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker Sarah Bierle as she discusses “The New Market Campaign.”
The Battle of New Market took place on May 15, 1864 during what is known as the Valley Campaigns of 1864. A larger Union force being the Army of the Shenandoah under Major General Franz Sigel was defeated while confronting a smaller Confederate force totaling some 4,100 men. Among the Confederate force were the cadets of Virginia Military Institute which were ordered into battle by Confederate general John C. Breckinridge. This is the most remembered aspect of the battle today where 10 VMI cadets were killed or died of their wounds and 45 were wounded out of the total of 257 cadets that participated in the battle. A section of the battlefield where many cadets lost their shoes is known as the “Field of Lost Shoes” and inspired the fictionalized 2014 film by the same name.

Sarah Kay Bierle is the managing editor for Emerging Civil War and is a staff member with Central Virginia Battlefields Trust. She earned her B.A. in History from Thomas Edison State University and she is the author of four books including Call Out The Cadets: The Battle of New Market, May 15, 1864.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.

Voices From the Shadows
2021-10-29 18:30 - 2021-10-30 20:30
Based on true accounts, these Virginia stories will lead you through a cemetery walk. You will meet spirits of the past, brought to life for one night to tell their tales of how they perished. The naturally haunting atmosphere of Pamplin Historical Park will enhance your visit to our battlefield after dark.
Costumed guides portraying “agents of death” will lead participants by candlelight on a spine-chilling tour through the Breakthrough Battlefield. At various stops, guests will encounter victims of murder, stabbing, neglect, drowning, and more. These and other ghouls will recount their stories and share some of the details of their sinister past that led them to an early grave. Tours will be accompanied by sights and sounds that heighten the senses while breaking the silence of the night.
Based on original corner’s reports, the naturally haunting atmosphere of Pamplin Historical Park gives visitors a rare opportunity to experience the Park and battlefield after dark.
This event is offered on Friday, October 29, and Saturday, October 30 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Space is limited and reservations are required to ensure a spot on the tour. The lantern-lit walk begins at the Hart Farm, located at 6915 Duncan Road, Petersburg, VA 23803. Admission is $12 for adults and $6 for children ages 6-12. The minimum recommended age for this nighttime tour is six years old. Flashlights are recommended for all tour participants. Call 804-861-2408 for reservations and directions. You can also reserve and purchase your tickets online by clicking the links below.
Friday, October 29, 6:30 pm
Friday, October 29, 8:30 pm
Saturday, October 30, 6:30 pm
Saturday, October 30, 8:30 pm
The health and safety of visitors and staff are the first priority. The park is following the governor of Virginia’s Phase III Guidelines. Frequent cleaning and sanitation of high contact surfaces is performed daily. Visitors who are not vaccinated are encouraged to wear face coverings but are not required do so. The social distancing of a physical six feet will be maintained throughout the 424-acre park and building occupancy levels will be closely monitored.
Thank you to our partners at Bank of Southside Virginia for making this event possible.

25th Anniversary Civil War Symposium: The Magnificent 7
2021-10-15 09:00 - 2021-10-17 17:00
Park Members pay $315 per person and non-members pay $349. The price includes all
lectures, the Friday night reception, two mid-morning coffee breaks, two lunches, and
the Saturday night banquet. Space is limited and reservations are required. A letter of
confirmation will be sent to registrants.

Speakers & Topics Include:

Dr. Peter S. Carmichael, Director, Civil War Institute
Gettysburg College
“Silencing War Crimes: The 1864 Hicksford Raid”

Mr. John Coski, American Civil War Museum
“Hunter Davidson, U.S.N., C.S.N., etc., etc., and the Perils and Promise of Confederate Biography”

Mr. A. Wilson Greene, Historian/Author
“We Have Done All that is Possible and Must Be Resigned: The First Petersburg Offensive”

Dr. Craig Symonds, Professor Emeritis,
U.S. Naval Academy
“The Elements of Naval Leadership in Two Wars: David Glasgow Farragut and Chester Nimitz”

Mr. Noah Andre Trudeau, Historian/Author
“Robert E. Lee’s Appomattox Campaign: An Alternate History”

Dr. Susannah J. Ural, University of Southern Mississippi
“Unionism vs. Dissent: The Uneasy Homefront in Civil War Mississippi”

Dr. Brian Steel Wills, Kennesaw State University
“George Thomas: The Man Beneath the Rock”

Click here to download a printable registration form.
The health and safety of visitors and staff is a first priority. The park is following the governor of Virginia’s guidelines. Frequent cleaning and sanitation of high contact surfaces is performed daily. Staff members wear face coverings and visitors are encouraged to do so as well. Social distancing of a physical six feet will be maintained throughout the 424-acre park and building occupancy levels will be closely monitored. Hand sanitizer is available at locations throughout the park.

Symposium 2021 Special Tour
2021-10-15 08:30 - 17:30
Join Pamplin Historical Park’s Executive Director, Jerry “Dez” Desmond, and park historian, Tim Talbott, as we explore events in June of 1862 when 105,000 Union soldiers prepared to lay siege to the Confederate capital, Richmond, and end the Civil War. Seizing the initiative, new appointed
Confederate commander, Robert E. Lee, lashed out at the Federals, resulting in the Seven Days Battle.
The tour will leave from the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier at Pamplin Historical Park promptly at 8:30 a.m. and return by 5:30 p.m. We will trace the steps of Lee’s and McClellan’s armies to the battlefields of Mechanicsville, Gaines’ Mill, Savage’s Station, White Oak Swamp, Glendale and Malvern Hill. A picnic lunch will be provided (included in your registration fee). Reservations are required and space is limited. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Full payment is due upon registration. Refunds will be issued, minus a $10 administrative fee, through September 30, 2021. No
refunds will be issued after that date.
Download the Flyer/Registration Form by clicking here.

Roundtable: Fredericksburg's Forgotten Fight
2021-10-07 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker Frank O’Reilly who will discuss “Fredericksburg’s Forgotten Fight”. The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.
The health and safety of visitors and staff is a first priority. The park is following the governor of Virginia’s guidelines. Frequent cleaning and sanitation of high contact surfaces is performed daily. Staff members wear face coverings and visitors are encouraged to do so as well. Social distancing of a physical six feet will be maintained throughout the 424-acre park and building occupancy levels will be closely monitored. Hand sanitizer is available at locations throughout the park.

War in the Pacific Living History Event
2021-09-25 09:00 - 2021-09-26 13:00 | Pamplin Historical Park, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, 23803, United States
This living history event brings to life the experiences of fighting in the Pacific Theater and the home front during World War II. Guests will have the opportunity to learn from living historians portraying soldiers who fought in the Pacific Theater and about a number of different aspects of a soldier’s life to include weapons, signals and communications, and tactical demonstrations. Impressions will range from U.S. Army and Marines to those of British and Russian allies. Civilian living historians will portray goings on at the home front and USO activities stateside. Demonstrations will include medical, cooking, weapons and a military uniform and civilian fashion show. A special tactical demonstration will be performed on Saturday afternoon to illustrate the art of fire and maneuver.
World War II, which was fought between 1939 and 1945, cost an estimated 85 million casualties both military and civilian worldwide. The United States military casualties amounted to 416,800. While many were thankful for the surrender in Europe on May 8, 1945 the war in the Pacific raged on and was far from over. The battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa during the first half of the year gave a glimpse of the carnage awaiting invasion forces set to strike the Japanese home islands. A planned Allied invasion on the island of Kyushu was set for November 1st. There 500,000 Japanese troops were in position and another 6 million were under arms or able to be called into service. This invasion did not come to pass. The dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki forced Imperial Japan to accept an unconditional surrender. The terms were accepted on August 14, 1945 and a formal document signing ceremony took place aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2nd.
All event activities and programs are included with regular daily paid admission.
Schedule:
Saturday
9:00 a.m.
Living History Camps Open to the Public
Battlefield Center Field
11:00 a.m. WWII Pacific Theater Weapons Demonstration
Living History Demonstration – Battlefield Center Field
1:00 p.m. Uniform Talk
Living History Demonstration – Education Center Picnic Pavilion
3:00 p.m. WWII Pacific Theater Weapons Demonstration
Living History Demonstration – Battlefield Center Field
4:45 p.m. Living History Camps Closed to the Public
5:00 p.m. Park Closes
Sunday
9:00 a.m. Living History Camps Open to the Public
Battlefield Center Field
12:00 p.m. WWII Pacific Theater Weapons Demonstration
Living History Demonstration – Battlefield Center Field
1:00 p.m. Living History Camps Closed to the Public
2:00 – 2:45 p.m. Civil War Camp Life and Rifle Demonstration
Living History Demonstration – Military Encampment
3:00 – 3:45 p.m. War So Terrible – Civil War combat film
Running time: 50 minutes – Battlefield Center
5:00 pm
Park Closes

Fall Homeschool Day
2021-09-21 10:00 - 14:00 | Pamplin Historical Park, 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, 23803, United States
Pamplin Historical Park is offering its annual Fall Homeschool Day on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, from 10:00am to 2:00 pm. Students will be led by an experienced park educator through three of our programs: “Why They Fought,” an interactive program which gives students a better understanding about why the nation divided and came to war; “Civil War Battles,” which examines the changes in strategy and tactics of battles as the conflict wore on, with an examination of the April 2, 1865 Petersburg Breakthrough Battle that occurred on our site; and a visit through the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier.
This is a rain or shine event. We suggest wearing comfortable walking shoes, bringing a “brown bag” lunch, and a water bottle. We request that family groups pre-register and pre-pay by calling 804-861-2408.

Standard student group pricing ($11 adults, $9.50 students, free for ages 6 and under)

Roundtable: The Lawrence, Kansas Massacre
2021-09-02 19:00 - 20:00
Join speaker Matthew Hulbert, author and professor as he discusses “The Lawrence, Kansas Massacre”. The irregular warfare along the borderlands of Missouri and Kansas saw guerrilla fighters known as pro-Confederate bushwhackers or pro-Union jayhawkers attack small detachments of soldiers and terrorize civilian communities. U.S. senator James H. Lane led a raid by pro-Union against the town of Osceola, Missouri in September of 1861. Nine men were executed and the town was looted and all but 3 of the towns 800 buildings were burned. The town never fully recovered and the raid culminated in the forming of Confederate partisan rangers known as bushwhackers. Nearly a year later, in August of 1862, one of the most infamous Confederate partisan groups in the region would exact revenge for what happened at Osceola. William Clarke Quantrill and his raiders would attack Lawrence, Kansas and kill nearly 200 men and boys in one of the most violent raids of the war.
Hulbert is an assistant professor of history at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia. His studies and interests include Nineteenth-Century America, the Civil War, technology and warfare, regular and irregular warfare and the American West. Hulbert is the author of The Ghosts of Guerrilla Memory: How Civil War Bushwhackers became Gunslingers in the American West, which won the 2017 Wiley-Silver Prize, and the co-editor of both Writing History with Lightning: Cinematic Representations of Nineteenth-Century America and The Civil War Guerrilla: Unfolding the Black Flag in History, Memory, and Myth.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Annual membership is $40.00. Individuals who are already members of Pamplin Historical Park can become members of PCWRT for $20.00. Non-members can attend for $5.00 each meeting. Call (804) 861-2408 for more information.
The health and safety of visitors and staff is a first priority. The park is following the governor of Virginia’s guidelines. Frequent cleaning and sanitation of high contact surfaces is performed daily. Staff members wear face coverings and visitors are encouraged to do so as well. Social distancing of a physical six feet will be maintained throughout the 424-acre park and building occupancy levels will be closely monitored. Hand sanitizer is available at locations throughout the park.
