American History
2023 Symposium Optional Tour: 1862 Peninsula Campaign
Pamplin Historical Park 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, United StatesJoin Pamplin Historical Park’s Executive Director, Colin Romanick, and Newport News Historic Sites Curator, J. Michael Moore as we examine General McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign, covering the period between the landing of the Army of the Potomac on the Peninsula on March 17, 1862 to the Battle of Williamsburg on May 5, 1862. The tour will... Read more »
Civil War Symposium: Bridges Over Troubled Waters
Battlefield terrain features and obstacles have been studied by numerous historians and are the blessing or curse of many military commanders throughout time. The American Civil War is no different with many examples of rivers, streams and ravines playing a role in defining battles. Some already had bridges in place such as the Burnside Bridge... Read more »
Voices from the Shadows
Costumed guides will lead participants on a special Halloween tour, where they will encounter various historical figures on a real battlefield. Participants will hear ladies recounting scary stories, music in the night and experience fireside encounters, soldiers called to an attack a surgery and more. Tours will be accompanied by sights and sounds that heighten... Read more »
Roundtable: Civil War Railroads
Join Bert Dunkerly who will present on November 2, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. to the Petersburg Civil War Roundtable. Dunkerly will share the story of "Civil War Railroads.” Robert M. Dunkerly (Bert) is a historian, award-winning author, and speaker who is actively involved in historic preservation and research. He holds a degree in History from... Read more »
6th Annual Breakthrough Trail 5K
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 finishing at the Hart Farm located at 6915 Duncan Rd., Petersburg, VA 23803. The race course will guide participants through the Civil War Breakthrough Battlefield trails which ended the... Read more »
Veterans Day Observance
Pamplin Historical Park 6125 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA, United StatesPamplin Historical Park will offer a living history timeline of America's military with reenactors and multiple programs throughout the day. Programming includes a lecture on United States Army Immigrants serving in World War I by author and historian Al Barnes, a special ceremony with cannon fire salute and tour of the Breakthrough Battlefield of April... Read more »
Roundtable: Fate at Petersburg” The Story of Col. G. L. Prescott, 32nd Mass.”
Join Dr. Sean Heuvel who will present on December 7, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. to the Petersburg Civil War Roundtable. Dr. Heuvel will share the “‘Fate at Petersburg: The Story of Colonel George L. Prescott, 32nd Massachusetts.” Dr. Sean M. Heuvel serves as Director of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions at Christopher Newport University. In that... Read more »
Christmas Celebration
Visitors will have the opportunity to experience Christmas through living historians from the Civil War. These soldiers will share; soldier’s life, holiday traditions through the ages and demonstrate weapons. Craft activities will be followed by the highlight of every Christmas event being the arrival of Santa. Children and families will have the opportunity to visit... Read more »
Roundtable: “A Tale of Two Brothers: James and Robert Roantree’s Civil War Experiences.”
Join speaker Emmanuel Dabney as he shares the story of " A Tale of Two Brothers: James and Robert Roantree's Civil War Experiences." James Roantree, first served in the 157th New York Infantry with his brother, Robert. After a disastrous day at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, in which James was wounded, he would later... Read more »
Roundtable: “Moments of Contingency in the Rise of Grant”
Join speaker Dr. Chris Mackowski who will present on January 4, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. to the Petersburg Civil War Roundtable. Dr. Mackowski will share "Moments of Contingency in the Rise of Grant." Ulysses S. Grant is a central figure from the American Civil War. A native of Ohio, Grant answered the call to serve... Read more »