Pamplin Historical Park

Roundtable: The Beefsteak Raid
2025-05-01 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Join speaker J. Michael Moore as he shares the story of “The Beefsteak Raid.” Moore’s presentation will focus on the the September 14 through 17, 1864, Beefsteak Raid led by Confederate Major General Wade Hampton. Hampton’s 100 -mile raid behind Union lines included 3,000 Confederate cavalrymen whose goal was to capture Union cattle to feed Confederate soldiers. When U.S. President Abraham Lincoln heard of the raid capturing more than 2,000 cattle, he said that it was “the slickest piece of cattle-stealing” he ever heard of.
J. Michael Moore is employed by the City of Newport News and serves as their Historic Services Museum Curator. Moore received a bachelor of arts in history from Christopher Newport University and a master of arts in history from Old Dominion University. During his tenure with the City, he has curated exhibits at several local historic sites, developed historic signage, and led battlefield tours in Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Working with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, he has placed Causey’s Mill, Historic Endview, Lee’s Mill, and Whitaker’s Mill on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, Michael is a popular lecturer for CNU’s LifeLong Learning Society. Moore has co-authored two books – The Peninsula Campaign of 1862: A Military Analysis in 2005 and Yorktown’s Civil War Siege: Drums Along the Warwick in 2012. In addition, he has served as the editor and photographic editor for twelve books and written articles for Virginia Cavalcade, North & South, Military Collector & Historian, and Mulberry Island Notes. In recognition of his work in public history, the Governor of Kentucky commissioned Moore a Kentucky Colonel in 2014. He is a Newport News native and resides in Historic Yorktown.
The Petersburg Civil War Roundtable (PCWRT) will meet the first Thursday of each month (except for June, July and August) 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.

Memorial Day Weekend Remembrance
2025-05-24 09:00 - 2025-05-26 17:00
The park will be open for walk in visitation Memorial Day weekend, May 24 through May 26 with special activities only being held on Saturday, May 24th, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Programming on Saturday only, will include a presentation by U.S. Army SSG Gualavisivega, who will share the role of Mortuary Affairs today with a display of artifacts. Park Staff honors those who’ve fallen with a special presentation and tour of the Breakthrough Battlefield and, Bill Stallings will speak on the sacrifices of the United States military in the Korean War, while sharing a display from that conflict.
The viewing of “War So Terrible” which follows two Civil War soldiers, Benjamin Franklin Meyers of the Union and Andrew Jackson Stewart of the Confederacy, will be available for viewing, in the Battlefield Center.
This special Pamplin Historical Park Memorial Day remembrance is sponsored by the Bank of Southside Virginia. The Park is open May 24 through 26 and the special programming will take place on Saturday, May 24th only. Daily admission for adults is $15, seniors (65+) $12.00, children (6-12) $8, and children under 6 free.
Free admission is offered for all active duty Military, Reservists, Retirees, Veterans, National Guardsmen. This offer is only available on May 24-25, 2025 to active duty Military, Reservists, Retirees, Veterans, National Guardsmen with proper ID, which includes a Department of Defense photo ID or DD Form 214. Military veterans who separated before retirement can bring a copy of their honorable discharge paperwork, DD Form 214, as identification of service.
