Civil War Trails and Military Tales
Day One
Begin your tour in Quantico, the only town in the U.S. completely surrounded by a military base. Quantico's military tradition dates back to the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, when the area was used by Virginia Naval elements. While in Quantico, visit the Marine Corps Air-Ground Museum. Housed in 1920's hangars, this free museum chronicles the U.S. Marine Corps air-ground team development and achievements from 1900 through the Korean War.
Travel on to Old Town Manassas, which originated in 1852 at the junction of two railroads which linked Northern Virginia and Washington, DC with the Shenandoah Valley and Richmond. During the Civil War, the junction's strategic importance led to the Battles of First and Second Manassas (Bull Run). Take time to learn more about the history of the region at the Manassas Museum then grab an early lunch in Old Town Manassas before moving on to the Manassas National Battlefield Park. This 5,000-acre park was the scene of the First and Second Battles of Manassas, which were fought along the waters of Bull Run Creek. Listen and learn from the interpretive presentations given by park staff during an equestrian, walking or driving tour.
From Manassas, take a short drive northwest to Middleburg. During the Civil War, Middleburg was home to the Confederate "Gray Ghost" Colonel John S. Mosby, whose cavalry repeatedly harassed Union troops. Take an afternoon driving tour of Civil War sites and return to Middleburg for dinner before returning to your hotel.
Day Two
Begin your day in Fairfax City, which was occupied on numerous occasions by both Confederate and Union troops during the Civil War. Begin at the Fairfax Museum and Visitors Center then move on to the Fairfax County Courthouse, which was used as a Union signal post and headquarters throughout the war. Other points of interest include Mosby's Capture of Stoughton and the Confederate Cemetery Monument, both located on Main Street.
From Fairfax, move on to Alexandria and visit the Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site. Here you can view the museum's Civil War exhibits, recreated officer's hut and the ceremonial gate. If you're adventurous, you can even climb the stockade into the fort and check out the cannon.
Venture on to Old Town Alexandria for lunch. When Virginia voted to follow other Southern states and secede from the Union on May 23, 1861, the Federal government, recognizing the strategic importance of Alexandria to the defense of Washington, sent Union troops into the city the very next day. Alexandria remained under Union control for the duration of the war, distinguishing it as the longest occupied territory of the Civil War.
Spend the rest of your afternoon at Arlington National Cemetery, a national shrine to thousands of men and women who have died defending the United States and freedom around the world. The Cemetery was created on the grounds of the former home of General Robert E. Lee, Confederate General and Civil War hero. It was here at Arlington House, in 1861, that General Lee wrote the letter resigning his commission from the U.S. Army to fight for his native Virginia.
Begin your tour in Quantico, the only town in the U.S. completely surrounded by a military base. Quantico's military tradition dates back to the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, when the area was used by Virginia Naval elements. While in Quantico, visit the Marine Corps Air-Ground Museum. Housed in 1920's hangars, this free museum chronicles the U.S. Marine Corps air-ground team development and achievements from 1900 through the Korean War.
Travel on to Old Town Manassas, which originated in 1852 at the junction of two railroads which linked Northern Virginia and Washington, DC with the Shenandoah Valley and Richmond. During the Civil War, the junction's strategic importance led to the Battles of First and Second Manassas (Bull Run). Take time to learn more about the history of the region at the Manassas Museum then grab an early lunch in Old Town Manassas before moving on to the Manassas National Battlefield Park. This 5,000-acre park was the scene of the First and Second Battles of Manassas, which were fought along the waters of Bull Run Creek. Listen and learn from the interpretive presentations given by park staff during an equestrian, walking or driving tour.
From Manassas, take a short drive northwest to Middleburg. During the Civil War, Middleburg was home to the Confederate "Gray Ghost" Colonel John S. Mosby, whose cavalry repeatedly harassed Union troops. Take an afternoon driving tour of Civil War sites and return to Middleburg for dinner before returning to your hotel.
Day Two
Begin your day in Fairfax City, which was occupied on numerous occasions by both Confederate and Union troops during the Civil War. Begin at the Fairfax Museum and Visitors Center then move on to the Fairfax County Courthouse, which was used as a Union signal post and headquarters throughout the war. Other points of interest include Mosby's Capture of Stoughton and the Confederate Cemetery Monument, both located on Main Street.
From Fairfax, move on to Alexandria and visit the Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site. Here you can view the museum's Civil War exhibits, recreated officer's hut and the ceremonial gate. If you're adventurous, you can even climb the stockade into the fort and check out the cannon.
Venture on to Old Town Alexandria for lunch. When Virginia voted to follow other Southern states and secede from the Union on May 23, 1861, the Federal government, recognizing the strategic importance of Alexandria to the defense of Washington, sent Union troops into the city the very next day. Alexandria remained under Union control for the duration of the war, distinguishing it as the longest occupied territory of the Civil War.
Spend the rest of your afternoon at Arlington National Cemetery, a national shrine to thousands of men and women who have died defending the United States and freedom around the world. The Cemetery was created on the grounds of the former home of General Robert E. Lee, Confederate General and Civil War hero. It was here at Arlington House, in 1861, that General Lee wrote the letter resigning his commission from the U.S. Army to fight for his native Virginia.