Civil War Trails

7 nights

 

Explore the historic places and learn the details of a country divided. President Abraham Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theatre April 14, 1865. He died early the next day at the Peterson House across the street. The theatre, still active, has been restored and is open for performances and guided tours. A museum contains artifacts relating to the assassination. A month after Robert E. Lee left his home in Arlington to take command of Virginia forces, Union soldiers occupied his estate. By the end of the war 16,000 graves scarred the lawn and gardens of Lee's former home. Today Arlington National Cemetery is studded with famous memorials including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the graves of John F. and Robert Kennedy. A small section is devoted to the remains of Confederate dead. Don't miss the self-guided tour of the restored Arlington House (Lee's home).

 

Fairfax: Just across the Potomac River from DC at Fairfax Station, Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, began her humanitarian efforts.

Manassas: Just 30 miles west is the Manassas National Battlefield Park whose boundaries encompass key sites associated with the first and second battles of Manassas (Bull Run). The newly remodeled visitor centre offers a 45-minute film, interactive displays, a book store and ranger assistance.

 

Richmond:With Virginia's secession from the Union Richmond was named the Capitol of the Confederacy. The American Civil War Centre at Historic Tredegar is the gateway to Civil War travel in the region. A National Historic Landmark and one-time heart of Confederate war production, the site offers visitors an interactive exploration of the Civil War on both the local and national levels through the perspectives of Union, Confederate, and African American participants. The Centre is a must stop for the Civil War traveller. The Museum and White House of the Confederacy is home to the world’s largest collection of artifacts, manuscripts & images associated with the domestic, military and political life during the period of the Confederacy. Take a guided tour of the White House of the Confederacy, home to Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his family throughout the war.

Appomattox: In this central Virginia town, General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant, ending the Civil War. Visit the historic McLean House where the Civil War was officially ended in 1865. The McLean House and its surrounding village have been beautifully restored to their 1865 condition and are now part of the Appomattox Court House and National Historical Park. The park commemorates the end of the Civil War, and the walking tour allows visitors to explore the historical buildings as they were in 1865.

 

Frederick: Northern and Southern army's passed through this interesting and still evocative city on their way to Antietam in 1862 and parts of the Union army went north through here on the way to Gettysburg in 1863. The influx of wounded to the city following the big battles makes it a natural location for the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. Exhibits tell the story of the sick and wounded using artifacts and illustrations. The museum examines changes in surgical techniques and nursing, the role of nurses, the battle against disease, field medicine and hospital structure.

Sharpsburg: Antietam National Battlefield saw intense fighting in cornfields and woods, along creeks and roads, and around a tiny country church on Sept. 17, 1862, resulting in the bloodiest day of the war. A driving tour takes visitors to key parts of the battlefield. The visitor center provides ranger assistance and a film.

 

Before you head back to the airport today why not make a stop en-route in Fairfax County or extend your stay to really explore this area of Civil War significance. What better way to learn about the country's darkest hour than to be on the front line? With Fairfax County's proximity to many Civil War battlefields, this can be a reality. Situated within minutes of the official division between the Union and Confederacy, Fairfax County was host to a medley of momentous events during the Civil War. Fairfax County's has dozens of Civil War sites that will put you right in the middle of all the action, you'll be connected with American history in a way that can only occur when standing on the very soil of the country's most significant Civil War events. 

 

Hotel accommodation is offered on two quality levels: “standard” typically 2/3 star hotels providing clean and moderate accommodations with several basic facilities, some with a limited dining room and sometimes a swimming pool. “Select” indicates a more superior style of accommodation typically of a 3/4 star quality, in a central location with extended facilities including a dining room and usually a swimming pool. Rooms in both levels of accommodation choice provide private facilities and are based on the hotels standard or lead in room type.