August Events at PWCo Historic Sites

August 8

Family Night

6 p.m.- 8 p.m.; FREE

Learn about the importance of an herb garden, both past and present.  Herbs continue to have many uses, from fragrances in perfumes to ingredients to treatments in modern medicine.  Children can pick herbs from Ben Lomond’s herb garden and make their very own lavender sachet.

Ben Lomond Historic Site, 10321 Sudley Manor Drive, Manassas, VA 20109; 703-367-7872

August 6-10

Basic Civil War Camp

9 a.m. – noon; ages 8 – 12, $130 per child; reservations required

Children will participate in activities designed to develop a better understanding of soldier life during the American Civil War. Activities include “Enlist in Virginia’s Army”, “Life in Camp,” “Infantry Drill,” “Did Civil War Soldiers Really Eat that Stuff?”, “Civil War Medicine” and a field trip to Manassas National Battlefield Park.

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA 20136; 703-365-7895

August 11

Family History Day- Let’s Play a Game

11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., $7 per person, children under 6 free

Play the games that children played before there were batteries.  Learn how to play graces, hoops and sticks, 19th century rules baseball, skin the snake, and many more. 

Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Rd., Woodbridge, 703-499-9812

August 11,12,25,26

Bristoe Station Battlefield Guided Tours

11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., tours leave on the hour, donations accepted

Bristoe Station Battlefield staff and volunteers will provide guided tours of the battlefield. Learn about Camp Jones and the two battles that took place here in 1862 and 1863. Tours begin on the hour and depart from the kiosk in the parking lot on Iron Brigade Unit Avenue. Last tour at 3 pm.  Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. No pets please.

Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park, The parking lot is located off of Iron Brigade Unit Ave., Bristow, VA 20136, (703) 366-3049

August 17

Potomac River Blockade Boat Tours

6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.; $30.00 per person; reservations required

Cruise along the Potomac River shoreline and view sites that were critical to the Confederate forces’ successful blockade of Washington D.C. from September 1861 through March 1862. Local historians will discuss the significance of the blockade, gun batteries and camps that supported the Confederate efforts. The cruise will include the preserved batteries at Freestone Point and Possum Nose, as well as Evansport and Shipping Point. Tour includes sandwiches.  No pets please. Not appropriate for children under six. Please call 703-792-4754 for more information and reservations.

August 18

Stonewall Jackson’s Bold Sweep:  Second Manassas One Day Bus Tour

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; $85, reservations required, space is limited

To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Second Battle of Manassas, the tour will detail Confederate General “Stonewall” Jackson’s famous flank march around the Union army in August 1862.  This march led to the largest battle in Prince William County and Northern Virginia, resulting in over 18,000 casualties.  The tour will visit sites along Jackson’s march such as Jeffersonton, Orlean, Marshall, Thoroughfare Gap, Bristoe Station, Conner House and the Brawner Farm on Manassas National Battlefield Park.  Cost includes transportation, admission to all sites and a boxed lunch.

Ben Lomond Historic Site, mailing address: 17674 Main St., Dumfries, VA 22026; 703-367-7872

August 18        

Nature Trail Walk

1:00 p.m.; $5 per person, free for children under six

Take a guided tour along the nature trails at Brentsville and learn about plants and animals that live in this part of Virginia. 

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA 20136, (703) 365-7895

August 20-24

Advanced Civil War Camp

 9 a.m. – noon Ages 8 – 13, $150 per child, reservations required

Children will participate in activities built on fundamentals that they learned during the Basic Civil War Summer Camp (see July 16- 20, August 6-10 ). Participants will drill their peers, learn an artillery drill, explore non commissioned officers’ administrative responsibilities, spend a day with Confederate General Robert E. Lee and take a field trip to Manassas National Battlefield Park. Participants MUST have attended the Basic Civil War Summer Camp.

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA 20136; 703-365-7895

August 23

Fireside Stories at Ben Lomond:  “With Fire in His Young Eye”

Decimus Et. Ultimus Barziza descended from Virginia aristocracy, fought with the 4^th Texas and escaped from a Union prison to become a pinnacle of anti-reconstruction post- war politics. Come hear about his life, one similar to those Confederates who fought in and around Prince William County 150 years ago this month.

Ben Lomond Historic Site, 10321 Sudley Manor Dr., Manassas, VA 20109; 703-367-7872

August 25-26

150th Anniversary of the Battle of Kettle Run Commemorative Weekend

Saturday, 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., FREE, donations accepted

On August 27, 1862, Federal and Confederate forces clashed for the first time at Bristoe Station.  This battle set the stage for the Second Battle of Manassas, which took place the next day.  Join local historians on the 150th Anniversary for in-depth tours, living history and special programs concentrating on the action here at Bristoe Station in August 1862.  You'll have a chance to see the newly installed Battle of Kettle Run interpretive markers along the newly improved battlefield trail.  Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. No pets please.

Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park, The parking lot is located off of Iron Brigade Unit Ave., Bristow, VA 20136, (703) 366-3049

August 25

150th Anniversary of the Battle of Kettle Run Luminary

Saturday, 8:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m., $10.00 per person

On August 27, 1862, Federal and Confederate soldiers fought at Bristoe Station.  While not as large as Second Manassas, the Battle of Kettle Run was just as deadly for the soldiers involved and just as devastating for the families.  The units that fought at Bristoe suffered heavy casualties.  Join us for a special Luminary walking tour and hear moving stories of the battle’s impact on families far from the battlefields of Virginia.  Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. No pets please.

Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park, The parking lot is located off of Iron Brigade Unit Ave., Bristow, VA 20136, (703) 366-3049

August 25        

Storytime at Brentsville

1:00 p.m.; $2 per child

Join Brentsville staff for children’s stories about local history, people, and events.

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA 20136, (703) 365-7895

August 28 – 30

History Mini Camp

9:00 a.m. – Noon, $20 per day or $50 for all three days, ages 8-12

Explore the daily lives of kids living in Prince William County in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.  Every day will feature a different time period.  Activities will include crafts, games, history, music, food and much more. Registration required.

Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge, 703-499-9812