"Baptism of Fire: Soldiers and Civilians at the First Battle of Manassas" is a curriculum based education program for 4th, 5th and 6th grades. The content is designed around Virginia's Standards of Learning (SOLs) and introduces students to the people and events connected with the Civil War’s first major land battle. The goal of this program is to illustrate how the First Battle of Manassas affected and changed the lives of all Americans, soldiers and civilians alike, and to allow students to experience history where it occurred through a ranger-guided visit to the battlefield. 

"Baptism of Fire" offers pre- and post-visit activities that can be downloaded from our website.  They are designed to enhance your field trip through classroom activities and discussion.  Each activity contains instructions, lesson objectives and correlations to both National and Virginia Standards of Learning.  The activities can be used independently or adapted to other grades as necessary. 

The on-site program requires approximately two hours at the battlefield and is offered Monday through Friday by advance reservation only. A typical program starts with a guided tour of Henry Hill, followed by a scavenger hunt through the Visitors Center museum and closes with a review. Programs are limited to 50 students max; requires a 1:10 teacher-chaperone to student ratio. 

For more information or to make a reservation, please call the park Visitor Center at 703-361-1339 or send us email at email us