2014 Spring Season of Ranger Conducted Programs and Change of Hours of Operation

Date: March 18, 2014
Contact: Eric Campbell, 540-868-9176

National Park ServiceNews Release

For Immediate Release – March18, 2014

Contact's Name:ERIC CAMPBELL [phone]

National Park Service Announces the Beginning of Ranger Conducted Programs and Change of Hours of Operation

Middletown, VA ----- Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park announced the resumption of ranger-conducted programs this spring.The National Park Service began public programs in 2010, and has been expanding its offerings since then. Ranger programs will begin Sunday, March 23 and will continue on weekends throughout the spring. Programs will be offered on a daily basis from mid-June through mid-August, and on weekends again in the fall.

In addition, beginning Saturday, March22, the hours of operation for the park's Visitor Contact Station will change from a limited winter schedule to daily operations.The new hours will be daily, 9:00 a.m. to4:30 p.m.Park partner sites will also begin transitioning to daily operations this month. Belle Grove Plantation will host its "Opening Day" event on Saturday, March 22.Itshours of operation will be Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday,1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Please see their website, www.bellegrove.org for more information.

The Hupp's Hill Civil War Park and visitor Center will continue to operate with their regular schedule, daily from9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.The Cedar Creek Battelfields Foundation Headquarters will reopen for the season in early April. Please see their website, www.ccbf.us for more information.

"After a long winter, we are looking forward to welcoming the community and visitors back to the park," said Site Manager Amy Bracewell. "The National Park Service and all of the park partners are planning a variety of exciting programs and special events through the spring and summer.We encourage people to visit often to experience all that the park has to offer."

The National Park Service ranger programs tell the park's many stories related to the rich cultural history of the Shenandoah Valley, its settlement, the Battle of Cedar Creek and the impact of the Civil War on both the local communities and the nation as a whole.All of the ranger-led programs are free and include::

Cedar Creek and Belle Grove "in a Box" – A Park Overview is a 30 minute orientation on the history and settlement of the Shenandoah Valley, the Battle of Cedar Creek and the impact of the Civil War on the Valley.This interactive program, for both adults and children, uses various props (taken out of a box) and the surrounding landscape features to "create"and tell the park's many stories by literally placing visitors "in the middle of the park."Presented on the front lawn of Belle Grove.

"To Battlefield and Beyond" War Comes to the Shenandoah Valley

This45 minute program examines the many military campaigns and battles that occurred in the Valley and their effect upon the local communities. Presented at Hupp's Hill Civil War Park.

Battle of Cedar Creek Tour

A two-hour guided tour, using a car-caravan system (visitors follow the ranger's vehicle), covers the Battle of Cedar Creek in a chronological fashion.This 13 mile tour follows the major events of the fighting and includes stops at the key landmarks associated with the battle. Tour's begin at the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation Headquarters.

Middletown Civil War Walking Tours

Discover the many layers of Civil War history by learning about the citizens of Middletown who lived through those difficult times and how the war impacted their lives.Meet the ranger for a 90minute walking tour at the intersection of Main Street and First Street,Middletown. Offered at 5:00 p.m. on the2^nd Saturday of each month, June-October.

Civil War Entrenchment TourSome of the most pristine Civil war entrenchments in the Shenandoah Valley are located on the bluffs above Cedar Creek and are preserved by the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation. Join a Park Ranger for a walking tour and learn not only how these works were constructed but also what role they played in the battle.Meet at the parking lot of the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation, 8437 Valley Pike, Middletown.

The 8^th Vermont Monument at Cedar CreekVisit one of the few monuments located on the battlefield and learn the story of the New England regiment it memorializes.Meet at 8739 Valley Pike, Middletown, VA 22645 (a Park Service banner marks the site).A short walk overmoderate terrain is required. Good walking shoes or boots are recommended.

A series of special programs called History at Sunset will be presented on select Friday evenings during the summer. These tours will cover a wide variety of subjects related to the park's rich cultural history and give visitors an opportunity to see sites not normally open to the general public. Explore and learn about some of the many "hidden gems" of Cedar Creek and Belle Grove NHP.Tours will be 60-90 minutes long and begin at7:00 p.m. The program schedule will be released at a later date.

This year also marks the 150^th anniversary of the Battle of Cedar Creek,fought on October 19, 1864.The National Park Service, along with all of its Key Partners, are planning a series of special events, programs and activities through 2014 to commemorate this significant event in Shenandoah Valley history. Information on these events, along with other information on the park,can be found on the park website (www.nps.gov/cebe)or by calling: [phone].

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About Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park:Created on December 19, 2002, Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park encompasses approximately 3,700 acres across three counties and includes the key partner sites of Belle Grove Plantation (owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and managed by Belle Grove, Inc.), Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation, Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, and a developing Shenandoah County Park. The partner sites continue to be owned and operated independently.

The park commemorates a nationally significant Civil War and operated antebellum plantation by sharing the story of Shenandoah Valley history from early settlement through the Civil War and beyond. The park is also located within the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District, a national Heritage Area.