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Contact: Mary O'Neill, 540-693-3200
FREDERICKSBURG, VA. — Discover the stories of soldiers, civilians and enslaved freedom seekers who experienced four major battles and helped determine the fate of the nation during the Civil War. Explore Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park this summer and connect with the people and places that shaped some of the most contested landscapes in American history.The park’s summer interpretive programming starts on Saturday, June 8, 2024 and runs through Sunday, August 11, 2024. Park grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset. Summer hours for visitor centers, historic sites, and guided programs are as follows:
Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center
1013 Lafayette Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA.Open daily, 9 am-5 pm
Innis House Open House; Daily, 9 am-11 am, drop-in
Step inside one of the few structures standing on the battlefield and talk to park staff about how the battle impacted the lives of people caught in the crossfire.
Sunken Road Walking Tours; Daily, 10:30 am & 2 pm, 45 minutes
Meet at the battle painting outside the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center.
Why did the Battle of Fredericksburg happen in December 1862? Join a guided tour of the one of the most iconic and recognized battlefield landmarks of the war. This walking tour will cover no more than 0.5 mile over mostly flat terrain.
Ranger’s Choice Pop-up; Daily, 1:30 pm-3:30 pm, drop-in
Station set up at either the Kirkland Monument or the Fredericksburg National Cemetery; check-in with visitor center staff on program location.
Visit park staff on the landscape to explore how Americans have memorialized the Civil War over time and what it means for us today.
Step inside one of the few structures standing on the battlefield and talk to park staff about how the battle impacted the lives of people caught in the crossfire.
Sunken Road Walking Tours; Daily, 10:30 am & 2 pm, 45 minutes
Meet at the battle painting outside the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center.
Why did the Battle of Fredericksburg happen in December 1862? Join a guided tour of the one of the most iconic and recognized battlefield landmarks of the war. This walking tour will cover no more than 0.5 mile over mostly flat terrain.
Ranger’s Choice Pop-up; Daily, 1:30 pm-3:30 pm, drop-in
Station set up at either the Kirkland Monument or the Fredericksburg National Cemetery; check-in with visitor center staff on program location.
Visit park staff on the landscape to explore how Americans have memorialized the Civil War over time and what it means for us today.
Chatham
120 Chatham Lane, Fredericksburg, VA.Open daily, 9 am-5 pm*
Gate open daily, 9 am-5 pm
Grounds open daily, sunrise to sunset
Sparking Freedom at Chatham Walking Tour; Daily, 2 pm, 45 minutes
Meet at the Chatham garden-side entrance.
Resistance to enslavement took many forms at Chatham. Discover stories of this resistance and learn about the people whose actions challenged oppression. This walking tour of the Chatham grounds will cover around 0.25 mile over mostly flat terrain and may include some steps.
Get Creative at Chatham; Monday-Friday, 9:30 am-11 am, drop-in
Meet out on the Chatham grounds.
Chatham has inspired many artists – sketched the grounds during the Civil War and photographers captured the gardens in the 1920s. Join park staff to learn about Chatham’s past through art and pick up some supplies to create your own artwork interpreting this special place.
Children’s Programs; Weekends, 9:30 am-11 am, drop-in
Meet out on the Chatham grounds.
Attention kids and families! Join a ranger to participate in activities and learn about a variety of topics relating to history and nature connected to Chatham and the Civil War.
*In mid-July Chatham may close for a rehabilitation project. Dates and details will be publicized when they become available. The Chatham grounds will remain open during this time.Meet at the Chatham garden-side entrance.
Resistance to enslavement took many forms at Chatham. Discover stories of this resistance and learn about the people whose actions challenged oppression. This walking tour of the Chatham grounds will cover around 0.25 mile over mostly flat terrain and may include some steps.
Get Creative at Chatham; Monday-Friday, 9:30 am-11 am, drop-in
Meet out on the Chatham grounds.
Chatham has inspired many artists – sketched the grounds during the Civil War and photographers captured the gardens in the 1920s. Join park staff to learn about Chatham’s past through art and pick up some supplies to create your own artwork interpreting this special place.
Children’s Programs; Weekends, 9:30 am-11 am, drop-in
Meet out on the Chatham grounds.
Attention kids and families! Join a ranger to participate in activities and learn about a variety of topics relating to history and nature connected to Chatham and the Civil War.
Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center
9001 Plank Road, Spotsylvania, VA.Open Daily, 9 am-5 pm
Investigating Chancellorsville; Daily, 10:30 am & 2 pm, 45 minutes
Meet at the battle painting outside the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center.
Why did the US and the Confederate armies clash in May of 1863 and why does it matter? Join park staff to learn about the Chancellorsville Campaign and dive into some of the big questions surrounding this contested battle.
Ranger’s Choice Pop-up; Daily, 9 am-11 am, drop-in
Station located outside the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center.
Explore how the Battle of Chancellorsville has been remembered and why this battle continues to captivate people to this day.
Reading with a Ranger; Tuesdays, 10 am, 30 minutes, recommended ages 4-8
Meet outside the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center.
Join park staff for a themed storytime and craft activity.
Meet at the battle painting outside the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center.
Why did the US and the Confederate armies clash in May of 1863 and why does it matter? Join park staff to learn about the Chancellorsville Campaign and dive into some of the big questions surrounding this contested battle.
Ranger’s Choice Pop-up; Daily, 9 am-11 am, drop-in
Station located outside the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center.
Explore how the Battle of Chancellorsville has been remembered and why this battle continues to captivate people to this day.
Reading with a Ranger; Tuesdays, 10 am, 30 minutes, recommended ages 4-8
Meet outside the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center.
Join park staff for a themed storytime and craft activity.
Ellwood
36380 Constitution Highway, Orange, VA.Open Friday-Tuesday (closed Wednesday-Thursday), 11 am-5 pm
Gate open daily, 9 am-5 pm
Grounds open daily, sunrise to sunset
Crucial Crossroads; Friday-Tuesday, 9:30 am, 45 minutes
Meet at the Brock Road-Plank Road intersection (Tour Stop #8 on the Wilderness Battlefield)
The fighting at the Brock Road-Plank Road intersection represents a pivotal moment in the history of the American Civil War. Walk though the woods where this fighting occurred and reflect on the lives that were forever changed here. This walking tour will cover a 0.5 mile trail over flat terrain.
Battle in a Box; Friday-Tuesday, 3 pm, 20 minutes
Meet at Ellwood.
Join park staff for hands-on learning as we create an interactive map to visualize how the Battle of the Wilderness unfolded in May 1864.
Meet at the Brock Road-Plank Road intersection (Tour Stop #8 on the Wilderness Battlefield)
The fighting at the Brock Road-Plank Road intersection represents a pivotal moment in the history of the American Civil War. Walk though the woods where this fighting occurred and reflect on the lives that were forever changed here. This walking tour will cover a 0.5 mile trail over flat terrain.
Battle in a Box; Friday-Tuesday, 3 pm, 20 minutes
Meet at Ellwood.
Join park staff for hands-on learning as we create an interactive map to visualize how the Battle of the Wilderness unfolded in May 1864.
Jackson Death Site
12019 Stonewall Jackson Road, Woodford, VA.Open Friday-Tuesday (closed Wednesday-Thursday), 9 am-5 pm
Grounds open daily, sunrise to sunset
Hidden History at the Jackson Death Site; 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 11 am, 45 minutes
Meet at the Jackson Death Site parking area.
Join park staff and explore the history that shaped this landscape into the place where Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson spent his final days in May 1863 and reflect on what the landscape tells us today. This walking tour will cover around 0.25 mile over flat terrain.
Meet at the Jackson Death Site parking area.
Join park staff and explore the history that shaped this landscape into the place where Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson spent his final days in May 1863 and reflect on what the landscape tells us today. This walking tour will cover around 0.25 mile over flat terrain.
Spotsylvania
9550 West Grant Drive, Spotsylvania, VA.Staffed weekends, 9 am-5 pm
Catch up with a ranger at the exhibit shelter or one of the other sites around the battlefield on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am–5 pm.
Bloody Angle Walking Tour; Weekends, 10:30 am & 2 pm, 45 minutes
Meet at the Bloody Angle parking area (Tour Stop #3 on the Spotsylvania Battlefield).
Join park staff at the Bloody Angle to learn about one of the most intense events of the Civil War and consider how the war was changing in the spring of 1864. This walking tour will cover around 0.25 mile over mostly flat terrain.
Join park staff at the Bloody Angle to learn about one of the most intense events of the Civil War and consider how the war was changing in the spring of 1864. This walking tour will cover around 0.25 mile over mostly flat terrain.
Self-guided audio driving tours for all four battlefields and audio walking tours of park sites are available for free on the self-guided tours page or via the official NPS App found. To learn more about these and other park offerings, including the Junior Ranger program and special events stop by the park visitor centers and historic sites, call (540) 693-3200, or visit the Operating Hours page.
Last updated: May 24, 2024