News Release

Maintenance Projects to Close Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center and Chatham in Early August

The Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center will close in August, but staff will be available in the nearby Park Store.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: July 24, 2025

Contact: Mary O’Neill, 540-693-3200

FREDERICKSBURG, VA. — Upcoming maintenance projects will cause Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center and Chatham to close on August 4, 2025. The grounds of both locations will remain open sunrise to sunset, and at Fredericksburg, the nearby Park Store will remain open 7 days a week.

Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center will close for 6-7 months while the building undergoes multiple construction projects including the installation of a fire suppression system, a waterline upgrade project, and an electrical system upgrade. The Park Store next to the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center will remain open daily, 9 am-5 pm, and park staff will be available to provide education and orientation to the battlefield through mid-October, after which park staff will be available on a reduced schedule. The Chatham gate will remain open 9 am-5 pm through the duration of the project.

Chatham will close for about a year for an interior rehabilitation project that will include lead paint encapsulation, new carpet, and plaster repair. Chatham underwent a fire suppression system installation this past year, but it has been partially open throughout the summer to accommodate increased visitation in the interim between these two large projects.

These closures include time for National Park Service curators to follow established procedures for moving and storing all priceless historic artifacts on exhibit in each building. Full building closures are necessary for these projects for the safety of staff and visitors. Exposure to a construction zone, dust, lead paint, and potential falling and tripping hazards, limited water and no air conditioning will all pose hazards that make these spaces unsafe for the project durations.

To explore these locations independently, check out the self-guided audio tours of the Sunken Road and Chatham available on the NPS App and online at go.nps.gov/frsp-tours. Park staff look forward to welcoming visitors to our upgraded facilities in spring and summer 2026!