164th Anniversary of First Manassas

Sunset on Henry Hill behind Rickett's Battery

NPS Image

 

164th Anniversary of First Manassas

Join National Park Service Staff on July 19th, 20th, and 21st, at Manassas National Battlefield Park as we commemorate the 164th Anniversary of the First Battle of Manassas! On July 21st, 1861, Union and Confederate armies clashed in the first major land battle of the American Civil War. After ten hours of combat, over 900 soldiers were killed, countless more were wounded, captured, and missing in action. Pre-conceived ideas of combat were shattered by the fighting at Manassas. Before battle, many Americans felt the war will be won or lost quickly. After the fighting, that attitude changed, as many felt the war will be longer, bloodier, and more arduous than ever before.

This special event will feature several Park Ranger Guided Tours, Living History Demonstrations, Jr. Ranger Activities, and additional programs. See our Schedule of Events listed below!

 

Schedule of Events

The following is our scheduled programs, talks, tours, and activities. All events are subject to change and cancellation.

Saturday, July 19th

9:00AM-5:00PM: Faces of the Fallen Self-Guided Tour

• Explore Henry Hill and the lives of 9 soldiers killed during the First Battle in a new way with a limited time outdoor exhibit and self-guided walking tour. The 9-stop self-guided loop is approximately 0.9 miles long with outdoor exhibits at each location with an image of the soldier killed on or near that spot and an account of their final moments by their comrades. 

9:30AM: Matthews Hill Walking Tour

• Join park staff for a 45 minute guided walking tour of the grounds where the opening combat of the First Battle of Manassas occurred on the morning of July 21st, 1861.  The tour will cover approx. 0.5 miles and will meet at the parking lot of Matthews Hill (Tour Stop #4).

10:00AM-4:00PM: Junior Ranger Station

• Join a park ranger and do a special craft commemorating the battle anniversary! Or, grab a Jr. Ranger activity sheet and learn about the park to become a Jr. Ranger! Jr. Ranger junction will be located in the Henry Hill Visitor Center atrium near the Faces of the Fallen exhibit.

10:00AM-4:00PM: Move, Shoot, and Communicate

• Join park staff and get into the action with Move, Shoot, & Communicate where you will learn in a hands-on way about the way armies and soldiers worked during the Civil War and what it would have been like for soldiers during the battle.

10:00AM-4:00PM: The Marines of '61!

• Explore the history of the United States Marine Corps and their role at the Battle of First Manassas with the U.S.M.C. Historical Company and their team. This temporary exhibit will let you get hands on with the history as you learn about marines from past to present, and how the Marines of 1861 at Manassas are a part of their storied legacy.  

10:00AM-4:30PM: Stone House Open

• Explore the Stone House and see the structure that was used as a field hospital by both sides during the First Battle of Manassas. Learn about who inhabited the house, how it was used during the battle, and how it was preserved on Manassas National Battlefield Park. Parking at Tour Stop #3.

10:30AM: Historic Weapons Demonstration

• Experience the sights and sounds of the Civil War with demonstrations by the Bull Run Legion at the Henry House as they perform firing demonstrations with one of the types of cannons used during the First Battle of Manassas. You will also learn about how the soldiers fired the gun, their jobs, and be able to get up close and interact with living historians at the conclusion of the demonstration.  

11:30AM: Henry Hill In-Depth Walking Tour

• Join a park ranger for a specialty anniversary program and explore in-depth the combat of Henry Hill. This specialty walking tour will meet outside the back door of the Henry Hill Visitor Center and last approx. 90 minutes.

1:00PM: Faces of the Fallen Tour (1st Lt. Douglass Ramsay, 1st US Artillery)

• Join park staff for a specialty program exploring the life and battle experience of Lt. Ramsay who was killed during the First Battle of Manassas. This walking tour will last 45 minutes with less than .25 miles of walking as you explore the field through the lens of Lt. Ramsay and see the ground where he was killed. 

2:00PM: Historic Weapons Demonstration

• Experience the sights and sounds of the Civil War with demonstrations by the Bull Run Legion at the Henry House as they perform firing demonstrations with one of the types of cannons used during the First Battle of Manassas. You will also learn about how the soldiers fired the gun, their jobs, and be able to get up close and interact with living historians at the conclusion of the demonstration.  

3:00PM: Henry Hill Walking Tour

• Join a park staff for a tour on Henry Hill discussing the major action of the First Battle of Manassas on the ground where the battle was fought.  The program lasts approximately 45 minutes. Meet outside the doors of the visitor center by Ricketts' Battery. 

4:00PM: Chinn Ridge Walking Tour

• Join a park ranger for a special anniversary program discussing the final stages of the battle that unfolded on Chinn Ridge during the First Battle of Manassas. The program lasts approximately 45 minutes and meets at the parking lot of Chinn Ridge (Tour Stop #10).  

Sunday, July 20th

9:00AM-5:00PM: Faces of the Fallen Self-Guided Tour

• Explore Henry Hill and the lives of 9 soldiers killed during the First Battle in a new way with a limited time outdoor exhibit and self-guided walking tour. The 9-stop self-guided loop is approximately 0.9 miles long with outdoor exhibits at each location with an image of the soldier killed on or near that spot and an account of their final moments by their comrades. 

10:00AM-4:00PM: Junior Ranger Station

• Join a park ranger and do a special craft commemorating the battle anniversary! Or, grab a Jr. Ranger activity sheet and learn about the park to become a Jr. Ranger! Jr. Ranger junction will be located in the Henry Hill Visitor Center atrium near the Faces of the Fallen exhibit.

10:00AM-4:00PM: Move, Shoot, and Communicate

• Join park staff and get into the action with Move, Shoot, & Communicate where you will learn in a hands-on way about the way armies and soldiers worked during the Civil War and what it would have been like for soldiers during the battle.

10:00AM-4:00PM: The Marines of '61!

• Explore the history of the United States Marine Corps and their role at the Battle of First Manassas with the U.S.M.C. Historical Company and their team. This temporary exhibit will let you get hands on with the history as you learn about marines from past to present, and how the Marines of 1861 at Manassas are a part of their storied legacy.  

10:00AM-4:30PM: Stone House Open

• Explore the Stone House and see the structure that was used as a field hospital by both sides during the First Battle of Manassas. Learn about who inhabited the house, how it was used during the battle, and how it was preserved on Manassas National Battlefield Park. Parking at Tour Stop #3.

10:00AM: Henry Hill Walking Tour

• Join a park staff for a tour on Henry Hill discussing the major action of the First Battle of Manassas on the ground where the battle was fought.  The program lasts approximately 45 minutes. Meet outside the doors of the visitor center by Ricketts' Battery. 

11:00AM: Historic Weapons Demonstration

• Experience the sights and sounds of the Civil War with demonstrations by the Bull Run Legion at the Henry House as they perform firing demonstrations with one of the types of cannons used during the First Battle of Manassas. You will also learn about how the soldiers fired the gun, their jobs, and be able to get up close and interact with living historians at the conclusion of the demonstration.  

1:00PM: Faces of the Fallen Tour (Pvt. William Baxter Ott & Cpl. William Paxton, 4th Virginia Volunteer Infantry)

• Join park staff for a specialty program exploring the lives and battle experiences of Pvt. William Baxter Ott and Cpl. William Paxton who were killed during the First Battle of Manassas. This walking tour will last 45 minutes with less than .25 miles of walking as you explore the field through the lens of Paxton and Ott, and walk in their foot steps as you explore the ground where they were killed. 

2:00PM: Historic Weapons Demonstration

• Experience the sights and sounds of the Civil War with demonstrations by the Bull Run Legion at the Henry House as they perform firing demonstrations with one of the types of cannons used during the First Battle of Manassas. You will also learn about how the soldiers fired the gun, their jobs, and be able to get up close and interact with living historians at the conclusion of the demonstration.  

3:00PM: Henry Hill Walking Tour

• Join a park staff for a tour on Henry Hill discussing the major action of the First Battle of Manassas on the ground where the battle was fought.  The program lasts approximately 45 minutes. Meet outside the doors of the visitor center by Ricketts' Battery. 

Monday, July 21st

10:00AM: Matthews Hill Real Time Walking Tour

• Join park staff for a 45 minute guided walking tour of the grounds where the opening combat of the First Battle of Manassas occurred on the morning of July 21st, 1861.  The tour will cover approx. 0.5 miles and will meet at the parking lot of Matthews Hill (Tour Stop #4).

11:30AM: Robinson Lane Tactical Real Time Walking Tour

• Join a park ranger for a specialty anniversary program and explore in-depth the combat of Henry Hill. This specialty walking tour will meet outside the back door of the Henry Hill Visitor Center and last approx. 90 minutes. 

1:00PM: Faces of the Fallen Tour (1st Lt. Douglass Ramsay, 1st US Artillery)

• Join park staff for a specialty program exploring the life and battle experience of Lt. Ramsay who was killed during the First Battle of Manassas. This walking tour will last 45 minutes with less than .25 miles of walking as you explore the field through the lens of Lt. Ramsay and see the ground where he was killed. 

2:00PM: Henry Hill Real Time In-Depth Walking Tour

• Join a park ranger for a specialty anniversary program and explore in-depth the combat of Henry Hill. This specialty walking tour will meet outside the back door of the Henry Hill Visitor Center and last approx. 90 minutes.

4:00PM: Chinn Ridge & Aftermath Real Time Walking Tour

• Join a park ranger for a special anniversary program discussing the final stages of the battle that unfolded on Chinn Ridge during the Frist Battle of Manassas. The program lasts approximately 45 minutes and meets at the parking lot of Chinn Ridge (Tour Stop #10).  

 

NPS Volunteers demonstrate Civil War Artillery

NPS Photo