Last updated: July 30, 2026
Place
Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historic State Park
Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation
Quick Facts
Location:
6541 Saylers Creek Road, Rice, VA 23966
Significance:
A Virginia State Park and National Historic Landmark, Sailor’s Creek Battlefield preserves a decisive Civil War engagement that led directly to Appomattox within Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Designation:
National Historic Landmark; Virgina State Park; Chesapeake Gateways Network Site
MANAGED BY:
Amenities
5 listed
Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Pets Allowed, Restroom - Accessible, Wheelchair Accessible
Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park, a Virginia State Park operated by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, preserves the site of one of the final and most consequential engagements of the Civil War. On April 6, 1865, Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant attacked the retreating Army of Northern Virginia commanded by General Robert E. Lee. The resulting battle led to the capture of thousands of Confederate soldiers and eight generals, accelerating events that culminated in the surrender at Appomattox Court House three days later. Recognized as a National Historic Landmark, the battlefield holds national significance within the story of the Civil War and the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Today, the 380-acre park invites visitors to explore this historic landscape through seven interpretive hiking trails tracing troop movements across fields, forests, and along Sailor’s Creek. The visitor center presents exhibits on the Appomattox Campaign, featuring artifacts and immersive storytelling elements. Guided tours of the restored Hillsman House, used as a field hospital during and after the battle, offer insight into the human toll of the conflict.
As a Chesapeake Gateways Network Site, the park connects military history, landscape, and community within the broader Chesapeake story. Visitors are encouraged to learn more by visiting the park’s website.
Today, the 380-acre park invites visitors to explore this historic landscape through seven interpretive hiking trails tracing troop movements across fields, forests, and along Sailor’s Creek. The visitor center presents exhibits on the Appomattox Campaign, featuring artifacts and immersive storytelling elements. Guided tours of the restored Hillsman House, used as a field hospital during and after the battle, offer insight into the human toll of the conflict.
As a Chesapeake Gateways Network Site, the park connects military history, landscape, and community within the broader Chesapeake story. Visitors are encouraged to learn more by visiting the park’s website.
This location does not accept the America the Beautiful—National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. Entrance fees and ticket policies are set independently by the managing partner, as detailed on their website.