Every Friday night during the summer Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park hosts specialized tours in and around the battlefield. Each tour begins at 7 PM and is designed to last 90 minutes, with the exception of the candle tours of Ellwood August 7th. (Ellwood tours begin at 8, 8:15, and 8:30 PM.) The tours are free to the public and deal with a wide variety of topics.

For directions to any of the tours call the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center at 540-373-6122 or the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center at 540-786-2880 or check out our Google Map of special events.

Summer 2009:

July 31st War Comes to the Wilderness: The Experience of the Chewning Family
The briars of the Wilderness were so difficult to maneuver through that the farms carved out of the thickets by the Chewning family attracted the soldiers like magnets. Historian Janice Frye will explain the hardships this extended family endured. Meet at Tour Stop 5 on the Wilderness Battlefield.

August 7th A Candlelit Evening at Ellwood:
Evening in the vicinity of Ellwood served as the setting for the amputation of Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson's arm during the Battle of Chancellorsville and the meeting in which Federal General G.K. Warren concluded that he could not report the large number of casualties his command suffered in the Battle of the Wilderness. Historian Janice Frye and the Friends of Wilderness Battlefield will take visitors through the house and grounds in this one hour program. Meet at Ellwood, located along Route 20 about 1 mile west of Route 3. 36380 Constitution Highway, Locust Grove. Programs begin at 8:00, 8:15, and 8:30 PM.

August 14th War Means Anguish, War Means Freedom: The Civilian Experience in Fredericksburg:
The occupation of Fredericksburg by the Union Army caused anguish among the pro-Confederate faction of the community, but was welcomed as a door to freedom by the slave population. Historians John Hennessy and Donald Pfanz, will examine the different reactions the residents of Fredericksburg had while living with Yankees in their midst, in this 90-minute program. Meet in front of the Rappahannock Regional Library at Caroline and Lewis Street in Fredericksburg.