This webpage lists information on the special park programs and other Civil War tours and lectures in the Fredericksburg area that are not park programs. Many of these other programs are led by the park staff of historians. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to read about other Civil War related programs. For more information on any of the park programs call (540) 373-6122 or (540) 786-2880. Click here for a link to Google maps showing the location of all park sponsored special events in 2009.
PARK SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAMS 2009:
Check out our History at Sunset page so you can mark your calendars. (This Friday night history series explores stories of soldiers, civilians, and slaves in and around the park.)
August 15th and 16th Living History at Fredericksburg:
In December 1862, Union troops suffered a crushing defeat at Fredericksburg. Throughout the weekend, the National Park Service will offer a series walking tours, living history programs, and cannon-firing demonstrations illuminating the combat in the Sunken Road and on Marye's Heights. Reenactors will portray the vaunted Washington Artillery of New Orleans. Saturdays firing will take place at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Sundays firing will take place at Noon and 2 p.m. Parking is at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center.
September 27th Taming of the Wilderness:
11 a.m.-5 p.m. See how the colonial era settlers turned the Wilderness into their homes by going through a series of living history stations demonstrating construction techniques and domestic skills, such as blacksmiths, log sawing and hewing, cooking, spinning and more. Demonstrations at Ellwood on the Wilderness Battlefield.
October 10th Civil War Medical Programs at Ellwood:
Come to Ellwood, on the Wilderness Battlefield, to learn about medical techniques during the Civil War. The Civil War Medical Program is tentatively scheduled to run continuously from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
October 25th Old Salem Church Fall Opening and Author's Presentation: A special fall-opening of Old Salem Church, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. At 10 a.m. and again, at 1 p.m., author James Buck will make presentations in the sanctuary on his new book, Journey to Honor, about a young Quaker in the 23rd New Jersey Infantry, the regiment honored by the prominent monument at the edge of the church lawn. Park at either Old Salem Baptist Church lot (via Salem Church Road) or new Salem Baptist Church lot next door, off Rt. 3 eastbound-only.
December 6th Old Salem Church Holiday Music Program:
5:30 P.M. The decorated and candle-lit Old Salem Church will come alive again with mid-nineteenth century choral music performed by the new Salem Baptist Church Choir. Park at new Salem Baptist Church lot next door, off Rt. 3 eastbound-only.
December 13th Battle of Fredericksburg Commemoration:
12 Noon. Park Historian Frank O’Reilly leads "The Attack of the Irish Brigade" tour retracing the steps of the soldiers of that famed unit as they fought through the streets of Fredericksburg and attacked Marye's Heights. Meet at city dock off Sophia Street in downtown Fredericksburg. Tour ends at the site of the 2 PM program (below).
2 P.M. A 30-minute program commemorating the 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg. The program will be held at the Kirkland Monument adjacent to the historic Sunken Road. This years keynote speaker is Dr. Peter Carmichael a professor of history at West Virginia University.
December 19th Christmas (and Santa Claus) at Ellwood:
Many things have changed since the Lacy family sold Chatham and moved to “Dear Old Ellwood” after the Civil War. Christmas customs and the way the holiday was celebrated, from home décor to the types of toys and games the children wished for, to Good Old St. Nick himself have been transformed.
9 A.M.-11 A.M. Come to Ellwood Manor to see Santa as he might have appeared to the Lacy children and grandchildren in the late 1800’s. Costumed in his finest Victorian regalia, Santa – portrayed by Friends of Wilderness Battlefield Board of Directors member Dale Brown – will talk with children, sit for photographs (bring your camera), and answer questions about how Christmas customs have changed. There will be period activities for the children as they await their turn with Santa. For children’s events please RSVP to Robin Nimmo, phone: 540-548-8250, email: robinnimmo@comcast.net by December 15, giving name, phone, and number and ages of children attending. Children with reservations will receive priority in seeing Santa.
11 A.M. The celebrated Joysong Chorale will “take the stage” at Ellwood for a concert of 19th century holiday music.
12 Noon-4 P.M. Visitors can enjoy historic interpretation of Ellwood at Christmas from 1861 to 1896. Ellwood will be decorated with traditional Victorian Christmas finery, courtesy of the Fawn Lake Garden Club. Friends of Wilderness Battlefield volunteers will be present to greet visitors and serve refreshments all day.
Ellwood is located in the Wilderness Battlefield at 36380 Constitution Hwy, Locust Grove, VA 22508. To reach Ellwood from Fredericksburg, travel west of Route 3 for about 13 miles. Turn left at the traffic light onto Route 20. Drive about 0.7 mile and turn left at the brown sign for Ellwood.
December 20th Santa Claus at Chatham:
Living historian Kevin Rawlings will appear as Civil War-era Santa Claus, a figure based on Thomas Nast's 1860s representation of the then-emerging Christmas icon. Children, in particular, will wish to visit with Santa, whose holiday attire will be noticeably different than that worn by Santa Claus today. Kevin Rawlings is widely considered to be the nation’s foremost expert on Christmas during the Civil War. Both genial and historically accurate, he has received wide acclaim for his portrayal of Santa Claus.
1 P.M. Kevin Rawlings will present a program lasting approximately 40 minutes for a target audience of adults and older children, addressing the background and history of Santa Claus and how his image has changed over the years.
2 P.M.-4 P.M. Rawlings will explain why the Civil War-era suit of clothes he has chosen to wear on this day is different from what he normally wears today, and will invite children to visit one-on-one with Santa.
Chatham will be decorated with candles and traditional greenery for the occasion, and volunteers will be on hand to pass out refreshments. Throughout the program, the musical group “Evergreen Shade” will perform period songs appropriate for the season. Children are also welcomed to participate in a holiday scavenger hunt.
All activities are free to the public.
Other National Park Events
Find events happening in parks all over the country.
Find a National Park
This searchable map allows you to plan a trip or explore parks around the nation.
NPS Site Directory 2009-2011.
Slideshow from the 146th Anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg. The slide show was put together by the Free-Lance Star and is an outside park link.
NON-PARK CIVIL WAR PROGRAMS for 2009:
September 19th-20th Yankees in Falmouth!:
Come to the historic port town of Falmouth and the landmark home of Moncure Conway. Yankee reenactors will encamp on the grounds where their units once camped during the Civil War. Firing Demonstrations, artifact displays, stories of local history, and self-guided walking ours of historic homes of this colonial port town.
December 9th-12th: A Walking Tour of the 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg with J. Michael Miller: This four day tour will include lectures and walking tours focused on the 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg. Participants will explore the battlefield from a Union hospital and headquarters at Chatham. The tour will cross the river and cover the famed Marye's Heights, as well as "Stonewall" Jackson's line at Prospect Hill. To register and to learn more about the tour click on the above link. To learn more about the Blue and Gray Education Society click on the link below. Blue and Gray Education Society
