History at Sunset

Park Rangers lead visitors through the Fredericksburg National Cemetery in the evening.

NPS Photo

History at Sunset is an annual series that focuses on areas rarely visited, stories rarely told, or familiar sites seen through a different lens. Park rangers lead each History at Sunset program. All programs are free and take place every other Saturday evening at 6:30 pm. Most include walking, with distances ranging from about 0.5 to 1.5 miles. Participants are recommended to bring bug spray and water and to wear sturdy and comfortable walking shoes.

Our 2024 History at Sunset series has concluded! Thanks to all who attended and we are looking forward to next year's events. Below is the 2024 schedule so you can get a taste of the kinds of topics these programs typically cover.

2024 History at Sunset Schedule

All programs begin at 6:30 pm and are about 90 minutes.

May 18 - One Final Try: Grant's Last Attack at Spotsylvania

6:30 pm-8 pm
Battlefield hike, 2 miles, meet at the Bloody Angle (tour stop 3 on the Spotsylvania Battlefield)

Join park rangers on a guided walk to examine the often-overlooked fighting on May 18, when US General Ulysses S. Grant tried one last attempt to break through the Confederate defenses. Two weeks of heavy combat led to this moment. Would it all be for nothing? How far would you go for victory? 

June 15 - “The United Roar Was Sublime”: The Second Battle of Fredericksburg, May 3, 1863

6:30 pm-8 pm
Battlefield hike, 1 mile, meet at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center (1013 Lafayette Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401)
In May 1863, fighting once more returned to the town of Fredericksburg. Though frequently overshadowed by the larger battle of Chancellorsville, the action that made up the Second Battle of Fredericksburg was full of drama and carried high stakes for both sides. Join park rangers for approximately a 1 mile hike that dives into the stories of Second Fredericksburg.

June 29 - Wilderness Crossing Trail

6:30 pm-8 pm
Battlefield hike, 1.5 mile, meet at Ellwood on the Wilderness Battlefield (36380 Constitution Highway, Orange, VA 22960)
The fields and crossroads surrounding the former Ellwood plantation bustled with activity during the Battle of the Wilderness. Learn more about those hard at work behind the scenes of the Union army, the area hospitals, and the return of US military forces for Marine Corps exercises in the 1920s. Join Park Rangers for a 1.5 mile hike on the Wilderness Crossing trail.

July 13 - “To Care for Him who Shall Have Borne the Battle”: Stories from the Fredericksburg National Cemetery

6:30 pm-8 pm
Battlefield walk, 0.25 mile, meet at the side entrance to the Fredericksburg National Cemetery atop Marye’s Heights (park at the visitor center, 1013 Lafayette Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401)
The Civil War produced devastation - both in terms of human loss and physical destruction - that the United States had never encountered before. This devastation in turn produced fundamental changes in the individual lives of soldiers' families and the way the federal government operated. Join park rangers for a program that examines the stories of some of the soldiers killed during the war and how their families navigated the difficult realities that war produced. This tour will also explore how the country made meaning out of the devastation of war.

July 27 - "The Fruit of Grant's Victories": Confederate POWs at Spotsylvania Court House

6:30 pm-8 pm
Battlefield hike, 3/4 mile, meet at the Bloody Angle (tour stop 3 on the Spotsylvania Battlefield)
Thousands of Confederate soldiers were captured on May 12, 1864 at the Mule Shoe Salient. Why did they surrender? What did their confinement entail? How were they treated by their captors and comrades during and after the war? Join park rangers for a 3/4 mile walk examining the experiences of these prisoners.

August 10 - The Legacy of Ellwood: Slavery, Resistance, and Power

6:30 pm-8 pm
Stationary evening talk, meet at Ellwood on the Wilderness Battlefield (36380 Constitution Highway, Orange, VA 2296)
What does it mean to resist against oppression? How do historians study and understand the acts of resistance that enslaved people took against their oppressors? Join us for a talk about this complex place with a storied past of slavery and resistance; a place where competing ideas of duty, loyalty, and freedom shaped the daily lives of the people who called this place home. Bring a chair for this stationary talk on the lawn of Ellwood.

Details

Duration

60-90 Minutes

Most History at Sunset programs are around 90 minutes long.

Activity

Guided Tours

Age(s)

All ages are welcome. Programs may deal with topics including war, death, violence, and enslavement. 

Pets Allowed

Yes

Well behaved pets are welcome on most park programs. Pets are not allowed inside park buildings or in the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. 

Activity Fee

No

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park is a fee-free park.

Location

Location varies by program

Each History at Sunset takes place at a different location. Check program details for more information.

Reservations

No

Season

Summer, Fall

The History at Sunset schedule changes every year, but typically programs begin in the summer and continue into the late summer or early fall.

Time of Day

Day, Dusk

Programs will take place in the evenings and end around sunset.

Accessibility Information

Most History at Sunset programs include some walking. Check the individual program descriptions for expectations regarding physical accessibilty. 

Assistive listening devices are available upon request (if you need this accomodation and could let us know a day in advance we would greatly appreciate it).

We strive to make our programs as enjoying and fullfilling for as many people as possible. If you or a member of your party needs any accomodations or has any concerns, feel free to contact the park and we will do our best to meet your needs.