Military

Campfire Programs Park at the Amphitheater, near Auto Tour Stop # 6 Rangers present evening campfire talks on a wide variety of topics on the Battle of Gettysburg and the American Civil War. Programs take place at the Pitzer Woods Amphitheater, near Auto Tour Stop #6. Bench seating is available, visitors are welcome to bring their own chairs if preferred. Appropriate seasonal clothing and insect spray recommended. Both the amphitheater area and parking lot can be very dark, flashlights also recommended. Schedule subject to change without notice. Fall into History Weekend Program Schedule October 9–11 Friday, October 9 – Campfire Program at 6:30 PM Program Title: Valor and Sacrifice: The 1st Minnesota on July 2 Presenter: Ranger Matt Atkinson Location: Pitzer Woods Amphitheater, West Confederate Avenue Description: On July 2, 1863, the 1st Minnesota charged into overwhelming Confederate forces to close a dangerous gap on Cemetery Ridge. Outnumbered and facing near‑certain loss, the regiment’s sacrifice bought vital time for the Union line to hold. This program explores the crisis that sparked the order, and why their action remains one of Gettysburg’s defining moments of courage. Saturday, October 10 – Battle Walk at 10:00 AM Program Title: Stories in Bronze: The Monuments of Cemetery Ridge Presenter: Ranger Christopher Gwinn Starting Location: Auto Tour Stop 12, The Pennsylvania Memorial Ending Location: Auto Tour Stop 15, The Highwater Mark Description: Walk Cemetery Ridge and discover how veterans transformed the battlefield into a landscape of memory. Through the monuments and memorials they created, veterans sought to honor sacrifice, preserve their achievements, and define how future generations would remember Gettysburg. Yet their recollections did not always agree. Join Ranger Christopher Gwinn to explore the stories, disputes, and competing memories preserved in bronze and stone. Saturday, October 10 – Campfire Program at 6:30 PM Program Title: Military Intelligence and the Gettysburg Campaign Presenter: Ranger John Nicholas Location: Pitzer Woods Amphitheater, West Confederate Avenue Description: The Gettysburg Campaign was shaped not only by what happened on the battlefield, but also by the information commanders possessed—or failed to possess. Explore the often-overlooked world of Civil War military intelligence and discover how the gathering, communication, and interpretation of information influenced the campaign. Sunday, October 11 – Battle Walk at 10:00 AM Program Title: The Boys from Rockville: The 14th Connecticut in the defense of Cemetery Ridge, July 3, 1863 Presenter: Ranger Karlton Smith Starting Location: National Cemetery Parking Lot Ending Location: The Angle, Auto Tour Stop 15 Description: Follow the officers and men of the 14th CT who, despite their small numbers, not only defended the stone wall along Cemetery Ridge, but managed to capture over 100 prisoners and five battle flags, earning Sgt. Maj. William B. Hincks, Corp. Christopher Flynn, and Private E. W. Bacon, medals of honor. Learn the stories of some of the boys from Rockville and across the state of Connecticut who served in the 14th. Fall into History Weekend Program Schedule October 23–25 Friday, October 23 – Campfire Program at 6:30 PM Program Title: In Granite & Bronze: Early Monument Dedications in the East Presenter: Ranger Dan Welch Location: Pitzer Woods Amphitheater, West Confederate Avenue Description: For the first two years of the war, 1861 to 1863, battles raged at places such as Fort Sumter, Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg. In their wake, survivors of those engagements wished to remember those they lost and the glory they gained on those fields. Discover the story behind some of the earliest monuments placed on these battlefields in this program. Saturday, October 24 – Battle Walk at 10:00 AM Program Title: “When duty called we came”: Dole’s Brigade on July 1 Presenter: Ranger Matt Atkinson Starting Location: Barlow’s Knoll Ending Location: Barlow’s Knoll Description: On July 1, 1863, Brig. Gen. George Doles’ brigade—nearly 1,300 strong—swept toward Barlow’s Knoll during the opening phase of the Battle of Gettysburg. In this program, visitors will explore how Doles’ Georgians executed one of the most complex tactical maneuvers of the day, a coordinated attack that helped collapse the Union right flank north of town. Saturday, October 24 – Campfire Program at 6:30 PM Program Title: Life and Death at Camp Letterman Presenter: Ranger Christopher Gwinn Location: Pitzer Woods Amphitheater, West Confederate Avenue Description: Between July 20 and November 19, 1863, over four thousand wounded Union and Confederate soldiers were treated at Gettysburg’s Camp Letterman, the largest field hospital established following the Battle of Gettysburg. Discover what life was like for the patients and medical staff, who suffered, toiled, and sacrificed at this now vanished location. Sunday, October 25 – Battle Walk at 10:00 AM Program Title: “Rally, boys and go over that fence!” – The 11th Mississippi in Pettigrew’s Charge Presenter: Ranger Dan Welch Starting Location: Auto Tour Stop 4, North Carolina Memorial Ending Location: Hancock Avenue, Brian Farm Description: Baxter McFarland, a veteran of the 11th Mississippi, wrote several articles on his unit’s history during the post war era. Even just several decades removed, he was concerned the 11th’s “heroic conduct nor its appalling losses have received the public recognition which long ago should have been recorded.” Follow the story of the 11th on July 3, 1863, in this compelling program.

Battle Walk Programs These 2-hour intensive programs examine unique portions of the battlefield, cover significant distances, and cross rough/uneven terrain. It is strongly recommended that visitors bring plenty of water, appropriate seasonal clothing, and sturdy hiking shoes. Please park vehicles with all four wheels on the pavement. Programs may start and end at different locations. Weather modifications: In the event of a thunderstorm or tornado warnings, or a heat index in excess of 103 degrees, all programs will be canceled. In the event of a heat index in excess of 91 degrees, programs will be shortened and modified. Schedule subject to change without notice. Fall into History Weekend Program Schedule October 9–11 Friday, October 9 – Campfire Program at 6:30 PM Program Title: Valor and Sacrifice: The 1st Minnesota on July 2 Presenter: Ranger Matt Atkinson Location: Pitzer Woods Amphitheater, West Confederate Avenue Description: On July 2, 1863, the 1st Minnesota charged into overwhelming Confederate forces to close a dangerous gap on Cemetery Ridge. Outnumbered and facing near‑certain loss, the regiment’s sacrifice bought vital time for the Union line to hold. This program explores the crisis that sparked the order, and why their action remains one of Gettysburg’s defining moments of courage. Saturday, October 10 – Battle Walk at 10:00 AM Program Title: Stories in Bronze: The Monuments of Cemetery Ridge Presenter: Ranger Christopher Gwinn Starting Location: Auto Tour Stop 12, The Pennsylvania Memorial Ending Location: Auto Tour Stop 15, The Highwater Mark Description: Walk Cemetery Ridge and discover how veterans transformed the battlefield into a landscape of memory. Through the monuments and memorials they created, veterans sought to honor sacrifice, preserve their achievements, and define how future generations would remember Gettysburg. Yet their recollections did not always agree. Join Ranger Christopher Gwinn to explore the stories, disputes, and competing memories preserved in bronze and stone. Saturday, October 10 – Campfire Program at 6:30 PM Program Title: Military Intelligence and the Gettysburg Campaign Presenter: Ranger John Nicholas Location: Pitzer Woods Amphitheater, West Confederate Avenue Description: The Gettysburg Campaign was shaped not only by what happened on the battlefield, but also by the information commanders possessed—or failed to possess. Explore the often-overlooked world of Civil War military intelligence and discover how the gathering, communication, and interpretation of information influenced the campaign. Sunday, October 11 – Battle Walk at 10:00 AM Program Title: The Boys from Rockville: The 14th Connecticut in the defense of Cemetery Ridge, July 3, 1863 Presenter: Ranger Karlton Smith Starting Location: National Cemetery Parking Lot Ending Location: The Angle, Auto Tour Stop 15 Description: Follow the officers and men of the 14th CT who, despite their small numbers, not only defended the stone wall along Cemetery Ridge, but managed to capture over 100 prisoners and five battle flags, earning Sgt. Maj. William B. Hincks, Corp. Christopher Flynn, and Private E. W. Bacon, medals of honor. Learn the stories of some of the boys from Rockville and across the state of Connecticut who served in the 14th. Fall into History Weekend Program Schedule October 23–25 Friday, October 23 – Campfire Program at 6:30 PM Program Title: In Granite & Bronze: Early Monument Dedications in the East Presenter: Ranger Dan Welch Location: Pitzer Woods Amphitheater, West Confederate Avenue Description: For the first two years of the war, 1861 to 1863, battles raged at places such as Fort Sumter, Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg. In their wake, survivors of those engagements wished to remember those they lost and the glory they gained on those fields. Discover the story behind some of the earliest monuments placed on these battlefields in this program. Saturday, October 24 – Battle Walk at 10:00 AM Program Title: “When duty called we came”: Dole’s Brigade on July 1 Presenter: Ranger Matt Atkinson Starting Location: Barlow’s Knoll Ending Location: Barlow’s Knoll Description: On July 1, 1863, Brig. Gen. George Doles’ brigade—nearly 1,300 strong—swept toward Barlow’s Knoll during the opening phase of the Battle of Gettysburg. In this program, visitors will explore how Doles’ Georgians executed one of the most complex tactical maneuvers of the day, a coordinated attack that helped collapse the Union right flank north of town. Saturday, October 24 – Campfire Program at 6:30 PM Program Title: Life and Death at Camp Letterman Presenter: Ranger Christopher Gwinn Location: Pitzer Woods Amphitheater, West Confederate Avenue Description: Between July 20 and November 19, 1863, over four thousand wounded Union and Confederate soldiers were treated at Gettysburg’s Camp Letterman, the largest field hospital established following the Battle of Gettysburg. Discover what life was like for the patients and medical staff, who suffered, toiled, and sacrificed at this now vanished location. Sunday, October 25 – Battle Walk at 10:00 AM Program Title: “Rally, boys and go over that fence!” – The 11th Mississippi in Pettigrew’s Charge Presenter: Ranger Dan Welch Starting Location: Auto Tour Stop 4, North Carolina Memorial Ending Location: Hancock Avenue, Brian Farm Description: Baxter McFarland, a veteran of the 11th Mississippi, wrote several articles on his unit’s history during the post war era. Even just several decades removed, he was concerned the 11th’s “heroic conduct nor its appalling losses have received the public recognition which long ago should have been recorded.” Follow the story of the 11th on July 3, 1863, in this compelling program.

As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary of independence, we celebrate the stories, places, and people that define America. The American story is not only one of founding moments, but of generations striving to widen the promise of liberty. On this program we'll explore the many defenders of Fort McHenry, from those who protected Baltimore and inspired the writing of " The Star-Spangled Banner " during the War of 1812, to the U.S. soldiers who preserved the Union during the Civil War, to those who led the movement to preserve Fort McHenry as a national park in the early 20th century. This guided walk will explore the fort and the generations who served here through the ages.

Explore, Learn, Protect Do you care about exploring, learning about, and protecting the Natchez Trace? If yes, become a Junior Ranger! There are many ways to be a Junior Ranger badge at Natchez Trace Parkway, and this fun activity book is a great place to start. This booklet includes activities like mazes, coloring, drawings, and more to help you learn about the Natchez Trace. Discover all the park has to offer, from ecosystems to wildlife to American Indian culture to the southeast United States. Become a Junior Ranger Download both parts of the book or see below for other ways to get your book. Download Natchez Trace Parkway Junior Ranger Booklet Part 1 Download Natchez Trace Parkway Junior Ranger Booklet Part 2 We have Junior Ranger activity books waiting for you at our four visitors centers on the Natchez Trace Parkway. You can also receive a digital copy by contacting the park ahead of time via email or by calling 1-800-305-7417. To earn a badge with a Junior Ranger book, complete the fun-filled activities and return your completed book to a ranger at a visitor center desk, take the Junior Ranger pledge, and earn your badge! Don't have enough time to finish the book while you are in the park? No problem! Send your book back to the park when you complete it. A ranger will check your work and mail the book back to you with a badge and signed certificate. Mailing Address: Natchez Trace Parkway Attn: Junior Ranger Program 2680 Natchez Trace Parkway Tupelo, MS 38804

Distance : .9 miles Difficulty: Easy Hiking time: 1. Start from the Matthews Hill Parking Lot (Auto Tour Stop #4). At the north side of the lot, an interpretive panel describes the fighting on Matthews Hill. The trail begins to the side of the sign. 2. Start walking up the hill until you reach a line of cannons. At this point, the Visitor Center wlil be visible to your front. 3. Follow mowed path down the hill before the trail turns east into the woods. 4. Follow signs as the trail loops back to the parking lot. Explore the ground on which the opening phase of combat occurred during the Battle of First Manassas (Bull Run).Begin your walk at the Matthews Hill parking lot (Tour Stop #4).The trail leads up the crest of the hill to Capt. William Reynolds' battery of Union artillery. From this vantage point, visitors can observe the landscape from Union artillery positions that overlook the historic Stone House and Confederate artillery positions on distant Henry Hill. Scenic vistas looking south and west give an excellent view of major portions of the battlefield. The trail descends down the front slope of Matthews Hill before turning east and entering the woods.Visitors will soon come upon the Stovall monument, marking the approximate location where Pvt. George Stovall of the 8 th Georgia was killed. The trail loops back by paralleling the Union battle line, with trailside markers indicating the approximate location of Federal regiments during the combat.

Distance: 1 mile hike (.5 miles out and .5 miles back) Difficulty: Easy Hiking Time: 1 hour 1. Trail begins at the Chinn Ridge Parking Lot. 2. Follow paved path and markers that tell the story of the heaviest sustained fightingat Second Manassas. 3. At the end of the paved trail, a marker describes the fighting on Chinn Ridge during First Manassas. At this point, return along the paved path back to the parking lot. The trail begins at the Chinn Ridge parking lot (Tour Stop #10). The paved path, which is wheelchair accessible, traverses an area that witnessed heavy fighting on August 30, 1862. Interpretive signs tell the story of Union troops who made a desperate stand on Chinn Ridge and blunted the Confederate counterattack. Near the conclusion of the trail, visitors will pass a monument dedicated to Col. Fletcher Webster of the 12th Massachusetts, killed in action on Chinn Ridge. He was the son of noted orator Daniel Webster. The paved trail concludes at an interpretive marker discussing the combat on Chinn Ridge during the Battle of First Manassas (July 21, 1861). Visitors then return to the parking lot via the same path.

Distance: 6.6 mile roundtrip hike Difficulty: Moderate-Strenuous Hiking Time: 3+ hours This trail leads visitors through the climactic stages of the Second Battle of Manassas. Fighting occurred on August 28-30,1862 between Confederate troops under the command of Gen. Robert E. Lee and Union forces led by Gen. John Pope. The trail begins at the Henry Hill Visitor Center and heads north, past the Stone House (open seasonally), to Buck Hill where Pope established his headquarters. From here, visitors can look west to the area of the unfinished railroad where Stonewall Jackson placed his Confederate forces. After reaching Matthews Hill and crossing Sudley Road, the trail continues along the graded railroad bed leading to a clearing at the Deep Cut, the scene of a bloody battle where Jackson's troops turned back a major assault on the final day of the battle. The trail then turns south and passes the Lucinda Dogan House (one of three surviving Civil War-era structures in the park). Crossing Rt. 29, the trail winds towards New York Avenue where monuments mark the site where the 5th and 10th New York regiments were slaughtered in a massive Confederate counterattack that swept eastward toward Chinn Ridge. fter touring the Chinn Ridge area, scene of severe fighting on August 30,1862, the trail leads back to Henry Hill, where the final struggle during Second Manassas played out. Signage along Sudley Road describes the final phases of the Battle.

Distance: 5.4 mile circuit hike Difficulty: Moderate-Strenuous Hiking Time: 2+ hours This extended hike leads visitors over the landscape where on a warm July day in 1861, the newly formed Union and Confederate armies clashed for the first time. The trail begins at the Visitor Center and leads you through forested areas, emerging at the Stone Bridge. After following Bull Run upstream, the trail turns west and meanders over farm fields and woods. Emerging out on to the open crest of Matthews Hill, site of the opening phase of combat during First Manassas, visitors can observe much of the battlefield landscape. The trail descends into the valley of Young's Branch, and passes the historic Stone House (open seasonally). The building, which dates to the second quarter of the nineteenth century, served as an aide station during both battles of Manassas. After crossing Lee Highway (Route 29) at the pedestrian crosswalk, the trail heads up Henry Hill to the scene of fierce artillery clashes from opposing guns. Caught in the middle was Henry house, home of Judith Carter Henry, an elderly widow, who refused to evacuate her home during the battle and was killed by cannon fire (she is buried nearby). ear this spot, Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson earned his nickname "Stonewall," as his presence on horseback rallied the shattered Confederates for a final push that sent the Union forces into retreat.

Late Summer/Fall 2026 Programs August 3, 2026 Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center (Park Store is open while visitor center closed for maintenance project) 1013 Lafayette Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA. Sunken Road Walking Tours; Saturday-Sunday , 10:30 am & 2 pm, 45 minutes. Meet at the battle painting outside the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center. Why did the Battle of Fredericksburg happen in December 1862? Join a guided tour of the one of the most iconic and recognized battlefield landmarks of the war. This walking tour will cover no more than 0.5 mile over mostly flat terrain. Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center 9001 Plank Road, Spotsylvania, VA. Chancellorsvile Walking Tours; Saturday-Sunday , 10:30 am & 2 pm from Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center. Why did the US and the Confederate armies clash in May of 1863 and why does it matter? Join park staff to learn about the Chancellorsville Campaign and dive into some of the big questions surrounding this contested battle. History at Sunset History at Sunset is an annual series that focuses on areas rarely visited, stories rarely told, or familiar sites seen through a different lens. Join park staff for this year's History at Sunset series. Visit the History at Sunset page for the full scheudle and program details. Civil War Book Group The Civil War Book Group meets on the first Wednesdays of the month from 6 pm-7 pm at the Fredericksburg Library Branch. Learn more about the Civil War Book Group. We host programming and special events that range from seasonal programs like our History at Sunset talks, annual events like the Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminaria , commemorations of battle anniversaries, and special living history programming. Learn more about special events at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.

Hartwell Tavern is a restored 18th century home located along the Battle Road in Minute Man National Historical Park. The tavern sits on a beautifully restored section of the battlefield and is the heart of our Living History operations at Minute Man. The grounds around Hartwell remain open sunrise to sunset. Living History at Hartwell Tavern: If you visit during the operational season, you will have an opportunity to explore the interior of Hartwell Tavern and talk with interpreters dressed in eighteenth century attire. Learn about the experiences of the Hartwell Family on April 19, 1775 or talk about popular drinks consumed in the 18th tavern room! During the summer and fall National Park Service staff will also conduct musket firing demonstrations outside the tavern. Park at 112 North Great Road, Lincoln, MA, walk dirt path 1/4 mile north to Tavern.