Historical Parks

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region ’ s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park . This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

"No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man’s and yet as mortal as his own..." H.G. Wells War of the Worlds During the month of October, the park will mark the anniversary of the 1938 broadcast of H. G. Wells adaptation of "War of the Worlds" at the Knob Creek Tavern Visitor Center. Each day the visitor center is open, at 1:00pm (EST) the park will play the original broadcast on the 1930s reproduction Tavern radio. Come and enjoy this well-known broadcast in honor of the Halloween Season. Program is free and open to the public. No reservations are required.

Rangers provide FREE Faneuil Hall talks Wednesday through Sunday at 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, and 3:30pm. Each talk lasts about 15 minute. No registration is required.

Join a National Park Service Ranger as they share Boston’s diverse history through unique guided tours. The Siege, or Ruin and Back Again: Life in 1776 Boston August 6 & October 15 When the sun set on June 17, 1775, General Thomas Gage held the heights outside Charlestown at the cost of roughly 1,000 British casualties. Charlestown lay in ruins, and Boston remained a city under siege. Nine months later British soldiers evacuated Boston as General George Washington and the new Continental Army entered Boston victorious. This 90-minute walking tour explores how everyday colonists navigated uncertainty and hardship under occupation and rebuilt their lives after the siege ended in March 1776. Meeting Point: Find Your Park Space in the lower level of Faneuil Hall, 1 Faneuil Hall Square, Boston, MA 02109 Final Stop: Bunker Hill Monument Route Info: The tour will cover approximately 1.5 miles over uneven surfaces, moderate hills, and cross multiple intersections in a highly populated urban area.

Join a Park Ranger for a period music demonstration. Hear accounts from Civil War soldiers who wrote of the importance of music while they served in the Shenandoah Valley.

How did the events of October 19, 1781 influence the events of October 19, 1864? Join a park ranger to discuss the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the Shenandoah Valley’s role in both conflicts.

Explore the life of a lockkeeper and family in the 1870's time period with a guided tour of one of the C&O Canal's original lockhouses. Girl Scouts offer free tours of the lockhouse and grounds at Lock 24. In addition, there may be various Victorian demonstrations such as laundry, cider pressing, making lemonade, churning butter or ice cream and more. Visitors are welcome to participate in the activities and taste the results. Open every Saturday and Sunday 1pm-4pm, March 21 st through July 12 th and August 16 th through December 12 th . The lockhouse will be closed for bad weather.

The Oakland Plantation Main House is open for self-guided tours with limited capacity. Please note that tour schedules are subject to change. For updates call 318-352-0383.

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region ’ s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park . This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

Built in 1801 by Abner Cloud, Jr., the house is considered one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in Washington D.C. Pre-dating the construction of the C&O Canal, the home of Abner Cloud served as the center of the family farm and fishing business. Tour the Abner Cloud House and learn more about early 19th century farming, architecture, and the people who lived and worked on the property. The three-story, stone home is operated in parntership with The Colonial Dames of America and is open for tours on the first Sunday of each month from 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm. The Abner Cloud House is located at Fletchers Cove . Admission to Fletchers Cove and the Abner Cloud House is free.

In commemoration of the Federal Holiday, Golden Spike National Historical Park Visitor Center and Engine House will be closed.

In celebration of the Federal Holiday, Golden Spike National Historical Park Visitor Center and Engine House will be closed.