The Historic Petersburg Foundation (HPF), the City of Petersburg and Pamplin Historical Park and The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier are sponsoring a free presentation given by A. Wilson Greene, noted Civil War historian and author of “The Final Battles of the Petersburg Campaign: Breaking the Backbone of the Rebellion.” The highly acclaimed and recently reprinted book covers six large scale battles from late March through April 2, 1865, that were the culmination of more than nine months of bitter and continuous warfare between Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. A Federal victory on April 2nd just six miles southwest of Petersburg forced Lee to evacuate Petersburg and Richmond that night and to surrender his army one week later.

Read more >

Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier invites visitors to get into the holiday spirit with a 19th century-inspired Santa Claus.  Guests can have their photograph taken with Santa Claus dressed in 1860s costume.

Read more >

On Saturday, November 15 at 2:00 p.m. a program on Civil War Contraband will begin at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Hopewell. Ms. Gerri L. Hollins, Founder and President of the Contraband Historical Society and descendent from the Contraband Slaves, will be the guest speaker.

Read more >

In 1866 Congress approved the establishment of national cemeteries “so that the resting places of the honored dead may be kept sacred forever.” On Saturday, November 8, 2008 Petersburg National Battlefield will commemorate the 142nd anniversary of the establishment of Poplar Grove National Cemetery with a special event which will occur at the cemetery, off of Vaughan Road in Dinwiddie County. The program begins at 5:00 p.m. and ends at 9:00 p.m. Parking for the event will be at Richard Bland College only and shuttle buses will be on hand to transport visitors to and from the cemetery.

Read more >

During the 1850s an election, militia muster, or fair provided Southern towns the opportunity to join together and enjoy good times with friends and neighbors.  Attending the fair was an event of great anticipation and simple pleasures, important to the lives of rural Southerners.  Treat yourself to some old-fashioned family fun on October 25-26 when Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier hosts Old Time Fair.  Everyone is invited to come enjoy music, games, animals, shows, and experience what an 1850s country fair was like at this family-friendly event!

Read more >

Petersburg National Battlefield hosts two upcoming events:
1) Civil War Photography Presentation
2) Jack Tars at City Point – The Navy Side of the Siege

Read more >

Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier opens a new exhibition, Beyond Brady: Photography in the Civil War Era, to the public on October 4, 2008.  This 1,500 square-foot interactive exhibit features over 130 artifacts and images and covers all aspects of photography during the mid-1800s: how photographs were made and used, what they meant to people then and what they mean now, and who the pioneer photographers were in that period.

Read more >

1) Petersburg National Battlefield Caravan Tours Focus on the Battle of Peebles’ Farm, Sept. 27 & 28
2) City Point Archaeology Lecture Scheduled for Appomattox Regional Library, Sept. 27

Read more >

Discover the natural beauty of Petersburg National Battlefield. At 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 21 a nature hike will depart from tour stop 4 of Petersburg National Battlefield’s Eastern Front Unit. The one hour walk, guided by a National Park Service biologist, will take participants along a creek where both plant life and animal life will be observed. The hike concludes with an attempt to catch a glimpse through a telescope of one or two of the park’s newest inhabitants; bald eaglets.

Read more >

Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier will host Home School Month from September 9 through October 2 and from January 6-29.  The Park added an extra month to give flexibility to home school families’ schedules.

Read more >

Pamplin Historical Park and The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier recently welcomed new chicks that will live at Tudor Hall Plantation. The chicks are Golden Sebright Bantams and Dominiques, historic breeds common to the Civil War era. They will join the Gulf Coast sheep at the Park and increase the livestock population at the Plantation.

Read more >

Pamplin Historical Park and The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier invites history enthusiasts to the 12th Annual Symposium, which will take place at the Park’s Education Center from October 17 to 19, 2008.  The theme for this year’s Symposium is “Blue Water and Brown: Naval and Combined Operations in the Civil War.”

Read more >

Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier will host “A Stitch in Time: A Beginner’s Journey to Quilting” on Saturday, August 23 and Saturday, November 8. Each class will start at 10 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. Participants will learn about quilting from different perspectives and actually make a 16-inch quilt block by hand using reproduction Civil War-era fabrics. The cost is $18 per person for Park Members and $20 per person for non-members. Reservations are required for this event.

Read more >

Living historians will be present during two consecutive weekends at the Grant’s Headquarters Unit of Petersburg National Battlefield:
1) Meet General and Mrs. Julia Grant at the Grant’s Headquarters Unit of Petersburg National Battlefield
2) Jack Tars at City Point – The Navy Side of the Siege of Petersburg

Read more >

1) See the Stars Up Close at the Grant’s Headquarters Unit of Petersburg National Battlefield
2) “Hard Liquor and Women” – How Off-Duty Soldiers Amused Themselves During the Siege of Petersburg

Read more >

We had a first meeting with Mr. Muse of the Planning Dept. this morning, a summary of which can be found at the Petersburg Dog Park Yahoo group, here. Chuck and I will be driving around to look at/take photos of several sites that were discussed this weekend. Does anyone want to join us? We will also need to survey the community to get a sense of potential demand (how many people might use a dog park, how often, with how many dogs), so that we can figure out likely parking and dog-pen size requirements. If you are interested in helping, please go to the Yahoo group to discuss.

The July 2008 edition of Richmond Magazine features a story on LISC and their efforts to help bring affordable housing (among other things) to Petersburg: Extreme Makeover - Petersburg’s revitalization plans take shape. Page 145.

Also featured in the July issue of Richmond Magazine: Petersburg Tees Off, by Cliff Davis, page 135, on the new Dogwood Trace Golf Course.

1) Tours commemorate anniversary of the opening assaults on the City of Petersburg
2) Explore historic cemeteries by caravan tour
3) Celebrate freedom and family during Petersburg’s Juneteenth event

Read more >

1) Re-release of the movie “Battle of the Old Men and Young Boys” to be held at Petersburg National Battlefield’s New Auditorium
2) Entrance Fees Fund “New” Auditorium
3) Freedom and Family During Petersburg’s Juneteenth Event

Read more >

Beginning June 28, Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier will be open to the public from 9am until 6pm.  The Park will maintain these extended hours until August 10 and then return to the normal hours of 9am until 5pm.

Read more >

Petersburg National Battlefield welcomes new recruits to their annual summer camp “Earthworks” beginning July 17 through August 7. The program, for children 6 – 12 years of age, will occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00-1:00 p.m. Children will take a step back in time to learn about the life of a Civil War soldier.

Read more >

Pamplin Historical Park and The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier invites history enthusiasts and families alike to the 12th annual Civil War Weekend on Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22.  Performers, demonstrations, crafts, games, and music bring the Civil War era to life for visitors of all ages!  At this year’s event, visitors can experience tactical, artillery, and small arms demonstrations.

Read more >

On Saturday, May 24, visitors to Petersburg National Battlefield’s Eastern Front Unit can observe and participate in 19th century telegraphy. From 9:00am to 4:00pm John Buhrman, an expert in telegraphy, will be discussing and demonstrating one of the most common forms of communication during the Civil War. The program occurs around the Eastern Front Visitor Center which is located off of Route 36 in Petersburg, next to Fort Lee.

Read more >

“When the Bells Tolled on June 9th” is a living history program scheduled to occur on June 7 in Old Towne Petersburg. The event commemorates the 144th anniversary of the Battle of Old Men and Young Boys which was fought in the City of Petersburg on June 9, 1864. Assuming the role of an actual battle participant, visitors will take up “arms”, go through actual drilling procedures, learn about the person they are representing, and discover the fate of their individual.

Read more >

On May 24, Modern Central Park on South Sycamore Street in Petersburg will be the setting for the living history program, “Who Will Defend Us?” which examines the role of the Petersburg Militia during the Civil War. Come ready to drill. No equipment is necessary as “muskets” will be provided.

Read more >