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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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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.

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Chris Calkins, National Park Service veteran and renowned Civil War author, will give a talk on May 1 at 7pm on the development and importance of the railroad in Petersburg before and during the Civil War. Maps will be provided.

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Petersburg National Battlefield in cooperation with the Civil War Preservation Trust will be holding the first annual Park Day in the Battlefield on Saturday April 5. This is a chance to take part in some volunteer work at the Battlefield. Participants should meet at the Visitor Center parking lot at 9:00am, and be sure to bring appropriate clothing for the weather, a pair of gloves, and lunch. Activities will include trash pick-up and also some trail work.

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I’ve received notice that there’s been an uptick in smash and grabs at Petersburg National Battlefield Park. It is asked that you not leave valuables in your vehicles when you are at the Park (or at least that you not leave them in plain sight), and that you park at the Visitor’s Center.

Today’s P-I notes that the City of Petersburg acquired South Side Station in October, and that Petersburg National Battlefield is considering whether to buy the Station from the city to serve as a visitor-contact center — toward that end, look for a public meeting early next year that will help the park staff determine if there is interest in this use of the Station.

In case you missed the last post on the subject (you know who you are), Petersburg National Battlefield Park has many miles of trails that are open to joggers, mt. bikers, and horseriders alike. This morning 6 of us (including a local police officer and state police officer — thanks for showing your support!) participated in a ‘bike patrol’ — we had maps to distribute should we encounter anyone who is lost, and we cleared the trails of fallen tree limbs we encountered.

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On Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29, the famous Civil War Battle of the Crater will be remembered at Petersburg National Battlefield. Ranger talks and living history programs will occur at tour stop #8 and the Eastern Front Visitor Center throughout the weekend. Visitors will be able to hear the amazing story of those involved in one of the Civil War’s most vicious battles, and the story of civilian life during the siege of Petersburg.

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Each Tuesday, 5pm. Enter the park from Rte 36, pay the entrance fee ($5 unless you have the $15 annual pass), circle through the parking lot and follow the tour road; the group meets halfway down the park tour road at the Sutler Store Parking lot. Rating: Novice. Pace: Easy to moderate (emphasis on fun). Distance: 6-12 miles depending on your personal preference. Time: 1-2 hours. Terrain: singletrack, doubletrack. [via: Yahoo group, Richmond Area Ridefinder]

Richard Hotchkiss, the new volunteer coordinator for Petersburg National Battlefield Park, would like to have mountain bikers patrol the trails on a formal basis.

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Petersburg National Battlefield will host two feature events this summer: 1) Earthworks 2007, a summer camp for children that includes activities such as learning to use a map and compass or learning how to test water quality (while catching crawdads!); 2) Homefront 2007, a series of 10 interpretive programs at various sites in Petersburg (including Blandford Cemetary, Historic Petersburg Courthouse, and First Baptist Church) that run the gamut from formal talks to walking tours.