PWC slates historical events and programs during August

Prince William County’s Historic Preservation Division offers the following upcoming events and programs during August:

August 1-31
Year of the Historic House Museum Free Admission Days
11am – 4pm; Free; Free admission does not apply to special programs.
In 2013 Governor and First Lady McDonnell are commemorating the year of the Virginia historic house.  Virginia has more than 100 historic homes, most of which are open to the public as museums and historic sites. These homes offer a wealth of cultural, historical, and architectural information and promote an understanding of, as well as an interest in the story of Virginia.  In honor of the announcement the Prince William County Historic Preservation Division will host special free admission days at Ben Lomond Historic Site and Rippon Lodge Historic Site. Tours will run on the hour. 
Ben Lomond Historic Site, 10321 Sudley Manor Dr., Manassas, VA. 703-367-7872
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA. 703-365-7895
Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge, VA .703-499-9812

August 5-9
Basic Civil War Camp
9am - 12pm; $130 per child, ages 8-13, reservations required
Children will participate in activities designed to develop a better understanding of soldier life during the American Civil War.  Activities include: “Enlist in Virginia’s Army,” “Life in Camp,” “Infantry Drill,” “Did Civil War Soldiers Really Eat that Stuff?,” “Civil War Medicine,” and a field trip to Manassas National Battlefield Park.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA. 703-365-7895

August 10                                                                               
The Deadliest Enemy
11am - 4pm; $5 per person, free for children under six                                  
During the quiet winter of 1861-62, men were still dying long after the Battle of First Manassas. Disease killed more Civil War soldiers than combat and both armies were especially hard hit during the first years of the war. Please join staff for a guided tour about the Civil War soldiers’ deadliest enemy. Tours begin on the hour with the last tour beginning at 4 p.m.                     
Ben Lomond Historic Site, 10321 Sudley Manor Dr., Manassas, VA. 703-367-7872.

August 10,11,24, 25                                                  
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park Guided Tours                                  
11am - 3pm, tours leave on the hour, donations accepted                              
Bristoe Station Battlefield staff and volunteers will provide guided tours of the battlefield. Learn about Camp Jones and the two battles that took place here in 1862 and 1863. Tours begin on the hour and depart from the kiosk in the parking lot on Iron Brigade Unit Avenue. Last tour at       3pm.  Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. No pets please.  Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park, The parking lot is located off of Iron Brigade Unit Ave., Bristow, VA. (703) 366-3049.

August 17
Nature Trail Walk
1pm; $5 per person, free for children under six
Take a guided tour along the nature trails at Brentsville and learn about the plants and animals that call this part of Virginia home.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA. 703-365-7895

August 24
Victorian Sundays
11am; FREE
On Sundays in Victorian America, it would not be hard to find the citizens of cities and towns.  They were worshiping and fellowshipping at the community church.  Join us at Brentsville Courthouse Historic Center’s Union Church for a unique program that focuses on 19th Century worship practices and church centered activities.  The program is conducted by Historic Faith Ministries, a volunteer community group.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA. 703-365-7895

August 26-30
Advanced Civil War Camp
9am - 12pm; $130 per child, ages 8-13, reservations required
Children will participate in activities built on fundamentals that they learned during the Basic Civil War Camp.  Participants will drill their peers, learn an artillery drill, explore noncommissioned officers administrative responsibilities, spend a day with Confederate General Robert E. Lee, and take a field trip to Manassas National Battlefield Park.  Participants MUST have attended the Basic Civil War Summer Camp.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA. 703-365-7895

August 27-29
History Mini Camp
Tuesday- Thursday,
9am – Noon
$20 per day or $50 for all three days, ages 8-12
Explore the daily lives of kids living in Prince William County in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.  Every day will feature a different time period.  Activities will include; crafts, games, history, music, food and much more. Registration required.
Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge, VA. 703-499-9812

Looking Ahead….

September 7-8, 2013
WWII Weekend
11am – 4pm; Free
Admiral Black the last owner of Rippon Lodge was a WWII veteran and survivor of Pearl Harbor.  Learn about daily life of soldiers in the European and Pacific Theatres. World War II living historians will portray Axis and Allied soldiers. They will discuss their equipment, armaments and historic military vehicles. Learn about the home front and the many ways that citizens supported the war effort. View collections of original
WWII artifacts.
Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge, VA. 703-499-9812

September 14, 2013
Bluegrass at Brentsville
1pm - 5pm; $10 per person, $5 PWC employees with ID, children free under six
Enjoy the lively sounds of bluegrass bands on the grounds of Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre.  Music will be held from 1-5pm with additional activities on the grounds.  Buildings will be open for tours and food available for purchase.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA. 703-365-7895

Historic Preservation Division
Civil War Sesquicentennial Events

“There Was a Want of Vigilance” – Battle of Bristoe Station Exhibit at the Manassas Museum
August-October, Manassas Museum ($5 admission)
9101 Prince William St, Manassas
Exhibit will feature rare artifacts from the Battle of Bristoe Station.  Featured items will include personal effects of A.P. Hill and other leading participants of the battle.  Exhibit cosponsored by the Prince William County Historic Preservation Division and the Manassas Museum. Contact Manassas Museum for more information at 703-368-1873

Bristoe Station Campaign 150th Symposium
Saturday – Sunday, September 14-15, 2013
$75 per person, Symposium will take place at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Manassas, VA
Join local and national historians on an exciting two day symposium covering Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s last offensive campaign of the Civil War at Bristoe Station.  The first day of the symposium offers a full day of lectures and discussions on the actions and battles in the Bristoe Campaign, book signings and lunch.  The second day includes a seven hour bus tour of the Bristoe Campaign with a boxed lunch. Contact Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park at 703-366-3049 for more information.  For reservations, contact 703-792-4754 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Bristoe Station Campaign Bus Tour
Saturday, October 5, 2013
$85 per person, includes lunch.  Reservations required, space is limited
Enjoy a full day with an in-depth tour of the sites and battlefields that made up the Bristoe Campaign.  Stops will include:  Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park, Auburn, Remington and Buckland.  Historians will explain how this important campaign impacted soldiers, civilians and its overall impact on the outcome of the Civil War.  Participants will have a chance to see little known or visited sites.  Contact Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park at 703-366-3049 for more information and reservations.

Battle of Bristoe Station 150th Commemorative Weekend
Saturday – Sunday, October 12-13, 2013
Free, donations encouraged
To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Bristoe Station, tours, musical performances, lectures, tours and living history demonstrations and encampments to represent the soldiers and units present at the battle in 1863. Weekend kicks off on Saturday at 10am with a dedication ceremony featuring keynote speaker Dr. James I. Robertson Jr. The Virginia History Mobile will be available on Saturday and a Youth Activity Tent will also be available all weekend.  Contact Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park at 703-366-3049 for more information.

For more information on Prince William County Historic Preservation Division events, programs, volunteer and rentals call 703-792-4754 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)