Virginia Field Trips

The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
330 Miles of Revolutionary War History - The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail travels through VA, TN, NC & SC, retracing the route of patriot militia as they tracked down the British. Eventually the two forces clashed, ending in patriot victory at the battle of Kings Mountain.

Carlyle House Historic Park - Alexandria
The historic Carlyle House was completed in 1753 by British merchant John Carlyle for his bride, Sarah Fairfax of Belvoir, member of one of the most prestigious families in colonial Virginia. Their home quickly became a center of social and political life in Alexandria and gained a foothold in history when British General Braddock made the mansion his headquarters in 1755. Braddock summoned five colonial governors to meet there to plan the early campaigns of the French and Indian War. On the National Register of Historic Places, Carlyle House is architecturally unique in Alexandria as the only stone, 18th-century Palladian-style house. Daily tours of the house, programs for schoolchildren, special events, exhibits and lectures explore the life and times of John Carlyle in pre-Revolutionary Alexandria.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House - Alexandria
Frank Lloyd Wright put forth a challenge that he would grapple with for many years. His solution–the Usonian house –was a modestly-scaled family dwelling that was (relatively) affordable, designed for modern family life, and responded to the surrounding environment. The Pope-Leighey House is a classic example of this type of architecture and of mid-20th century design. Wright’s innovative use of four natural materials (wood, brick, glass and concrete) created a sense of a large, more spacious abode – in only 1,200 square feet.

Gadsby's Tavern Museum - Alexandria
Gadsby's Tavern Museum consists of two buildings, a ca. 1785 tavern and the 1792 City Hotel. The buildings are named for Englishman John Gadsby who operated them from 1796 to 1808. Mr. Gadsby's establishment was a center of political, business, and social life in early Alexandria. George Washington enjoyed the hospitality provided by tavernkeepers and twice attended the annual Birthnight Ball held in his honor. Other prominent patrons included John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the Marquis de Lafayette. Take a moment to journey back to the 18th-century tavern and hotel where famous historical figures and everyday people dined and slept. Learn about the history, architecture, decorative arts, social customs, food, and clothing of a past era.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail - Appalachian Mountains
The People's Path and America's First National Scenic Trail. The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is more than 2,175-mile long footpath stretching through 14 eastern states from Maine to Georgia. Conceived in 1921 and first completed in 1937, it traverses the wild, scenic, wooded, pastoral, and culturally significant lands of the Appalachian Mountains.

Appomattox Court House National Historic Site - Appomattox
Peace and Reunification - On Palm Sunday, 1865 General R. E. Lee surrendered to Lt. General U. S. Grant signaling the end of the Southern States' attempt to create a separate nation. The surrender set the stage for the emergence of an expanded and more powerful Federal government. In a sense the struggle between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, in Philadelphia, over how much power the central government would hold had finally been settled. The end of the war led directly to the adoption of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the Constitution – ending slavery, providing citizenship and male suffrage.

Holliday Lake State Park - Appomattox
Deep in the heart of Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest, Holliday Lake State Park is a paradise for the outdoor enthusiast. Fishing for largemouth bass, yellow perch, crappie and bluegill is a popular activity in the 150-acre lake within the park. The nearby state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries delayed-harvest trout stream allows anglers to fish for brown and rainbow trout. The park also features excellent trails open to hikers, bikers and equestrians. Swimming is a popular summer activity at the park's life-guarded beach where the "Critter Hole" play area is a favorite of young visitors. Park facilities include a 30-site campground, a large shaded picnic area, two picnic shelters, two playgrounds, a boat ramp, a seasonal full-service concession stand, a camp store, and canoe, rowboat and paddle boat rentals. Interpretive and environmental education programs also are available for school and scout groups. This park is just minutes from the famous Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, the site of General Robert E. Lee's surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant in 1865.

Arlington National Cemetary - Arlington
Official website of the cemetery. If you can not visit the cemetery, check out the site map to this website or the historical information tab located on the home page.

Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee National Memorial - Arlington
Arlington House was the home of Robert E. Lee and his family for thirty years and is uniquely associated with the Washington and Custis families. George Washington Parke Custis built the house to be his home and a memorial to George Washington, his step-grandfather. It is now preserved as a memorial to General Lee, who gained the respect of Americans in both the North and the South.
Virtual field trip online

Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove - Arlington
Formerly known as Columbia Island, this park was renamed in honor of Lady Bird Johnson and her campaign to beautify Washington D.C. The Grove, a site chosen by Lady Bird herself, is the site that the Johnsons often stopped to admire the city. Today, the Grove is relaxing spot for people to watch the river, view Washington D.C., and to recreate.

Theodore Roosevelt Island - Arlington
One of Theodore Roosevelt’s greatest legacies was his dedication to conservation. Today, this island stands as a fitting memorial to the outdoorsman, naturalist, and visionary who was our 26th President.

Blue Ridge Parkway - Asheville
Experiencing “America’s Favorite Drive” - A drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway is slow paced and relaxing. Almost any overlook or trail will reveal much of the natural and cultural history here. Explore the many communities along the route that make our region so special. Enjoy the view, but watch the road!

145th Anniversary Battle of Waynesboro - Augusta County
The Waynesboro Heritage Museum is hosting the 145th Anniversary Battle of Waynesboro, to be held in historic Augusta County, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Saturday battle will recreate the last battle fought by General Early in the Shenandoah Valley on the outskirts of the city of Waynesboro against General Custer's cavalry. Sunday battle to simulate the actions of Major William Patrick's 17th Va Btn of Cavalry against Poe's 2nd Michigan in Jackson's rear at 2nd Manassas. Major Patrick is buried in a family cemetery on the property to be used for this event. Weekend will also feature memorial services for Confederate dead buried in Waynesboro, and a graveside memorial and Iron Cross dedication at Major Patrick's grave. February - check website for details!

Shot Tower Historical State Park - Austinville
Overlooking the New River, Shot Tower was built more than 150 years ago to make ammunition for the firearms of the early settlers. Lead from the nearby Austinville Mines was Shot Tower at the parkmelted in a kettle atop the 75-foot tower and poured through a sieve, falling through the tower and an additional 75-foot shaft beneath the tower into a kettle of water. For a small fee, guests may ascend the tower which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

National D-Day Memorial - Bedford
Find resources remembering the Normandy Invasion, commonly known as D-Day, by the Allied Forces. From the National D-Day Memorial site in Bedford, Virginia (so located because proportionally Bedford suffered the greatest number of losses from any US community.

Raymond R. "Andy" Guest Jr. Shenandoah River State Park - Bentonville
This park's hours of operation are between 8 a.m. and dusk. NOTE: This park is a Trash Free Facility - refuse must be removed by park visitor. A central refuse collection area is at the Cullers Overlook. The park is 1,604 acres with 5.6 miles of river frontage along the south fork of the Shenandoah River. The rolling, mountainous land features steep slopes and is mostly wooded. In addition to meandering river frontage, the park offers scenic vistas overlooking Massanutten Mountain to the west and Shenandoah National Park to the east.

Assateague Island National Seashore - Berlin
Mutual grooming by Assateague's horses serves to establish and maintain social bonds within the herd. 20kb Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests and coastal bays. Rest, relax, recreate and enjoy some time on the edge of the continent.

Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park - Big Stone Gap
The museum is housed in a mansion built in the 1880s by Rufus Ayers, a Virginia attorney general. The museum was acquired by the commonwealth in 1946 from the Slemp Foundation, established by C. Bascom Slemp, private secretary to President Calvin Coolidge and a member of the U. S. Congress. The museum was officially dedicated by the state in 1948. It features a collection comprised of more than 20,000 pieces, about one third of which is on display at any given time. The museum chronicles the exploration and development of the town and surrounding area during the 1890s coal boom, as well as the pioneer period. It offers activities for kids, scout and school programs, workshops, an annual Festival of Trees program and a walking tour of the grounds. The museum sells archival supplies and offers the opportunity to have pictures of collection pieces copied, as well as copies of reference files. Also offered is a unique gift shop and a Victorian Parlor Conference Room available for rent by calling the museum.

Smithfield Plantation - Blacksburg
On the eve of the American Revolution, the Virginia backcountry was a place of colliding cultures, clashing ideals, and physical danger. Wolves howled at night; panthers roamed the forest. Europeans and native Shawnee and Cherokee vied for the same fertile farmlands, often erupting into murderous violence. It was here, at the eastern continental divide - the literal edge of European/American civilization - that leader of westward expansion and Revolutionary War patriot William Preston established Smithfield Plantation. In a land of log cabins and physical hardship, Smithfield provided a haven of aristocratic elegance and became the social and political center of the county.

Breaks Interstate Park - Breaks
The Breaks Interstate Park is one of two interstate parks in America and encompasses 4,500 acres of woodland. The Breaks, home of the deepest gorge east of the Mississippi River, also rises to lofty heights where golden eagles make their home. The Towers and other rock formations, caves, flora and wildlife make the Breaks Park a unique tourist destination. History, legend and lore combine with the scenic beauty of the Park which was the reported destination of several trips by Daniel Boone. It is the home of Pow Wow Cave, used by the Shawnee Indians and those who love mystery and adventure can search for the buried silver treasure of John Swift. For active visitors, the park also offers hiking, bike and driving trails, picnic and recreation areas, a lake with pedal boats, a swimming pool, horseback riding and an amphitheater. A rustic lodge, cottages and a large campground are available for extended visits. The Breaks Park also has a modern conference center, restaurant, gift shop and visitor's center. The folks in Eastern Kentucky and Southwest Virginia welcome you to the Breaks Interstate Park!

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre - Bristow
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre interprets the history of Brentsville and Prince William County through three centuries. Currently the Courthouse, Union Church and Haislip/Hall farmhouse have been restored. Work is underway for the restoration on the Jail and development of a Visitor Center and museum. Once completed, the site will give visitors a unique look into the history of not just Prince William County but Northern Virginia.

Kiptopeke State Park - Cape Charles
Kiptopeke Birding Areas - Since 1963, Kiptopeke has been the site of bird population studies. Sponsored by the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory and licensed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, volunteers capture, examine, weigh, band and release resident and migratory birds each year from mid-August through November. In the raptor research area, hawks, kestrels, osprey and other birds of prey are observed and banded from September through November. Kiptopeke’s hawk observatory is among the top 15 nationwide.

Monticello - Charlottesville
Tour the house that Jefferson designed and built for himself and his family and enjoy the grounds of the Monticello Plantation.
Virtual field trip online

Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network - Chesapeake Bay region
First thoughts of the Chesapeake Bay often bring up images of crabs and oysters. But, as the largest estuary in North America, the Chesapeake Bay has touched and influenced much of the American story – early settlement, commerce, the military, transportation, recreation and more. The Bay and its surrounding 64,000 square mile watershed hold a treasure trove of historic areas, natural wonders and recreational opportunities.

Pocahontas State Park - Chesterfield
Just 20 miles from downtown Richmond, the capital of Virginia, Pocahontas State Park has been one of the more popular parks in the state park system.

Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia - Chesterfield
The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia serves as the center for Chesterfield history. Its purpose is to collect, preserve, interpret and promote the county’s unique past for the education of present and future generations. The vision is to be the premier resource for local history and provide quality programs, exhibits and information to residents of and visitors to Chesterfield County, and to support the educational goals of the public school system as well as home schooled students.

Occoneechee State Park - Clarksville
Occoneechee State Park is on Virginia’s largest lake, Buggs Island Lake, also known as John H. Kerr Reservoir. The park features 18.1 miles of trails that allow the guest to experience the history of the Occoneechee Indians and plantation life in the 1800s.

Bear Creek Lake State Park - Cumberland
Bear Creek Lake is the perfect getaway for the outdoor enthusiast. Activities center on the park's 40-acre lake complete with a boat launch, fishing pier, boat rentals and swimming beach. The park offers camping, cabins, a meeting facility, an archery range, lakeside picnicking, playgrounds, hiking and access to a 14-mile multi-use trail in the state forest.

Sky Meadows State Park - Delaplane
Just an hour’s drive from Washington, D.C., Sky Meadows State Park in Clarke and Fauquier counties, offers a peaceful getaway on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With rolling pastures and woodlands, the park boasts beautiful vistas of the foothills and access to the Appalachian Trail. Its rich history is shaped by the development of agriculture and the impact of the Civil War. Activities include hiking, fishing, picnicking, horseback riding, primitive camping, and nature and history programs.
Virtual field trip online

Deltaville Maritime Museum and Holly Point Nature Park - Deltaville
The Museum and Park offer a unique opportunity to enjoy the "Boat Building " history of our area and the serenity of "river' life. The nature park includes opportunities for walking, birding and viewing wildlife along trails which have thriving native plants and nesting sites. The museum is devoted to the preservation of our County's vast maritime history and will provide educational experiences related to the maritime industry. Both the museum and the park are a place to study, to learn, and also to relax and enjoy the tranquility of this area.

Claytor Lake State Park - Dublin
Claytor Lake State Park offers a wide variety of activities for water and land enthusiasts. Easily accessible from Interstate 81, the park offers swimming, camping, cabins, lodges, a meeting facility, nature and history programs, miles of hiking trails, and a visitor center. The visitor center is located in the historic Howe House. The lake and the park are named after Graham Claytor (1886-1971), who was vice president of Appalachian Power and supervised construction of the dam.

Natural Tunnel State Park - Duffield
Natural Tunnel, called the "Eighth Wonder of the World" by William Jennings Bryan, has been attracting sightseers to the mountains of southwestern Virginia for more than 100 years. Today it is the focal point of Natural Tunnel State Park, a park which offers visitors not only spectacular sights but also swimming, camping, picnicking, hiking, a visitor center, an amphitheater and interpretive programs.

Wilderness Road State Park - Ewing
Wilderness Road State Park was purchased in 1993; the park is approximately 200 acres that lie astride the "Wilderness Road." Wilderness Road was carved by Daniel Boone in 1775 to open America’s first western frontier. Most notable in the park are the Karlan Mansion, built in the 1870s, and Martin's Station, a replica of a fort built there in 1775. Bikes can be rented to ride the Wilderness Road Trail that passes through the park. The park also has a self-guided hiking trail as well as interpretive and environmental educational programs.

New River Trail State Park - Foster Falls
New River Trail State Park has been designated an official National Recreation Trail by the U. S. Department of the Interior. The park parallels 39 miles of the New River, which is one of the world's oldest rivers and among a handful of rivers flowing north

Fredericksburg National Cemetery - Fredericksburg
In July 1865, three months after the restoration of peace between the states, Congress authorized the establishment of a National Cemetery in Fredericksburg to honor the Federal soldiers who died on the battlefields or from disease in camp.

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial - Fredericksburg
The Bloodiest Landscape in North America Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania - more than 85,000 men wounded; 15,000 killed. No place more vividly reflects the Civil War’s tragic cost, in all its forms. These places reveal the trials of a community and nation at war. The park is closed on Christmas and New Year's Day. Call (540) 654-5532 for information on park closure during inclement weather.

Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center - Fredericksburg
The mission of the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center’s education department is to provide inquiry-based experiences for adults and youth, which are interactive, hands-on and engaging. Programs communicate our local history and contemporary culture while creating a link from the past to the Fredericksburg region’s culturally diverse present.

James River State Park - Gladstone
James River State Park, six miles down river from Bent Creek, opened June 20, 1999. The park has three miles of river frontage, 1,500 acres of rolling farm meadows, three fishing ponds, beautiful vistas, 15 miles of hiking trails and quiet forests. The park offers opportunities to explore the wildlife and habitat native to the foothills of the Blue Ridge. Whether floating, fishing or hiking, you can enjoy breathtaking views found only at James River State Park.

High Bridge Trail State Park - Green Bay
High Bridge Trail State Park is a multi-use trail ideally suited for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding. Its centerpiece is the majestic High Bridge, which is more than 2,400 feet long and 160 feet above the Appomattox River.

Sailor's Creek State Park - Green Bay
On April 6, 1865, the Black Thursday of the Confederacy, General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia lost 7,700 men, including eight generals, in the Battle of Sailor's Creek. This defeat was key to Lee's decision to surrender at Appomattox Court House 72 hours later, thus ending the war in Virginia. The Overton-Hillsman House, used as a field hospital during the battle, is open to visitors June through August and by request at other times. Period costumed interpreters commemorate the event and conduct other living history events throughout the year. Motorists will enjoy Lee's Retreat Driving Tour, which follows the route of his army from Petersburg to Appomattox Court House. While on the trail, drivers can set the radio to AM 1610 for battle details and descriptions.

Twin Lakes State Park - Green Bay
Twin Lakes State Park, centrally located in Virginia's Piedmont region, provides visitors from all over the Commonwealth with a variety of lakefront activities in a secluded setting. Swimming, camping, fishing, biking, canoeing and hiking are popular activities.

Booker T. Washington National Monument - Hardy
From Slave Cabin to the Hall of Fame - On April 5, 1856, Booker T. Washington was born a slave on the 207-arce farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became founder and first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later as an adviser, author and orator, his past would influence his philosophies as the most influential African American of his era. Come explore his birthplace.

City Point History Museum - Hopewell
The City Point Early History Museum displays exhibitions highlighting the rich history of the area. It is housed in the St. Dennis Chapel in the National Historic District of Hopewell. This district contains a number of historic structures, including Appomattox Plantation, the headquarters of General Grant during the latter stages of the Civil War. The chapel was constructed in 1887 as a Catholic chapel for Navy personnel in the area. In 1981 the building, at that point a private home, was deeded to HHFI. The building was restored and opened to public in 1995.

Weston Plantation - Hopewell
Telling the stories of ordinary people who lived through extraordinary times in American history. Weston Plantation house was built in 1789 and overlooks the Appomattox River. It has been described by one Virginia historian as a classic example of Virginia Georgian architecture and the very essence of the Tidewater plantation mansion. All three floors and the kitchen dependency are furnished with antiques and reproductions and open to the public through guided tours.

Smith Mountain Lake State Park - Huddleston
Although situated on the second largest body of freshwater in the state, Smith Mountain Lake State Park is not just for water enthusiasts. In addition to a full range of water related activities, including swimming, fishing and boating, the park offers miles of hiking trails, housekeeping cabins, camping, picnicking, a visitor center and interpretive programs.

Historic Jamestowne - Jamestown
Jamestown, a place of many Beginnings - Come, walk in the steps of Captain John Smith and Pocahontas as we explore America's beginnings. Here is where the successful English colonization of North America began. Here is where the first English representative government met and where the first arrival of Africans to English North American was recorded in 1619. Jamestown, the Beginning of America.

Caledon Natural Area - King George
A designated National Natural Landmark, Caledon provides visitors the unique opportunity of viewing bald eagles in their natural habitat. Caledon and the surrounding areas are the summer home for one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles on the East Coast.

Mason Neck State Park - Lorton
Mason Neck State Park is on a peninsula formed by Pohick Bay on the north, Belmont Bay on the south and the Potomac River on the east. The peninsula is an active heron rookery. The park also attracts several other migrating and non-migrating species of birds, including whistling swans and assorted species of duck. Bald eagles also inhabit the area. The park boasts several hundred acres of hardwood forests consisting of oaks, holly, hickory and other species of trees. In addition, several wetland areas are also found in Mason Neck.

Green Springs National Historic Landmark District - Louisa County
Encompasses over 14,000 acres in the piedmont of central Virginia. The homes and farms are a continuum of Virginia rural vernacular architecture, reflective and respectful of their location, preserved in their original context with little alteration. Here the landscape has been enhanced, rather than despoiled, by the presence of civilization.

Shenandoah National Park - Luray
Shenandoah, a wilderness oasis in the busy east . . - Gazing across the horizon from the peaks of Shenandoah National Park it’s hard to believe you are just 75 miles from the bustle of our nation’s capital. Take Skyline Drive along the crest of the mountains through the woods and past spectacular vistas. Hike in the shade of oak trees along the Appalachian Trail, discover the stories from Shenandoah’s past, or just relax in the wonder of wilderness.

Manassas National Battlefield - Manassas
Explore Two Great Battles of the American Civil War - In the summer of 1861, enthusiastic volunteers in colorful uniforms gathered to fight the first major land battle of the war. Confident that their foes would turn and run, neither side anticipated the smoke, din and death of battle. Nearly one year later, both sides met again on the same battlefield with the Confederates winning a solid victory bringing them to the height of their power.

Hungry Mother State Park - Marion
Hungry Mother State Park in southwestern Virginia is noted for its woodlands and lake. Easily accessible from Interstate 81, this park has folklore and history, swimming, camping, cabin rentals, boat rentals, hiking and the park system’s first conference center, Hemlock Haven.

Claude Moore Colonial Farm - McLean
Step back in time and experience life on a small farm in northern Virginia. Living history programs and demonstrations offer a glimpse of what life was like for a poor farm family, just before the Revolutionary War.

Great Falls Park - McLean
At Great Falls, the Potomac River builds up speed and force as it falls over a series of steep, jagged rocks and flows through the narrow Mather Gorge. The Patowmack Canal offers a glimpse into the early history of this country. Great Falls Park has many opportunities to explore history and nature, all in a beautiful 800 acre park only fifteen miles from the Nation’s Capital.

Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historic Site - Middletown
From Backcountry to Breadbasket to Battlefield -- and Beyond - Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park preserves and interprets key historical sites and the rich cultural heritage of the Shenandoah Valley. At present there are no National Park Service operated visitor facilities. Instead, almost all park lands and buildings are owned and administered by the park's partners: local landowners, county governments, and nonprofit organizations.

Douthat State Park - Millboro
The park, which straddles Bath and Alleghany counties, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Douthat is one of the original six Virginia State Parks that opened June 15, 1936. It's nestled in the Allegheny Mountains and features some of Virginia’s most outstanding scenery. In addition, a 50-acre lake offers swimming, boating and seasonal trout fishing.

Mount Vernon Virtual Tour - Mount Vernon
Take a virtual tour of Mount Vernon, Virginia, George Washington's home
Virtual field trip online

Grayson Highlands State Park - Mouth of Wilson
This mountain park is next to the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area in the Jefferson National Forest. Grayson Highlands State Park was originally named Mount Rogers State Park and was established in 1965. Pets are allowed in the park but not allowed inside public facilities including the bathhouses, visitor center and office.

Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum - Multiple Locations
Offers museums and attractions in multiple countries focusing on odd and amazing things. Provides videos, details about exhibits, and their history.

Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Galleries - Norfolk
The Baron and Ellin Gordon Self-Taught Art Gallery showcases self-taught art and its relation to contemporary art with shows, drawing on the permanent collection and loans to the galleries. A second gallery, the changing gallery, focuses on works by contemporary artists of international, national and regional repute.

Chrysler Museum of Art - Norfolk
Housed in an Italianate-style structure facing the picturesque Hague Inlet of the Elizabeth River, the Chrysler Museum of Art is home to an encyclopedic collection of nearly 40,000 objects spanning nearly 5,000 years of history. Highlights include an impressive and comprehensive survey of European and American painting and sculpture, a world-renowned glass collection, a rich photography program, Art Nouveau furniture, as well as African, Asian, Egyptian, Pre-Columbian and Islamic art.

18th Annual Battle of Jonesville - Pennington Gap
Hosted by Co. E 37th Virginia Infantry and the Southern Guards Brigade We invite everyone to the 18th Annual Battle of Jonesville ,Virginia. Held each year on part of the original Battlefield. The event has been named one of Southwestern Virginias Premiere history events and each year attracts Hundreds of re-enactors from several states. Come experience the beauty of Southwestern Virginia mountains and some good Virginia hospitality. Two great scripted battles on part of the original battlefield. Check website for event held in June. Check website for event held in June.

Petersburg National Battlefield - Petersburg
A Mere Question of Time - “Dear Mother, we remained in the broiling sun in little pits the size of a common grave though not half so well furnished. There we lay and everytime a man Show his head Zip would come a minnie.” This pressure was central to a soldier's experience in a 292 day siege. Here, Union forces slowly cut off Petersburg from the world and brought the fall of the Confederacy.

Locust Shade Park - Prince William County
Locust Shade has everything you need to "get in touch with nature". We offer opportunities for fishing, boating, picnicking and more.

Staunton River Battlefield State Park - Randolph
At this historic site, a ragtag group of Confederate old men and young boys beat the odds and held off an assault by 5,000 Union cavalry soldiers on a bridge of strategic importance to General Lee’s army, then under siege in Petersburg. Hiking, bicycle trails and self-guided historical and nature trails available.

Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site - Richmond
Nickels to Dollars - Richmond, VA. is home to many famous Americans including one of the nation’s great entrepreneurial spirits, Maggie Lena Walker. Come visit her home in the Jackson Ward community. Through exhibits and guided tours you will experience the life of this great African American woman, who was born during slavery and achieved success despite segregation and the limited opportunities offered to her race.

Richmond National Battlefield Park - Richmond
Embattled Capital, 1861 to 1865 - Richmond's story is not just the tale of one large Civil War battle, nor even one important campaign. Instead, the park's resources include a naval battle, a key industrial complex, the Confederacy's largest hospital, dozens of miles of elaborate original fortifications, and the evocative spots where determined soldiers stood paces apart and fought with rifles, reaping a staggering human cost.

Eleanor D. Wilson Museum - Roanoke
The Eleanor D. Wilson Museum is a premiere arts destination in the Roanoke Valley. It features the work of internationally renowned artists and emerging and regional artists. The museum also presents work from Hollins’ permanent collection and mounts exhibitions that explore currents in contemporary art. The museum provides a place to look at art and to talk about it, enhancing both the life of the university and the community beyond.

History Museum of Western Virginia - Roanoke
The Museum's Step Into The Past education programs are unlike any other history-oriented services offered in the Roanoke Valley. These programs were created to meet the requests of local teachers, P.T.A. representatives and youth group leaders for historical programming that is readily available and affordable. Step Into The Past consists of both Outreach and In-house Programs.
Virtual field trip online

Booker T. Washington - Lesson Plans & Teacher Guides - Rocky Mount
From the National Parks Service. To Be a Slave - K-1 Program Lifting the Veil - 2 - 3 Program War on the Home Front - 4 - 5 Program Cast Down Your Bucket! - 5 -7 Program Clash of the Titans - 11th Grade Program

Staunton River State Park - Scottsburg
The park was recognized in 2007 as a National Historic Landmark and a Virginia Historic Landmark. Many structures in the park, including the cabins, pool-house and picnic shelters, are little changed from when they were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s. Tucked away in south central Virginia, the park lies on 2,400 acres between the Dan and Staunton Rivers at the threshold of Buggs Island Lake (also known as Kerr Reservoir). The largest lake in Virginia is only one of the park’s many attractions, which include an Olympic size pool with a 70-foot waterslide, a smaller log slide and the Pollywog Pond, which is a water playground for children (there is a size limit on this pool). The shaded campgrounds, rustic cabins, picturesque picnic shelters, well-maintained nature trails, and plenty of exciting outdoor opportunities for the whole family make Staunton River State Park the perfect place for your vacation.

Hatton Ferry - Scottsville
The Hatton Ferry is the last pole operated ferry in America. America moved west on these ferries and it is only fitting that the last one is still working on America’s River, the birth place of the first permanent English settlement, Jamestown on the James River. The ferry has crossed the river for over 140 years. It has carried farm products, the mail and vehicles both horse drawn and motorized from Buckingham County to Albemarle County and back. This is living history worth saving for future generations.

Isle of Wight County Museum - Smithfield
The Isle of Wight County Museum was founded in 1976 by a group of volunteers dedicated to the preservation of county history. Interpreting local history, the museum’s exhibits include prehistoric fossils, Native American and Colonial artifacts, a country store and displays regarding the ham industry and perhaps the museum’s most notable artifact: the world’s oldest, edible cured ham.

Historic St. Luke's Church - Smithfield
St. Luke’s Church, circa 1632, is the oldest church of English foundation, the oldest continually standing brick structure, and the only surviving original Gothic building in this country.

Lake Anna State Park - Spotsylvania
The land in Lake Anna State Park used to be known as "Gold Hill" and contained the Goodwin Gold Mine. Gold was first discovered in 1829 with mining reaching its peak in the 1880s. In 1971 Lake Anna was created to serve as a water coolant for Dominion Power’s nuclear plant. In 1972 work began on the acquisition and development of a water-oriented state park. Lake Anna State Park opened in 1983. While boating and fishing on this beautiful lake are major attractions, these are only some of the park’s offerings. Lakefront picnic areas and wooded hiking trails are also popular. On summer weekends, interpretive programs on the nature and history of the area complement exhibits and displays in the visitor center. Lake Anna State Park has rental cabins, camping, more than 15 miles of hiking trails, lakeshore picnicking, a guarded swimming beach, a children’s play area, a boat ramp, a food concession stand, a bathhouse and a children’s and handicapped fishing pond.

American Shakespeare Center - Staunton
The American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Virginia is a wonderful field trip if you are lucky enough to live nearby. By following the basic principles of Renaissance theatrical production, the American Shakespeare Center gives its audiences some of the pleasures that an Elizabethan playgoer would have enjoyed in the world's only re-creation of Shakespeare's original indoor theatre. If you are not close enough for a visit, you can still enjoy the online resources offered by the Center. Although some parts of the guides are specific to the play experience at the Center, the guides are in-depth, informative resources for studying the plays of Shakespeare.
Virtual field trip online

America's Cultural Landscape - Staunton
Lesson plan from the Museum of American Frontier Culture; students will identify the various immigrants and the contributions made to the cultural landscape of Virginia and beyond the frontier and compare and contrast the customs of the early immigrants to the customs of today's society.

Frontier Culture Museum - Staunton
The Frontier Culture Museum tells the story of the thousands of people who migrated to colonial America, and of the life they created here for themselves and their descendants. These first pioneers came to America during the 1600s and 1700s from communities in the hinterlands of England, Germany, Ireland, and West Africa. Many were farmers and rural craftsmen set in motion by changing conditions in their homelands, and drawn to the American colonies by opportunities for a better life. Others came as unwilling captives to work on farms and plantations. Regardless of how they arrived, all became Americans, and all contributed to the success of the colonies, and of the United States.
Virtual field trip online

Fairy Stone State Park - Stuart
Fairy Stone State Park, the largest of Virginia's six original state parks, is home to its namesake "fairy stones." These rare mineral crosses and the park's scenic beauty, rich history and ample recreational opportunities make it a local and regional favorite. The 4,537 acres that make up the park were donated by Junius B. Fishburn, former owner of the Roanoke Times, in 1933. The Civilian Conservation Corps originally created the park, its lake and many structures still in use there.

Chippokes Plantation State Park - Surry
Chippokes Plantation State Park is one of the oldest working farms in the United States. Chippokes is a living historical exhibit located in a rural agricultural area along the James River in Surry County. In addition, the park has a wide variety of traditional park offerings, including a swimming complex, visitor center, picnic facilities, and hiking and biking trails. The plantation has kept its original boundaries since the 1600s and has a variety of cultivated gardens and native woodland. The formal gardens surrounding the Chippokes Mansion are accented by azaleas, crepe myrtle, boxwood and seasonal flowers. The plantation grounds are also home to the Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum.

Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum - Surry
Imagine living on a farm in rural Virginia in 1850. Visit the Chippokes Farm and Forestry Museum and see for yourself how our ancestors endured this rugged life. Chippokes, one of the oldest continually farmed plantations in the country, is endowed with thousands of artifacts. Many have been generously donated so that the story of Virginia's agriculture and forestry communities may be told.

Prince William Forest Park - Triangle
Experience a place where history and nature unite! - Prince William Forest Park is an oasis of natural beauty and human history located only 35 miles south of Washington, DC. 37 miles of hiking trails and 21 miles of bicycle-accessible roads and trails traverse this 15,000 acre piedmont forest. Beneath its canopy lies evidence of human history reaching back to 8,000 B.C.

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts - Vienna
Live on Stage at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts - Musicals, Opera, Jazz, Rock n’ Roll, Country, Dance and other performing arts are an important part of our American culture. At the only National Park dedicated to live performing arts, no matter what your age or taste in shows, you’ll find what you’re looking for onstage at Wolf Trap.

False Cape State Park - Virginia Beach
No vehicular access. Located in southern Virginia Beach, False Cape State Park is a mile-wide barrier spit between Back Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Access is through the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and is limited to hiking, bicycling or boating. The park features primitive camping and an extensive environmental education program in one of the last undisturbed coastal environments on the East Coast.

First Landing State Park - Virginia Beach
Originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, First Landing State Park is located on the Chesapeake Bay. The park, which is Virginia’s most visited state park, is nestled in Virginia Beach. First Landing offers boating, swimming, nature and history programs, hiking, biking, picnicking, a boat launch, cabins and 19 miles of trails on 2,888 acres. It also has campsites that have water and electric hook-ups and nearby access to restrooms and showers. The park's name was changed in 1997 from Seashore State Park to First Landing State Park to reflect its heritage as the first place where members of the Virginia Company landed. They went on to settle Jamestown.

Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum - Virginia Beach
The Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum, located in the historic de Witt Cottage on the Virginia Beach oceanfront, displays art and artifacts documenting migratory wildfowl that pass through Eastern Virginia. Exhibits of wildfowl and shorebird carvings trace the evolution of this American art form from the simple traditional decoys to the contemporary lifelike carvings.

Contemporary Art Center of Virginia (CAC) - Virginia Beach
Experience some of the best educational programs in the commonwealth. CAC offers a wide variety of art exploration programs that enhance your knowledge of contemporary art.

Ferry Plantation House - Virginia Beach
Ferry Plantation House is a 1830 brick structure (once covered with oyster shell stucco) with a ten-room central passage plan. It's an example of a Federal farm house, built by slave labor, and faces the Western Branch of the Lynnhaven River as the last witness to the rich past of the site's recorded history. The third courthouse, which was also the first brick courthouse in the county, was on this site; the stately Walke mansion, circa 1780, was destroyed by fire. The existing Ferry Plantation House was built, in part, of bricks salvaged from the ruins.

Battle of Bethesda Church - Walkerton
The Peninsula Artillery and the Walker Family invite you to come join us for Eighth Annual Battle of Bethesda Church, Walkerton, Virginia, on land that has been in the Walker Family since 1665. $100 powder bounty for the first Confederate gun and first Union gun registered. October - check website for details!

George Washington Birthplace National Monument - Washington's Birthplace
"First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen." - George Washington, America’s first and greatest hero, was crucial to the establishment of the United States as a nation founded on the principles of liberty. George Washington Birthplace preserves the heart of the Washington lands and a memorial plantation. Here, in the peace and beauty of this place untouched by time, the staunch character of our hero comes to the imagination.

Historic Christ Church - Weems
Finished in 1735, Christ Church stands as the best preserved and most finely crafted of colonial Virginia's Anglican parish churches. From the details of its exquisite brickwork to the captivating simplicity of its interior, come discover the unique history that is Historic Christ Church.

York River State Park - Williamsburg
York River State Park offers visitors an opportunity to experience the environment of a coastal estuary. This park is known for its rare and delicate environment, where freshwater and saltwater meet to create a habitat rich in marine and plant life. The main focus of the park is to preserve a portion of York River frontage and its related marshes while providing an area for passive day-use recreation for visitors. York River State Park served as a role model for all of Virginia’s state parks in developing resource management plans. The park’s natural resources make it a significant place for environmental education at all levels.

Williamsburg Special Events for Homeschoolers - Williamsburg
During the year, Colonial Williamsburg designates several weeks as Homeschooler Experiences. In addition to the variety of activities and programming throughout the Historic Area, special programs are scheduled for homeschool participants including a variety of hands-on opportunities. Special rates are available during this period for homeschoolers. Groups or individuals are welcome. Sample itineraries are available, and electronic field trips are available on the website.

Presidential Pet Museum - Williamsburg
The Museum highlights past and current White House Pets. See a portrait of Lucky (President and Mrs. Reagan's Bouvier des Flandres) made from her own hair, and photos and exhibits of famous pets from George Washington's Horse, Nelson, the Clinton's famous Buddy and Socks to the current White House Pets, Miss Beazley, a new addition to the family, Barney, a Scottish Terrier, and Spot, a Springer Spaniel (recently deceased), daughter of Millie Bush.

Great Wolf Lodge - Williamsburg
Great Wolf Lodge is North America's Largest Family of Indoor Waterpark resorts, and the ultimate destination for your next family getaway. Designed to capture the atmosphere of the Northwoods, our waterparks offer an amazing guest experience in a one-of-a-kind, rustically elegant setting. The perfect place for families to re-connect, and create lifelong memories. With one of our fully-themed resort suites as your family's base camp, you can set out on your Great Wolf adventure. You'll likely first discover our gigantic indoor waterpark, where it's always 84 degrees. And that's just the beginning. Besides our waterparks, don't miss our themed restaurants, interactive arcades, full service spas (and even a version for kids!), fitness centers, and so much more. And with more than 10 locations coast to coast, Great Wolf Lodge is the perfect, weatherproof, year-round destination for your busy family. So whether your family splashes the day away in the waterpark, enjoys a delicious family meal in our restaurant, or enjoys our nightly Storytime together before calling it a night, we think you'll agree, there's no time, like a Great Wolf time.

Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum - Williamsburg
Colonial and contemporary artists and craftspeople work outside the mainstream of academic art to record aspects of everyday life, making novel and effective use of the materials at hand. The Folk Art Museum offers changing exhibitions of American folk art from its permanent holdings and museum loan shows.

Bassett Hall - Williamsburg
Bassett Hall, a two-story, 18th-century frame house located on 585 acres of gardens and rolling woodlands, is a part of the story of the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg. It was in this house that John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his wife Abby Aldrich Rockefeller made their home during the early restoration of the Historic Area, a restoration they themselves financed.

DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum - Williamsburg
Opened in 1985, this museum is home to an extensive collection of American and British antiques. See furniture, metals, ceramics, glass, paintings, prints, firearms, and textiles from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Attend lectures and musical performances in the Hennage Auditorium.

Gathering of Civil War Eagles - Winchester
The Gathering of Civil War Eagles is a one-of-a-kind journey back to one of the watershed events in American history – The War Between the States. Gathering of Civil War Eagles is not an academic seminar or a battlefield reenactment. Guests of Gathering of Civil War Eagles will be able to meet and talk with the very personas that made the critical decisions and led the opposing armies. You will hear the Generals discuss and debate battles and tactics, and politicians such as Lincoln and Davis debate secession and the sectional differences that led to War. There will also be award-winning authors to discuss and sign their books, period musical performances throughout the weekend, and chances to sip tea and see ladies’ fashions from the Civil War era. Check website for event held in June.

Capture of Gladeville - Wise
Capture of Gladeville and the Battle of Cranesnest will be reenacted. Parade, battle, camp tours ... the works. Come join us. Check website for event held in July.

Leesylvania State Park - Woodbridge
Leesylvania opened in 1992. In 1978, noted philanthropist Daniel Ludwig donated the land to the state for a park. A national historical society, the Society of Lees of Virginia, was instrumental in securing the donation. Locally the area is known as Freestone Point, referring to the sandstone early settlers took from the property for building. Henry Lee III (Light Horse Harry) was born here at what was then Leesylvania Plantation in Colonial America. This Revolutionary War hero would later father the Confederate General Robert E. Lee of Civil War fame.

Edith Bolling Home - Wytheville
The Bolling Home is the birthplace of one of the most influential, controversial, and politically significant women of the twentieth century, First Lady Edith Bolling Wilson. She was the second wife of the 28th President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson. Edith Bolling Wilson has been referred to as "The Secret President" and "The First Woman President" because she was seen as assuming many governmental duties after President Wilson suffered a stroke in 1919.

Cape Henry Memorial - Yorktown
HERE AT CAPE HENRY FIRST LANDED IN AMERICA, UPON 26 APRIL 1607, THOSE ENGLISH COLONISTS WHO, UPON 13 MAY 1607, ESTABLISHED AT JAMESTOWN VIRGINIA, THE FIRST PERMANENT ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN AMERICA. Upon this inscription rest the granite cross erected by the National Society Daughters of the American Colonists on April 26, 1935, memorializing the wooden cross erected near this spot by the English colonist in 1607.

Colonial National Historical Park - Yorktown
The Beginning and End of English Colonial America - It began on the swampy marshes of Jamestown in 1607. It ended on the battle scarred landscape of Yorktown in 1781. It was one hundred and seventy-four years of hope, frustration, adventure, discovery, growth, and development that saw a lonely settlement of 104 men and boys grow into a nation of 13 colonies of 3 million people, of many races and many beliefs. Jamestown and Yorktown mark the beginning and end of English Colonial America.

Yorktown Battlefield - Yorktown
On October 19, 1781, a British army under General Charles Lord Cornwallis was forced to surrender to General Washington’s combined American and French army. Upon hearing of their defeat, British Prime Minister Frederick Lord North is reputed to have said, "Oh God, it's all over." And it was. The victory secured independence for the United States and significantly changed the course of world history.