Detailed information: https://outpostrichmond.com/blogs/news/exploring-the-appomattox-river-trail/

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It’s a great place to enjoy nature along the river. Open dawn to dusk.

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The Park’s facilities and programs appeal to casual visitors, serious students of Civil War-era history, and families alike. Pamplin Historical Park has received accolades from a wide range of national and regional media and has been rated by AAA Automotive Club as a Gem attraction. The Park is recognized as a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Museums

Visit the Park’s four award-winning museums and: explore the everyday world of Civil War soldiers; discover why for millions of Americans, the Southern way of life in the 1860s was ”A Land Worth Fighting For;” learn why slavery became such a divisive issue in 1850s America; understand why one of the Civil War’s most important battles took place on a seemingly remote Virginia farm.

Historic Homes

Explore the lives of free and enslaved antebellum Southerners in the context of original historic homes and recreated 19th-century environments. For generations, these buildings housed the hopes and dreams of Southern families. When the war came, they served as headquarters for the military leaders on which their future depended.

Battlefields

The campaign for Petersburg lasted 292 days in 1864 and 1865. The battle that determined the outcome of the campaign occurred on April 2, 1865 and involved an attack of more than 14,000 Union troops on a section of Confederate fortifications on the Banks, Hart, and Boisseau farms. Known as ”The Breakthrough” and declared a National Historic Landmark in 2006, this Union victory forced General Robert E. Lee to evacuate both Richmond and Petersburg. One week later, Lee surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Court House, signaling the virtual end of the Civil War.

and More!

Those who wish to book groups of 10 or more, educational programs or inquire and book facility rentals can call (804) 861-2408 or email generalmailbox@pamplinpark.org. More information is also available for groups on the park’s website at www.pamplinpark.org.

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2023 SCHEDULE

May 25

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Holly Springs Salamanders
7:00 PM

May 27

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Wilmington Sharks
7:00 PM

Jun 2

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Wilson Tobs
7:00 PM

Jun 3

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Greenbrier Knights
7:00 PM

Jun 4

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Peninsula Pilots
5:45 PM

Jun 9

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Peninsula Pilots
7:00 PM

Jun 10

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Greenbrier Knights
7:00 PM

Jun 13

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Native American National Team
10:00 AM

Jun 15

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Morehead City Marlins
7:00 PM

Jun 16

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Peninsula Pilots
7:00 PM

Jun 18

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Wilson Tobs
5:45 PM

Jun 22

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS High Point-Thomasville HiToms
7:00 PM

Jun 24

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Morehead City Marlins
7:00 PM

Jun 29

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Peninsula Pilots
7:00 PM

Jul 1

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Martinsville Mustangs
7:00 PM

Jul 2

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Native American National Team
5:45 PM

Jul 3

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Olney Cropdusters
7:00 PM

Jul 7

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Peninsula Pilots
7:00 PM

Jul 9

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Wilson Tobs
5:45 PM

Jul 11

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Martinsville Mustangs
7:00 PM

Jul 13

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Peninsula Pilots
7:00 PM

Jul 15

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Morehead City Marlins
7:00 PM

Jul 16

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Wilson Tobs
5:45 PM

Jul 21

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Peninsula Pilots
7:00 PM

Jul 22

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Virginia Beach Sea Dogs
7:00 PM

Jul 26

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Peninsula Pilots
7:00 PM

Jul 28

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Martinsville Mustangs
7:00 PM

Jul 30

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Martinsville Mustangs
5:45 PM

Aug 1

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Peninsula Pilots
7:00 PM

Aug 5

Tri-City Chili Peppers VS Holly Springs Salamanders
7:00 PM

Tickets at: https://chilipeppersbaseball.com/tickets/

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The cemetery was originally deeded by William H. and Edith Williams. With one acre in 1840, the cemetery reached a total of 8.2 acres by 1880. It was Petersburg’s first black-owned cemetery and became the largest black cemetery in the city. The graves at People’s Memorial Cemetery include slaves, a 19th-century member of the Virginia House of Delegates, veterans of the Civil War and other wars through World War II.

The cemetery is listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.

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Weston Manor is the very essence of the eighteenth-century Tidewater mansion. Built in 1789 by William and Christian Eppes Gilliam, it is notable for retaining much of its original interior. The distinctive moldings, wainscotings and chair rails are mostly original and the spiral stairway features concave paneling. The tour includes all three floors, grounds and gardens.

Visitors learn about the generations of families who resided at Weston, the Civil War adventures of young Emma and George Wood based on her own journal. She recounts the time when the yard of the house was caught in a crossfire between Union gunboats and Confederate cavalrymen. When Emma’s sister was stricken with a debilitating illness, she recalls, President Lincoln’s own physician Dr. Joseph K. Barnes personally saw to her care. Today, the lives of the children are interpreted during Weston’s annual “Emma and George Days”, a two-day event during which visitors can learn about how children lived during the conflict that tore our nation apart. Through activities, exploration, crafts, and games, students gain an appreciation for history and life in a time long past.

Did You Know
Even though the Civil War is long over, soldiers still wander the halls of Weston Plantation! The home is famously haunted by the specters of fallen soldiers.

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The quarter-mile drag strip offers a variety of racing events featuring dragsters, funny cars, jet cars, street rods, motorcycles, and monster trucks. It seats 23,000 spectators and has 60 acres of pit space.

The Mud Bog is home to some of the dirtiest action in racing. Its two tracks feature over 200 feet of mud-slinging challenges. Events sanctioned by the National Mud Bog Association include the Spring Fling Mud Sling, Dinwiddie Mud Bash, and Mud Mania.

The new Family All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Park offers over 250 acres of riding space, a pavilion, a picnic area, a snack bar, and showers. There are three trails for all skill levels.

VMP hosts events nearly every weekend from March through November. Check out upcoming events: https://racevmp.com/events/list/.

For the third consecutive season, the stars and cars of Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings return to Virginia Motorsports Park on Friday and Saturday, June 9-10, 2023. VIP No Limit/Super Fan, Super Seating, and Suite ticket upgrades are available along with general admission tickets to the event. RV Campground spots are for sale now as well.

https://tickets.thefoat.com/StreetOutlaws/event-241292/clear_cart-1

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The 2,700 acre park contains a 16-stop driving tour which takes visitors through all four units of the Battlefield: Grant’s Headquarters at City Point (present day Hopewell); the Eastern Front, where the initial assaults and the battles of the Crater and Fort Stedman occurred; the Western Front, where intense fighting continued as Grant’s Army encircled the city while struggling to destroy the last of Lee’s supply lines; and the Five Forks Battlefield, a battle in which the outcome would eventually lead to the Confederates’ retreat to Appomattox and Lee’s surrender.

General Grant’s Headquarters at City Point
While laying siege to Petersburg, Grant established his headquarters at City Point, a small port town at the confluence of the James and Appomattox rivers. Overnight, the town and adjacent Appomattox Plantation became one of the busiest ports in the world as hundreds of ships delivered food, clothing and ammunition. Huge warehouses built along the waterway stored food for 100,000 men and forage for 65,000 horses and mules. Seven hospitals covering an area of 200 acres could treat up to 10,000 patients.

While running the war from City Point, General Grant received many notable political and military visitors, including President Abraham Lincoln (visit walkinlincolnsfinalfootsteps) and General William T. Sherman. The most welcome visitors were his wife and son, who stayed with him in his cabin for the last three months of the siege.

Eastern Front Visitor Center and Driving Tour
The Eastern Front Visitor Center features exhibits and audio-visual programs that introduce the story of the siege and its impact on the course of the Civil War. A driving tour of the battlefields includes 13 separate sites with three contact stations along a 37-mile route. http://www.nps.gov/pete/planyourvisit/upload/PETEmap1.pdf  Park staff will answer questions and provide information to help you make the best use of your time.

Battle of the Crater
A highlight of the Eastern Front driving tour is the scene of one of the war’s most spectacular events, the Battle of the Crater.

In an effort to punch a hole in the Confederate’s defensive fortifications and capture Petersburg, a Union regiment from a coal mining region of Pennsylvania dug a tunnel 510 feet long under a part of Lee’s line call Elliott’s Salient. On July 30, 1864 they lit the fuse and four tons of gun powder roared to life, instantly killing and wounding 278 Confederate soldiers and creating a crater 25 feet deep and 180 feet long. A Union infantry attack soon followed, but it immediately ran into trouble. Instead of skirting the hole, many of the unprepared and ill-led troops pulled up short and ran right into the still smoldering crater. A Confederate counter-attack forced more Federals into the “horrid pit” where they were shot, bayoneted and blown to bits by mortars. The Confederate lines held and the Union’s opportunity to shorten the siege was lost. General Grant said of the catastrophe at the Crater, “It was the saddest affair I have ever witnessed in the war.”’

A loop walking trail leads from the parking lot to the tunnel entrance then follows the Union mine shaft to Elliott’s Salient where the explosion and battle occurred.

Western Front Driving Tour
This driving tour explores where the fighting took place for the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad and the Union Army’s attempts to sever the South Side rail line. Poplar Grove National Cemetery, the final resting place of over 6,000 Federal soldiers who fell in battles from Petersburg to Lynchburg, is a highlight of the tour.

Five Forks Battlefield
By the spring of 1865, the last remaining supply line into Petersburg was the South Side Railroad. On March 29, 1865, Grant sent his forces on a westward movement to cut this major artery, knowing that it would cause Lee to abandon Petersburg and Richmond. Countering this move, Lee sent 10,000 troops under Major General George E. Pickett to an important road junction called Five Forks, which protected the railroad. On April 1, 22,000 Union troops under Major General Philip H. Sheridan attacked and defeated Pickett’s force at Five Forks. The fall of Richmond was assured. The next day Grant assaulted Petersburg, which along with Richmond was evacuated that night. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House just seven days later.

A short driving tour is available to explore the battlefield in more detail.

Did You Know?
The Union army was able to produce 100,000 rations of bread a day in bakeries it had built at City Point.

Equestrian
The National Park Service’s Petersburg National Battlefield offer miles of multi-use public trails available to horseback riders at the Eastern Front and at Five Forks Battlefield. Horse trailer parking is available.

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Overlooking Lake Chesdin in the heart of Virginia, our waterfront Tasting Room and event spaces offer the perfect blend of grandeur & comfort for any occasion. Escape into the countryside for a glass of estate-grown wine, fine cuisine to share with friends, private events, or a sunset over the lake and enjoy the drive through our 170-acre farm & vineyard on your way down to see us.

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Group tours can be scheduled during May – October and watch the calendar for other special events. This is a Virginia farm that’s all about using Virginia products.

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The Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR) has developed a series of Blueways (navigable water) and Greenways (hiking trails) that reveal the beauty of the Appomattox River.

Various locations. Visit https://folar-va.org/ for access points.

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The farm is also available for children’s birthday parties. AND, this summer they will hold week-long day camps to give kids an opportunity to learn all about the animals, or to learn all about growing food, composting, and healthy food choices.

2021 FAMILY FARM TOURS (By appointment only):
April 17 – June 12​​ (Saturday/Sunday: 9:00am-5:00pm)
June 13 – August 28 (Wednesday-Sunday: 9:00am-5:00pm)
August 29 – November 21 (Saturday/Sunday: 9:00am-5:00pm)​

YOUTH SUMMER DAY CAMP INFO
Children Ages 5 – 12

ANIMAL EXPLORERS FARM CAMP
Your little animal lover will want to join us for summer camp. No two weeks are the same as barn life changes from week to week with new babies born throughout the entire summer. Animal Explorers will work in teams and learn about animal husbandry of rabbits, emus, chickens, mini horses, mini donkeys, and quail. Camp is a hands-on FUN experience where all campers assist with animal care and become the expert of their favorite farm animal. On the last day of camp, campers give their parents/guardians a tour of the farm teaching them everything they learned throughout the week. This is an amazing opportunity for campers to build their self-confidence as leaders.

​Typical Summer Camp Agenda:
8:00 Campers arrive/unpack/sunscreen
8:30 – 9:30 Animal lesson
9:30 – 11:30 Barn Chores and Animal Snuggles
11:30 – 12:00 *Lunch/sunscreen
12:00 – 1:00 Fishing/Canoeing/Archery/Craft
1:00 – 1:30 Water Challenge/Team Building
1:30 – 2:30 Barn chores
2:30 – 3:00 Prepare for pick-up
3:00 – 5:00 Extended Day Camp Hours Available
* Due to state and local requirements, all campers will bring their own lunch each day. Refrigeration is provided.

​Sessions:
Session 1: June 28 – July 2
Session 2: July 5 – 9
Session 3: July 12 – 16
Session 4: July 19 – 23
Session 5: July 26 – 30
Session 6: August 2 – 6
(Camp sessions $250 per week. 10% sibling discount, 10% military discount – 1 discount per family ***multiple week 10% discount-call 804-536-6879 for discount invoice)

SPECIAL UPCOMING EVENTS:
October 30: 9:00am-5:00pm – Halloween on the Farm
December 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19 Live Nativity: Walk Through Bethlehem (Time TBA) Partnership with Hopewell First Baptist Church

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While running the war from City Point, General Grant received many notable political and military visitors, including President Abraham Lincoln (visit www.walkinlincolnsfinalfootsteps) and General William T. Sherman. The most welcome visitors were his wife and son, who stayed with him in his cabin for the last three months of the siege.

The Appomattox Plantation house is staffed year-round and provides an audio-visual program, tours of the house and Grant’s cabin, and self-guided walks around the point.

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You will need to call the office for hunting or canoeing/kayaking permits. There are white-tailed deer hunting seasons for archery, muzzleloaders and shotguns by permit.

Guided canoe tours are offered in the spring and fall and the Great Backyard Bird Count is held in February.

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If you have any questions about the soldiers buried at Poplar Grove, please contact Petersburg National Battlefield at (804) 732-3531.

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