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Historic Preservation Events
The Office of Historic Preservation hosts a variety of events to introduce the community to Prince William County's rich historic and cultural past. Events are held at several historic properties including:
These events allow visitors to explore and discover the families homes events and the everyday life of Prince William past. We hope you will join us for a step back in time!
Click here to register for one of the events listed below.
June
May-October: Tours on 2nd & 4th Weekends
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park Guided Tours
Tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.; FREE
Bristoe Station Battlefield staff and volunteers will provide guided tours of this hallowed ground that contains camps, cemeteries, and battlefields. Learn about Camp Jones and the battles fought in 1862 and 1863. Tours begin at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. and depart from the parking lot on Iron Brigade Unit Avenue. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Insect repellant is encouraged.
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park. The parking lot is located off Iron Brigade Unit Ave., Bristow, VA. 703-366-3049.
June 9
Museum Family Day at Brentsville Courthouse: Life in a 19th Century Town
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.; $5 per person, ages 4 and up. Get tickets here.
Explore Brentsville’s courthouse and jail with interactive, hands-on activities and learn about what it meant to be a good citizen in the 1800s. Activities will include a fire brigade (you may get wet!), a mock trail, and more. Mock Trial will begin at 10:15am. Adults must be able to participate with children. Get advanced tickets at https://pwcparks.info/hptickets.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA. 703-365-7895.
June 14
Tavern Night at Williams Ordinary
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.; free, ages 21+
Take a sip of history while learning about Williams Ordinary, a historic tavern in Dumfries. Enjoy a unique experience in this local landmark by listening to colonial music, interacting with reenactors, and playing 18th-century games. This Tavern Night serves as the opening for Resolves to Revolution, a new exhibition exploring the impact of the American Revolutionary War on Prince William County. Visitors will also have the opportunity to taste a historically-inspired brew from Water’s End paired with a themed menu from Dixie Bones BBQ. This is a free 21+ event; food and drink will be available to purchase on site. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the Prince William Historic Preservation Foundation.
Williams Ordinary, 17674 Main Street, Dumfries, VA. 703-792-1731.
June 19
Juneteenth at Lucasville
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.; FREE
Join us at Lucasville in honor of Juneteenth to learn about the celebration marking the emancipation of enslaved African Americans throughout the South. Visit the one-room schoolhouse to learn about the development of freedmen communities throughout Prince William County and the progression of education throughout Prince William County throughout Reconstruction and the Jim Crow Era.
Lucasville School, 10516 Godwin Dr., Manassas, VA. 703-365-7895.
June 20
Walking Tours of Historic Prince William Towns: Sudley Springs
6 p.m.; FREE
Explore the remnants of Sudley Springs, which at one time was a bustling hamlet, home to a church, a mill, and a mineral spring. This tour is co-hosted by the Sudley Springs United Methodist Church and Manassas National Battlefield Park.
Sudley Springs United Methodist Church, 5308 Sudley Road, Manassas, VA. 703-792-1731.
June 30 - July 3
Colonial Times at Rippon Lodge Summer Camp
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; $200 per child, ages 9-12.
This four-day camp will explore Virginia’s early colonial history and the Blackburn Family, the original owners of Rippon Lodge. Indoor and outdoor activities, crafts, foodways, field trips, and special guests included in this history camp. Children should bring their own snacks, lunch, and beverages. Space is limited. Advanced registration required at https://pwcparks.info/hpcamps.
Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Rd., Woodbridge, VA. 703-499-9812.
July
May-October: Tours on 2nd & 4th Weekends
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park Guided Tours
Tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.; FREE
Bristoe Station Battlefield staff and volunteers will provide guided tours of this hallowed ground that contains camps, cemeteries, and battlefields. Learn about Camp Jones and the battles fought in 1862 and 1863. Tours begin at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. and depart from the parking lot on Iron Brigade Unit Avenue. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Insect repellant is encouraged.
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park. The parking lot is located off Iron Brigade Unit Ave., Bristow, VA. 703-366-3049.
July 7-11
Civil War Summer Camp
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; $240 per child, ages 8-13.
Our Civil War Summer Camp takes a hands-on approach to studying the American Civil War. Campers will learn about the many parts of the life of a Civil War soldier, including drill, camping, cooking, uniforms and equipment, flags, artillery, cavalry, a field trip to local Civil War sites, and more. Registration and information available at www.pwcva.gov/summercamp.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA. 703-365-7895.
July 18
Walking Tours of Historic Prince William Towns: Haymarket
6 p.m.; FREE
Tour Haymarket, the second town in the county to be incorporated in 1882 with a rich history spanning as far back as the 18th century.
Haymarket Museum, 15025 Washington St, Haymarket, VA 20169. 703-792-1731.
July 19
Ben Lomond Hospital Lantern Tours
8 p.m. - 9 p.m.; $10 per person, advanced registration suggested, get tickets here.
Following the Battle of First Manassas, Ben Lomond was used as a hospital where surgeons treated the wounded throughout the night. Every inch of space in the house was used to care for hurt and dying soldiers. Tour the hospital in the dark and discover the aftermath of the Civil War’s first major battle through the words of those who experienced war’s horrors. Tours begin every 30 minutes at 8 p.m., 8:30 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. Get tickets at https://pwcparks.info/hptickets.
Ben Lomond Historic Site, 10321 Sudley Manor Dr, Manassas, VA. 703-367-7872.
July 21-25
PWC History Camp: Town & Country Camp
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; $240 per child, ages 8 -13.
Have you ever wondered what it was like to live out in the countryside during the days of oil lamps and wood stoves? Answer these questions and more at Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre’s Town and Country Camp! Explore a wide array of hands-on activities connected to Brentsville’s historic buildings including a farmhouse, school, courthouse, and jail, and have a series of adventures throughout the week that will introduce them to the ways people have lived in Prince William County from Native Americans to the present day. Registration and information available at www.pwcva.gov/summercamp.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA. 703-365-7895.
July 21
Museum Family Day: Rippon Lodge Game Day
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.; $5 per person. Advanced tickets available here.
Bring the family to explore history through fun, historic games, and activities at Rippon Lodge. Programs include outdoor and indoor experiences. Advanced tickets are not required, but can be purchased at https://pwcparks.info/hptickets.
Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192. 703-499-9812.
July 24
Prince William Lecture Series: "Atrocities at Bull Run" by Harry Smeltzer
7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.; FREE
On April 1, 1862, the Joint Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War issued its report based on little known testimony regarding what it officially referred to as "rebel Barbarities at Manassas." In summary, the Committee noted that "these disclosures establishing, as they incontestably do, the consistent inhumanity of the rebel leaders, will be read with sorrow and indignation by the people of the loyal States." Using firsthand accounts from both sides, historian Harry Smeltzer will discuss these and other incidents associated with the first battle which, at the time, were considered evidence of aberrant behavior. He will also look at why they were thought of as such, and how opinions in that regard changed over the course of the war. This lecture is a FREE program jointly sponsored by the Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation and Historic Prince William.
Pat White Center at Ben Lomond, 10501 Copeland Dr., Manassas VA. 703-792-1731.
August
May-October: Tours on 2nd & 4th Weekends
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park Guided Tours
Tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.; FREE
Bristoe Station Battlefield staff and volunteers will provide guided tours of this hallowed ground that contains camps, cemeteries, and battlefields. Learn about Camp Jones and the battles fought in 1862 and 1863. Tours begin at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. and depart from the parking lot on Iron Brigade Unit Avenue. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Insect repellant is encouraged.
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park. The parking lot is located off Iron Brigade Unit Ave., Bristow, VA. 703-366-3049.
August 4-8
Greatest Generation Summer Camp
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; $240 per child, ages 8-13.
The Greatest Generation Summer Camp introduces campers to the American experience during World War II through immersive activities and field trips. Campers will get to experience soldier life, including drill and mock battles, learn about the Homefront through activities and crafts, and take field trips to nearby museums to see real artifacts from World War II. Registration and information available at www.pwcva.gov/summercamp.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA. 703-365-7895.
August 11
Museum Family Day at Ben Lomond: Make Your Own Cornhusk Doll
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.; $5 per person, ages 4 and up. Get tickets here.
Bring your whole family to Ben Lomond Historic Site to learn about cornhusk dolls, a popular children’s toy in the 19th century. Then, make your own cornhusk doll to take home with you. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Get advanced tickets at https://pwcparks.info/hptickets.
Ben Lomond Historic Site, 10321 Sudley Manor Dr, Manassas, VA. 703-367-7872.
August 23
Rippon Lodge Bug and Bird Day
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.; $5 per person, kids under 6 free. Get tickets here.
This event is a photographer, bird watcher, and bug enthusiast delight! Join us as we explore the wonders of nature found at Rippon Lodge. Bring your binoculars and cameras to record the variety of insects and birds found every day at the historic site. Advanced tickets available at https://pwcparks.info/hptickets.
Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192, 703-499-9812.
August 23-24
Battle of Kettle Run Anniversary Tours
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.; FREE
Join Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park staff and volunteers to commemorate the 163rd anniversary of the Battle of Kettle Run. The August 27, 1862, battle, while small, was bloody and took a heavy toll on the soldiers who fought there. Visit the park for walking tours that will share the story of the first battle of the Civil War fought at Bristoe Station. Battlefield tours will be offered at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park. The parking lot is located off Iron Brigade Unit Ave., Bristow, VA. 703-366-3049.
August 26
Raided: A Real-Time Walking Tour of "Stonewall" Jackson's Raid at Bristoe Station
6 p.m.; FREE
Stand on the ground of Bristoe Station battlefield 163 years to the moment that "Stonewall" Jackson's forces raided Bristoe Station and changed the course of the Second Manassas Campaign. Walking is involved, please wear proper footwear.
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park. The parking lot is located off Iron Brigade Unit Ave., Bristow, VA. 703-366-3049.
September
September 25
Prince William Lecture Series: “Potomac Marble: History of the Search for the Ideal Stone” by Paul Kreingold
7 – 8:30 p.m.; FREE
The destruction of Washington in 1814 by the invading British challenged President James Monroe and architect Benjamin Latrobe with the task of rebuilding the destroyed edifices of the city's public buildings. As symbols of the aspirations of the Republic, they had to be more than functional, they had to be beautiful. The building material they discovered and used to beautify the new Capitol was Potomac marble, which exists in abundance on both sides of the Potomac River, from Leesburg in Loudoun County, Virginia to Montgomery and Frederick Counties in Maryland. Local historian Paul Kreingold details Latrobe and Monroe's search for the ideal stone and their fight to use it to rebuild the chambers of the House and Senate. This lecture is a FREE program jointly sponsored by the Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation and Historic Prince William.
Old Manassas Courthouse, 9248 Lee Ave, Manassas, VA. 703-792-1731.
November
November 20
Prince William Lecture Series: “Vigilante Justice in Prince William County” by Kate Bitely
7 – 8:30 p.m.; FREE
In the late 19th century, Prince William County witnessed a tragic and violent episode of vigilante justice. The story revolves around a group of tenant farmers accused of robbery and murder, crimes that unsettled the local community. With tensions running high and faith in the justice system wavering, a violent mob took matters into their own hands. The accused were forcibly seized, and ultimately killed at the hands of the vigilantes. Historian Kate Bitely will share this grim chapter in the county’s history, which highlights the social and economic struggles of tenant farmers, the fragile state of law enforcement at the time, and the dangers of mob mentality. This lecture is a FREE program jointly sponsored by the Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation and Historic Prince William.
Occoquan Town Hall, 314 Mill St, Occoquan, VA. 703-792-1731.