Field Trips & On-Site Programs

The Office of Historic Preservation, a division of the Prince William County Department of Parks & Recreation offers educational experiences for students, youth groups, and scouts that reinforces Virginia's Standards of Learning (SOLs). We offer field trips to our historic sites, group activities, after school programs and more. In addition, we can offer materials and guides for your classroom and youth meetings to guide conversations and spark interest in our local history. We can work with you to create custom programs and experiences to meet your needs. Call us at our main office at 703-792-1731 to discuss your needs and goals. Click here to learn about more details (including pricing, hours and lessons) for the educational programs from the Office of Historic Preservation.

Hands On History Forms:

Hands On History Educational Brochure

Hands On History Registration Form

Hands on History Program Overview by Grade Level

FIELD TRIPS

What better place to learn about American history than by visiting a historic site in one of the oldest Counties in America. Bring your students to the places where history was made and where it is preserved. From a colonial house and historic courthouse and jail, to an immersive Civil War hospital, Prince William County's historic sites make learning about our nation's history engaging and memorable. There is a minimum of five participants required for on-site field trips.

Field Trip Destinations include:

Ben Lomond (Manassas), a home built in 1832, that served as a Civil War hospital with grounds that include several outbuildings including a rare original slave quarters. The slave quarters exhibit highlights the pre-Civil War history of the property focusing on the African American enslaved community.
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park (Bristow), the site of two major Civil War battles and large Civil War encampments.
Brentsville (Bristow), was the County seat from 1822-1893. Today the site includes the restored 1822 County Courthouse, County Jail, 1850s Farm House, 1874 Union Church and 1929 one-room schoolhouse. The engaging County Jail exhibit highlights the history of Brentsville and Prince William County.
Lucasville Schoolhouse (Manassas), an African-American one-room schoolhouse serving the community from 1885 through 1926.
Rippon Lodge (Woodbridge), built in 1747, it is one of the oldest surviving structures in Prince William County.

Fill out this form and send it to us to schedule your field trip today!

Interested in scheduling something unique? Call our main office at 703-792-1731 today to speak to an educator about designing a specially tailored program.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Let us help you create an after school history club to engage interested students OR provide the perfect setting for your existing clubs! Many of our sites are near county schools. We can provide special programs, events or research activities.

For older students, we also offer a Junior Preservationist program to study and volunteer at historic sites. You can click here to learn more.

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MORE OPPORTUNITIES

Students can discover history and participate in a variety of other offerings:

Family Fun Activities
Educational/Summer Camps
Virtual Learning Opportunities
Special events at our various historic properties throughout the year, view a complete list
Scouts Programs

You can explore our various historic sites and offerings online. For more information on historic resources in the Prince William County area click here.

Call us for more information on Educational Programs by reaching out to the historic sites directly or at our main office at 703-792-1731or email us at [email protected].

HISTORY EDUCATION KITS

he Prince William Office of Historic Preservation is offering “History Kits" for sale. Is your student home schooled or looking for fun history themed activities to do at home? If so, these are the kits for you. Each bag will have several activities, materials, and instructions on how to complete each activity. The bags are themed with the following topics: Civil War Life, Agriculture and Farming in Prince William County, Learning to write with a Quill Pen, and How to create your own Colonial Hornbook writing book. These kits are full of activities and games for all ages. Kits cost $25 and are available at our historic site giftshops.

TRAVEL TRUNKS

Can't come to us? We can visit your classroom with educational trunks filled with materials to help students understand and get excited about history. Our trunks focus on the history of the Civil War and STEAM with agriculture. Travel Trunks offer a hands on glimpse into a moment in history, complete with discussion guides and replicas of artifacts and clothing from that period. Trunks can be used by the teacher or we can provide a guide to step your class through the trunk.