Ben Lomond Historic Site to Host Civil War Hospital Weekend

After the Battle of First Manassas on July 21, 1861, Ben Lomond House served as a Confederate field hospital where soldiers from Virginia, Georgia and Mississippi were treated for their battle wounds. 

On Saturday, July 22, 2023, the Ben Lomond Historic Site, located at 10321 Sudley Manor Drive in Manassas, will host its Civil War Hospital Weekend between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. with demonstrations, activities and talks about how the Civil War hospital operated for 35 days.  

“It’s going to be a set of hospital demos and demos related to the medical side of the Civil War,”  said Ben Lomond Historic Site Manager Kevin Pawlak. “Visitors are going to be able to participate and learn what a Civil War soldier had to do to prove that they were physically fit to join the army. We’ll have demonstrations that allow visitors to be able to be a clerk, which was important part of a hospital. Visitors will be able to build stretchers and then try the stretchers as if they were carrying wounded.”

Visitors to the free event will also be able to take part in a demonstration on how to bandage wounds and try their hands at Civil War handwriting.    

“There’s going to be a wide variety of medical activities. It’s not just going to be stuff that we’re demonstrating, but things that people are going to be able to actively participate in,” Pawlak said.  

The Ben Lomond house is fitted with background audio of Civil War Hospital sounds to enhance the visitor experience. Historians from area living history organizations, dressed in period clothing, will be onsite to answer questions, as will county staff. 

In addition, two reenactors playing Civil War nurses will give a first-person talk called “The Healing” about the role nurses played in the war. The presentations at the kid-friendly event are scheduled for noon and 2 p.m.  

Pawlak said that anyone who wants to learn about the Ben Lomond House should come and join the Civil War buffs for the day. 

On Saturday evening, living history reenactors will give additional demonstrations from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the half hour. Admission to the demonstrations is $10 

Call 703-367-7872 for more information.