Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Fredericksburg, Virginia
Tel:
(540) 373-4510
The Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park serves as the burial ground, battlefields, and memorial for those who served our country in some of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. In the Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania, more than 85,000 people were wounded and 15,000 killed from the end of 1862 through May of 1864.
In addition to visiting the battlegrounds of these important Civil War battles, the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, which was established in 1927, preserves four historic buildings: The Chatham Manor in Stafford County, which is open every day to the public, the Salem Church, Ellwood, and the house where Stonewall Jackson died.
Visitors to the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park generally also visit the 12 acre Fredericksburg National Cemetery which adjoins the military park. Here guests can deepen their appreciation for fallen soldiers in a dramatic setting that highlights the magnitude of the lives lost.
The Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park encompasses 70 miles of which guests can pick and choose where to spend their time. Most of the sites are located on either side of I-95 in the Fredericksburg area. All visits, however, should include a stop at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center, located at the intersection of Lafayette Boulevard and Sunken Road in Fredericksburg, near the Fredericksburg battlefield. Here you'll visit a museum and view a 22 minute film explaining the importance and effects that the Battle of Fredericksburg had on the Civil War and on U.S. history. Other places of interests you'll want to visit include the Chancellorsville Visitor Center (also complete with exhibits and film), the Jackson Shrine (15 miles south of Fredericksburg), and the Wilderness Battlefield Exhibit Shelter (17 miles west of Fredericksburg).
In addition to the Military Park being a place of sobriety and historic importance, it is also a beautiful area that merits a visit all on it's own, so hop in the car and begin your journey through over 150 years of military history!