Petersburg National Battlefield

Address:1539 Hickory Hill Road
Petersburg, Virginia
Tel: (804) 732-3531

Encompassing some 2,646 acres, this park preserves the key sites of a siege that lasted from mid-June 1864 to early April 1865. Petersburg National Battlefield is a mandatory visit for residents and tourists with even a bit of interest in U.S. history, and is a great outdoor escape for locals too!

In many ways, the Union siege of Petersburg was the climactic battle of the American Civil War and today, more than 150,000 visitors tour Petersburg National Battlefield Park annually. The longest siege in the history of American warfare, Petersburg National Battlefield is loaded with information for the curious tourist. The battlefield includes four Confederate forts, complete with walking and driving trails for intense exploration. Visitors can start off with the 17-minute multimedia presentation at the visitor center which tells the story of the siege, and then check out the 4-mile battlefield driving tour that has stops displaying exhibits and some short walking trails along the way. Those wishing to see the park's forts and displays may use the trail instead of the main road, but keep in mind that if you choose to, you're also committing to a full, 10-mile hiking day. Perhaps most popular is the site of The Crater, a huge depression blown into the ground when a group of Pennsylvania infantry dug a passage beneath Confederate lines and exploded 4 tons of powder, creating the 170-foot by 60-foot crater. If you stop at the Taylor Home on your way over to The Crater you'll get a great view over The Crater, which the whole family will enjoy.

To get to the Petersburg National Battlefield from I-95 and 295, exit at Route 10 east (towards Hopewell). Make a left onto Main Street/Appomattox Street (after crossing the Appomattox River). Continue and turn left on Cedar Lane. A parking lot will be on the left hand side of the plantation house (also worth checking out!). From Williamsburg, take Route 5 north, make a left and cross the Benjamin Harrison Bridge (Route 156), and then turn right onto Route 10. Make a right onto Main Street, and then follow above directions to Cedar Lane.