Civil War Events Guide: Fairfax

Mount Vernon in the Civil War Walking Tour

April 2-Oct 30 Saturdays and Sundays, times vary. Explore the Mount Vernon grounds and discover how the groundskeepers protected the mansion during the Civil War. The tour will also cover the changing role of the slaves and how it affected Mount Vernon. / George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon; 703-780-2000; www.mountvernon.org; $5 in addition to estate admission.

Colvin Run Mill Call to Arms

April 20 @ 9am-1pm. Boys will learn and practice basic drills and orders from the Civil War. Bring lunch and snacks. For boys ages 8-12. Online payment required. / Colvin Run Mill, 10017 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls; 703-759-2771; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/crm; $30/Fairfax County residents, $32/out-of-county residents.

Mosby in Fairfax County by Don Hakenson

April 12 @ 7pm. Award-winning author and Civil War Historian Don Hakenson discusses exploits of Confederate Colonel John S. Mosby and his rangers about their use of guerilla warfare. / Sully Historic Site, 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly; 703-708-0861; $5.

Civil War Trails Annual Meeting

April 13 @ 11:30am-2pm. Enjoy a catered lunch and learn about the various Civil War trails in the Northern Virginia area and the updates that have been made. This is the annual meeting of the Civil War Trails Association. Reservations are required. / Historic Blenheim and the Civil War Interpretive Center, 3610 Old lee Highway, Fairfax; 703-591-0560; www.fairfaxva.gov/museumvc/civilwarinterpretivecenter.asp; $10.

Fort Sumter, April 1861, The War Begins Lecture

April 14 @ 7pm. Speaker E.B. Vandiver III will discuss how the Civil War began at Fort Sumter in April 1861. / Centreville Regional Library, 14200 St. Germain Drive, Centreville; 703-830-2223; free.

Fort Marcy, Part of the Ring of Washington Defenses

April 14 @ 7:30pm. Come and learn about one of the few forts that did not see much action, but was one of Washington D.C.’s defenses against the Confederates. Discover what life was like for this fort during the Civil War days. Reservations required. / McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean; 703-442-9370; www.mcleancenter.org; free.

St. Elizabeth’s Hospital During the Civil War

April 16 @ 9:30 am-11:30am. Learn how a small hospital played a huge role during and after the Civil War. This mental hospital during soldiers for their injuries and became one of the first hospitals to develop and fit prostheses for the wounded. After the war, the hospital treated many soldiers for mental illnesses due to wartime experiences. / Frying Pan Farm Park Visitor Center, 2709 West Ox Rd., Herndon; 703-437-9101; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/fpp; free.

Hunter Mill Road Corridor Historical Tours

April 16 @ 8am-1pm. This bus tour travels through Vienna, Oakton and Hunter Mill Road and takes passengers on forgotten Civil War Roads and shares stories of the civilians that lived through the troubling times. / Freeman House and Museum, 131 Church St. NE, Vienna; 703-620-2956; historicviennainc.org; $28.

Virginia’s Secession from the Union Lecture

April 16 @ 2pm-3:30pm. Michael Shumaker will discuss the issues that led to Virginia secession from the Union and joining the Confederate. He will emphasize on the vote at the Fairfax Court House. / Historic Blenheim and the Civil War Interpretive Center, 3610 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax; 703-591-0560; www.fairfaxva.gov/museumvc/civilwarinterpretivecenter.asp; free.

Civil War Both Sides Tour VI

April 23 @ 8am. Come and follow in the footsteps of Union and Confederate soldiers as they converge on the fields in Manassas. The tour will begin at the Franconia Museum with coffee and donuts with a trip to the local Union Fort and then down the Shenandoah Valley to meet Jackson and his army as they march to the battlefield. The tour will take passengers to Manassas Battlefield Visitors Center to view artifacts from the Civil War. / Franconia Museum, 6121 Franconia Road, Franconia; 703-971-4984; $100.

Danger Between the Lines

May 3 @ 7pm. This event will entail a presentation featuring a DVD, artifacts and a question and answer. / Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Ave., E, Vienna; 703-938-0405; free.

City of Fairfax Civil War Day

May 7 @ 10am-5pm. This event will feature Civil War re-enactors, music and more. / Blenheim and the Civil War Interpretive Center, 3610 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax; 703-591-0560; www.fairfaxva.gov/museumvc/civilwarinterpretivecenter.asp; $5/ adults, $3/children 12 and younger.

Civil War Lecture General JEB Stuart

May 10 @ 7pm-9pm. Melissa Delcour, an expert on General Jeb Stuart, discusses Stuart’s cavalry that camped at Sully after the Burke Station raid of December 1862. Delcour is a former battle historian for the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Park Services. She has also written several articles on the Civil War. /3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly; 706-437-1794; $5.

First Battle of Bull Run Lecture

May 12 @ 7pm. Speaker Ed Bearss will discuss the First Battle of Bull Run which took place on July 21, 1861. / Centreville Regional Library, 14200 St. Germain Drive, Centreville; 703-830-2223; free.

Franconia in the Civil War

May 14-15 @ 10am. Explore how difficult life was like with Union camps surrounding the town and Confederate raids. / Robert E. Lee Recreation Center, 6601 Telegraph Road, Franconia; 703-971-4984; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/rec/leerec.htm; $5.

Johnny Reb and Billy Yank

May 16 @ 3pm. Hear true stories from both the North and the South. Some of the stories may actually surprise you. / Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Ave., Vienna; 703-938-0405; free.

Town Hall

May 17 @ 7:30pm. Michael Shumaker will discuss the issues that led to Virginia secession from the Union and joining the Confederate. / 127 Center St. S, Vienna; 703-938-5187; free.

The Secession Vote

May 21 @ 12pm, 2pm and 4pm. Relive the moment when the vote was tallied and Virginia Seceded from the Union. Re-enactors will be recreating the moment and encourage spectators to also vote. / Freeman House Store and Museum, 131 Church St. NE, Vienna; 703-938-5187; historicviennainc.org; free.

Falls Church Civil War Day

May 21 @ 10am-3pm. Re-enactors will depict soldier and civilian live during the Civil War in Falls Church. / Cherry Hill Park, 312 Park Ave., Falls Church, 703-248-5171; free.

Town of Vienna Civil War Exhibit

June 1, 2011-May 31, 2012, recurring weekly on Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Educational exhibit of the Civil War will be on display for a year. / Freeman House Store and Museum, 131 Church St. NE, Vienna; 703-938-5187; historicviennainc.org; free.

Fairfax Court House Skirmish Commemoration and Lecture

June 1 @ 6pm. Learn how this skirmish in the Civil War resulted in the first death of the first Confederate Officer John Quincy Marr. The evening with have activities and a lecture. Seating is limited. / Fairfax Court House, 4000 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax; 703-385-8414; free.

Skirmish at Fairfax Court House

June 4 @ 12 pm-4pm. Re-enactors will recreate the skirmish at the Fairfax Court House. Meet and talk to the re-enactors about the battle after the battle. / Fairfax Court House, 4000 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax; 703-591-0560; free.

The Battle of Big Bethel Lecture

June 9 @ 7pm. Lecturer Rick Britton will talk about the Battle of Big Bethel./ Centreville Regional Library, 14200 St. Germain Drive, Centreville; 703-830-2223; free.

Civil War Encampment and Re-enactment of the 1861 Battle of Vienna

June 17-18, times vary. This event will include music and storytelling from the 19th century, demonstrations and the reenactment of the Battle of Vienna. / Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. SE, Vienna; 703-255-6356; www.viennava.gov/Town_Departments/comctr.htm; free.

Annual Spring Mosby’s Confederacy Bus Tour

June 18 @ 8:30am-5pm. The bus tour will leave from Truro Rectory and will stop at various battle sites in Loudoun, Prince William and Fauquier Counties. Speakers include Don Hakenson, Gregg Dudding, Eric Buckland and Tom Evans. / Truro Rectory, 10520 Main St., Fairfax; 703-971-4984; $65/Stuart-Mosby members, $75/non-members.

Civil War Document Scanning

June 24-25 @ 10am. For those who have documents dating back to the Civil War, the Civil War 150 Legacy Project would like to scan them for research purposes. Call to make an appointment. / City of Fairfax Regional Library, 10360 North St., Fairfax; 703-293-6227; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/fx/; free.

Johnny Reb and Billy Yank

July 25 @ 10:30 am. Storyteller Gary Lloyd will share true stories from both the Union and the Confederate. / Lorton Library, 3520 Richmond Highway, Lorton; 703-339-7385; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/lo/; free.

Johnny Reb and Billy Yank

July 25 @ 2:30pm, July 25 @ 10:30 am. Storyteller Gary Lloyd will share true stories from both the Union and the Confederate. / Woodrow Wilson Library, 6101 Knollwood Drive, Falls Church; 703-820-8774; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/ww; free.

Sully Civil War Weekend

Aug. 13-14, times vary. Events include reenactments of various battles, live music and a fashion show. Visitors can tour artifacts from the Civil War and walk through the camp site to see how soldiers lived while at battle. / Sully Historic Site, 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly; 703-708-0861; $8/adults, $6/seniors and children.

Great Falls National Park Civil War Day

Sept 4 @ 10am-4pm. Events will include guided hikes for various Civil War sites in Great Falls and demonstrations and lectures from historians./ Great Falls National Park, 9200 Old Dominion Drive, McLean; 703-285-2965; free.

Civil War of Washington

Sept 24, times vary. View another fort that was part of Washington D.C.’s Defenses. Learn how Union troops constructed the fort and what life was like during the Civil War defending the Nation’s Capital. / Fort Marcy, Northbound Exit George Washington Memorial Parkway, McLean; 703-289-2500; www.nps.gov/gwmp/fort-marcy.htm; free.

Johnny Reb and Billy Yank

Oct 22 @ 10:30am. Storyteller Gary Lloyd will share true stories from both the Union and the Confederate. / City of Fairfax Regional Library, 10360 North St., Fairfax; 703-293-6227; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/fx/; free.

Johnny Reb and Billy Yank

Oct 22 @ 2:30pm. Storyteller Gary Lloyd will share true stories from both the Union and the Confederate. / Dolley Madison Library, 1244 Oak Ridge Ave., McLean; 703-356-0770; www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/dm; free.

McLean Civil War 150th Commemorative Event

Oct 22 @ 11am-5pm. This is an all day event with re-enactors, speakers, displays and music from the Civil War. / McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean; 703-356-8223; www.mcleancenter.org; free.

Lincoln’s Grand Review of the Army of the Potomac

Nov 12 @ 9am-12pm. The original Lincoln review consisted of 70,000 soldiers broken into seven divisions. Today, the review will have 5,000 soldiers divided into five divisions representing army, navy, air force, marines and coast guard. The parade will include marching bands and activity from the military. / Bailey’s Crossroads, 5200 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church; 703-820-1904; free.

7th Annual Fairfax County History Conference

Nov 12 @8:30am. This all day event will include speakers Steve Potter, Gar Schlin, Susan Hellman and David Blake. / Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center, 3740 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax; 703-293-6227; www.fairfaxva.gov/commcenter/commcenter.asp; $25.

Events are subject to change. Please visit Fairfax’s website at: www.fxva.com/150

 

← Back to Civil War Events Guide