The New Market Battlefield park is a National Historic Landmark site that interprets the 1864 Battle of New Market with emphasis on the role of the Virginia Military Institute Cadets. The three-hundred acre New Market Battlefield commemorates the victory for the Confederate Army that would not have been possible without the help of the young VMI cadets. At New Market Battlefield, you can spend the day enjoying the Civil War battlefield as well as the museum, historic farm, walking trails, and scenic Shenandoah overlooks.

Upon arriving at this Civil War battlefield , take time to first explore the Hall of Valor inside the New Market Battlefield Museum. The museum presents exhibits on the entire Civil War but focuses more specifically on Virginia’s role and the 1864 New Market Battle. You’ll be enthralled by exhibits featuring authentic Civil War battlefield uniforms as well as by the commemorative sculpture, stained glass, and array of U.S. flags.

After completing this Civil War Battles museum, explore the historic farm that was caught in the middle of the New Market Battlefield skirmish. The original farm was built in 1825 and sheltered three generations of the same family. After the battle, the house served as a field hospital for an entire week, leaving permanent blood stains on the parlor floor. Just behind the house in the farm orchards was where the worst of this Civil War battlefield fighting was reported.

Virginia Map

After touring the Farmhouse, the actual New Market Battlefield will be your next stop. You’ll be equipped with a map and a historical outline of the Civil War battlefield upon arrival and you may use this to make your way across the grounds. Don’t be surprised if you feel the eerie pull of centuries old ghosts as you walk the grounds, some report shivers running up and down their spines as they walk the hallowed grounds.

Virginia attractions offer a number of tour options for those interested in a visit to the New Market Battlefield. Tours are 2 - 5 hours long and require reservations to be made ahead of time. For visitors who plan ahead, you can also experience a New Market Battlefield reenactment on the Civil War Battles grounds during the summer months. Tickets are $10 per day, but group discount rates are available. Call ahead for details.

Other parks in Virginia that might interest you if you like the New Market Battlefield include the Chippokes Plantation State Park, one of the oldest working farms in the United States. Chippokes is a living historical exhibit located in a rural agricultural area along the James River in Surry County. Other parks of interest in Virginia are Shenandoah River State Park, and The Robert E. Lee Memorial park in Arlington, VA. All of these parks are administered by the state of Virginia and offer scenic surroundings and educational opportunities.