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.
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.