each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Newton, a lifelong Stafford resident, founded the White Oak Civil War Museum in 1998. However some of the younger visitors, Newton said, find items from a more recent history very interesting. The first English settled here in the 1650s, not the 1640s. He and his family started checking the lands wher they lived. Americans. The site of an earlier courthouse, the current (1920s) building stands near the land route passage of Washingtons and Rochambeaus Revolutionary War column transiting to and from Yorktown. Newton, along with fellow relic hunter Glen Trimmer, worked to help preserve areas of the county that were being lost to development. Posted on February 12, 2021. There he spent his formative years and his mother resided. Still, many relics from the camp are on display. Landmarks and Outdoors, Park . The museum also houses a bookstore. It is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily from March through December. million years ago. The landing served as a key transportation point during the Colonial-, Federal- and Antebellum-periods. I asked 'who do I pay'? Newton, curator of the White Oak Civil War Museum, dies. Bothsitesare on theTrail to Freedom, opens a new window. The Stafford Civil War Park contains an Army of the Potomac winter camp; three large artillery batteries; segments of two corduroy roads; and a late 1700's sand stone quarry. The park is located south of Stafford, VA to the east of I-95 possibly exit 136. 703-857-0519. Stafford, Virginia 22555 What restaurants are near White Oak Civil War Museum? You have permission to edit this article. (The old school house it is house in is a neat architectural find too!). Jett called Newton one of the most honorable, humble men youd ever want to meet, and said Newton was known and respected far beyond the White Oak community in southern Stafford. Some children were even killed in battle, which shows families the immensity of what was happening in their backyard in the 1860s. The term Ferry Farm related to the operative ferry which connected it to Fredericksburg. Miles of fences, thousands of acres, and many farm houses or outbuildings were used to construct camps or feed thousands of Union campfires, that burned 24 hours a day. Love the cannon and the huts. Newton, a lifelong Stafford resident, founded the White Oak Civil War Museum in 1998. Charles Bramble Massey spent the winter of 1862/63 camped at White Oak Church between the Battle of Fredericksburg in December and Salem Church(where there is a monument to the 23rd) in May. No matter the size of the tents, six men usually would be living in one tent. A walk through the camp at the museum gives a glimpse of soldiers lives in the early 1860s, with the re-enactors in period uniforms cooking over a campfire with rifles by their side. The main house, gardens, outbuildings, workshop and gallery of his work are included in this estate overlooking the historic port town of Falmouth. After the war, a new rail line was built between Fredericksburg and Quantico which opened in May 1872. EXPLORE COLLECTION Reynolds Business History Center Explore business records from a wide variety of related commercial, economic, legal, labor, and industrial issues. I have lived less than an hour away for ten years and never knew it was there. Stafford Civil War Park. StaffordCountyMuseum@gmail.com email Newton heads out to crab on Potomac Creek as dawn peeks over the horizon. By the end of the war, around 1,000 Stafford men, or 41%, left their homes, leaving their families to fend for themselves. Emerging Civil War has chosen D.P. . Built between 1751 and 1757, Aquia is noted for its continuous history, three-tiered pulpit and Aquia Sandstone quoins and trim. A historic center as well, its communal silver was forced to be buried during three wars (Revolutionary, 1812 and Civil). Admission for adults, $4. The group of re-enactors emphasized that soldiers would wear those same clothes for four years. And actually refreshing to play tourist for a change! My ten year old boys are huge civil war fans. Camp Floyd / Stagecoach Inn State Park and Museum 18035 West 1540 North Fairfield, UT 84013 (801) 768-8932. Land was set aside for a church yard in Falmouths charter of 1728. Attached is a membership form to become a Friend of Stafford Museum and Cultural Center Foundation. Located on Aquia Creek, the quarries provided the sandstone for the White House and the original (now center section of the) U.S. Capitol, in addition to a large number of historic buildings and bridges throughout the Chesapeake region. Spectators at the event got to hold the guns and try on the clothes. Manassas is declining to invite its own re-enactors this year. Government Island Quarry contributed stone which helped create Its that metal structure on the east side of the highway you cant miss if your driving on 95. https://www.tourstaffordva.com/attraction/stafford-civil-war-park/. American Civil War Museum In partnership with the ACWM, the VMHC digitizes and provides access to the Confederate Memorial Literary Society Image Collection. The relic hunter who created the White Oak Civil War Museum in southern Stafford died Tuesday at Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore. Chance of rain 60%. Grounds are kept well mowed with enough parking at all stops. The town was quite prosperous from its creation in 1728 until the late 1840s or early 1850s. On February 24, 1863, Lee and his troops left Culpeper and crossed the Rappahannock River at Kellys Ford. Real-time social media posts from local businesses and organizations across Northern Virginia, powered by Friends2Follow. . A solid artillery fortification with the dug remains of the ammunition storage house and the remains of a soldier-built road. Re-enactors from the 30th Virginia Infantry Company B and 53rd Virginia Company H have been staging living history re-enactments from the Civil War for the past 30 years. Brown of the I X Corps of the U.S. Army of the Potomac (1863) found a headstone. What would you recommend for my second visit to the sites? Just keep driving! The picture shown here is of Lt. Hugh Adie, Jr. The project is spearheadded by the Friends of Stafford Civil War Sites (FSCWS) whose co-founder is D.P. UPDATED: Man stole designer sunglasses before fatal police shooting at Tysons Corner Center, UPDATED: Husband tells 911 he shot man stabbing wife, as Fairfax police investigation continues, State police trying to identify driver killed in fiery Maserati crash on I-495, Woman arrested, man wanted after children found in Woodbridge apartment with guns, drugs, Jewelry stolen in violent Sterling robbery, Final boundaries approved for new elementary school outside Manassas, Student, 12, charged with making threats toward Lake Ridge Middle School over Snapchat, Del. The 11th Corps is most often associated with soldiers and regiments made up of native German speakers, however, many of its regiments also were non-immigrant U.S. soldiers from NY, OH, CT, PA, WI, and MA. Explore Collection Staffords Historical ErasStafford County Historic PlacesRelated LinksStafford County, Virginia Genealogy & Historical ResearchDonate to SCHSVoices of StaffordKeepers of the Knowledge, SCHS MembershipHistory of Stafford County, VirginiaStoreMeetings & EventsPrivacy PolicyGalleryAboutContact, White Oak Civil War Museum and Stafford Research Center, Stafford County, Virginia Genealogy & Historical Research. The Army used the stone from the church to construct a bridge over the Potomac River. He really is the most remarkable person Ive ever met. Unbelievably interesting collection, housed inside an old schoolhouse. (Sources: Conner, Albert, 88; Musselman, 49-50). Its a different experience than showing up at a historic site armed with months of reading and a list of things to find in or on the land. These reviews are the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Many of Falmouths early buildings remain standing, including the Cotton Warehouse; Duff Green Warehouse; Cambridge Inn, Temperance Tavern; Barnes House; Magistrates Office; Counting House; Basil Gordon House; Moncure Conway House (boyhood home of the Souths most prominent abolitionist); and Shelton Cottage. Out comes a little bit of Staffords history along with a picture and an address. Event Information for Beyond the Battlefield: Civil War Walking Tour at Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden in Alexandria, US on Saturday, March 25, 2023 - UpcomingEvents.com Stafford County has a rich Civil War history including a naval battle, cavalry skirmishes, and Union encampments. But it was unusual for men to sleep in the tents; usually they slept on the ground outside. Following chemotherapy treatments and during his recovery, Newton was celebrated with an oyster roast. Do your own research using our bibliographies, records, and library suggestions. Threats of harming another A wonderful treasure to be sure. Maybe in August! Definitely start at Stop #1 (just drive until the road ends after you enter the park) because there are great interpretive panels and a good map of the sites in the preserved area to help decide what youll want to see and do. Look up when he will have reinactors outside. Camping And Lodging Along The Blue Ridge Parkway, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Micro-Brasseries et Cidreries Artisanales, Spend a History-Packed Weekend in Fredericksburg, Abingdon: Your Gateway to Southwest Virginia. Located beside US Route 1 about one mile north of I-95 Exit 143, the Aquia Crucifix is open for everyone. Ive seen the sign along I-95 many times while taking my kids back and forth to their colleges. During the Civil War, Aquia Landing was site of the wars first ship-to-shore naval engagement in May 31-June 1, 1861, and was one of two major Union logistical centers in Stafford supporting the battles of Fredericksburg (1862), Chancellorsville (1863), and Grants 1864 Overland Campaign. One of the best museum in the Stafford county area. The architecture, Late Federal, suggests it was constructed in the 1820s or 1830s. It became an exodus point for some of the 10,000-12,000 escaping slaves that summer, and was a central reference point for the 135,000-169,000 man Army of the Potomac during the winter of 1863 undergoing that armys Valley Forge in Stafford County. County? Hayden are world renowned. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. According to Cox, all of the items the re-enactors wore and displayed, from the clothing to the weapons, were bought from merchants who sell memorabilia for Civil War re-enactments. The museum showcases tens of thousands of artifacts that have been found in the Stafford area. Homes became hospitals or headquarters. We knew there would be a good turnout, but it turned out better than what we ever imagined, said Jett. Washington said he did and he crossed the river to freedom. Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. The majority of sites in the Park are linked to the Union Army of the Potomac's 11th Corps' 1st and 3rd Divisions. Recognized by the Virginia Historical Society, the museum and its founder D.P. Over 12,000 self-emancipated former slaves traveled through During the winter of 1862-1863, the Union army had winter quarters here in Stafford County. If you need a change of pace and havent checked out the National Museum of the Marine Corp near Dumfries, VA. If anyone has even a small interest in the Civil War then you have to take the time to visit the White Oak Civil War Museum. Start of the Civil War in Stafford Before you read this section, please read the Antebellum Exhibit to see what Stafford was like leading up to the Civil War. Its a little remote, but well-marked. See the equiptment they pulled or carried. A river crossing close to Washington DC and a number of sites of little scrimmages. He carefully mapped out every Union camp in Stafford, as well as a few Confederate ones, and made sure people knew what happened in Stafford during that war, said Milde. During the demonstrations Steve Schwartz and his wife were clicking away, trying to capture what living history was all about. It is too bad that it doesn't get more visitors. The Stafford Civil War Park commemorates 1863 winter encampments of the 11th Corps of the Union Army, following the 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. With chalk at the ready, todays students take their own hands-on trip back in time as they draw and write on the item that was a staple of every classroom. Website. Many of these Civil War sites can still be visited today. I was traveling from the White Oak Civil War Museum, about 12 miles away. "Exclusively German" regiments that camped in the vicinity were the 82nd Illinois; 29th, 41st, 45th, 54th, 58th and 68th Captain John Smith visited the location in 1608 and it was subsequently used as a Virginia outpost (1609-c. 1620) and tobacco storage site. It is now a county park and accessible from US Route 1 about 0.5 miles south of I-95 Exit 143 via Coal Landing Road. D.P. I previously retired from the U.S. Navy and I am an avid motorcyclist. At the end of the conflict, Stafford suffered both financial and population losses. In a matter of seconds, Newton could put his finger on a map and tell you exactly where 70,000 Union troops stood in review near the corner of Deacon and Leeland roads during President Abraham Lincolns visit to Stafford on April 8, 1863. By April 18, 1862, Union troops had arrived at Falmouth, across the Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg. Aleks Dolzenko/ InsideNoVA.com. No high end museum can provide what the White Oak Civil War Museum offers- Yes the Civil War was a war so you will find many bullets and cannon balls, in addition to many other things. The Civil War began April 12, 1861, with the southern, Confederate forces firing upon the Union-held Fort Sumter in South Carolina. Follow the signs and youre allowed to walk through the outer trench and look up and into the fortified artillery position. A great collection of Civil War memorabilia from the local area. For over 110 years, this church has served as a highlight of the Falmouth skyline, a beacon linking its citizens to the past. Each living history camp is set up as it would be in soldiers camps during the Civil War, said re-enactor Jonathan Cox, who portrayed a private in the 30th Infantry. Beautifully and professionally showcased items representing civil war soldiers and their lives. Captain John Smiths Rappahannock exploration (also in 1608) took place below Belmont Hill. Be Proactive. D.P. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Wednesday through Sunday. The Marine Corps Base at Quantico and the National Museum of the Marine Corps are each under 20 minutes from our hotel. It is located at 985 White Oak Road. Stone footings from the bridge remain, and there is a good trail to the west. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Newton was remembered Wednesday as a humble man whose love of history helped preserve an important part of Stafford Countys past for future generations. But now people in White Oak, a close-knit community, fear theyll be the last to earn their living on the water. In the distance, Marlborough Point is at left, Bulls Bluff at right-both were camps for soldiers during the Civil War. The White Oak Civil War museum takes no state or Federal funding. Don't Threaten. Aleks Dolzenko/ Stafford County Sun, Jonathan Cox, foreground left, of the 30th, Company B, steps back as a charge used by re-enactors fires from the Coehorn mortar during a demonstartion Saturday at the White Oak Civil War Museum in Falmouth. Newton and his father started hunting for relics in the . The best civil war collection I have ever seen! In addition to military memorabilia, the museum is filled with mounds of documents, including maps, letters and diary entries that Newton could thumb through and quickly pull answers from. Amenities: Stafford is bordered to the east by the Potomac River and to the south by the Rappahannock River, for a combined total of 51 miles of shoreline. phone. Such schools were open to plantation owners sons. Newton heads out for a morning of crabbing on Potomac Creek as dawn peeks over the horizon. Theres a lot of hard work that he put into researching the day-to-day life of these soldiers, said Milde. Book direct at the Quality Inn & Suites Quantico hotel in Stafford, VA near FBI Academy and Historic Fredericksburg. GET MORE LOCAL NEWS. It makes it more personal than seeing history from behind a glass case.. Today, the park features a plaque dedicated to Newton and Trimmer as the two men most responsible for securing that piece of the countys history.. Its alive for him inside., On Wednesday, Bonny Newton said, So many people loved him. The economic devastation resulting from the Civil War just finished it off and it never recovered. All locally discovered, this place is a treasure! Little has been documented on this structure. For Civil War buffs, this area was the first to see naval fire d during the Civil War and is the place where 10,000 slaves were able to escape to freedom. You may have followed an old link. Event Information for Civil War Hospital Tour at Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden in Alexandria, US on Saturday, March 04, 2023 - UpcomingEvents.com http://npsfrsp.wordpress.com/2010/08/09/the-evolution-of-aquia-landing/, Mysteries and Conundrums: The Exodus Begins: John Washingtons Greatest Journey by John Hennessey. Sun and clouds mixed. Have your child click a cherryandzoom their way to fun. Five days later, Virginia seceded from the Union. You have permission to edit this article. (The precise kidnapping spot is arguable between Indian Point on the peninsula and Passapatanzy further down river.) His work can, should and will live on.. If you have a question, Danny can likely answer it. Samuel P. 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