Conference smurf::civil_war

    I've been to Manassas twice; once when I could care less about the
    Civil War about 8 years ago, and once last summer when I went on a
    whirlwind tour of Civil War battlefields.  I enjoyed it immensely both
    times.  Both battles at Manassas are covered...first Manassas by a
    walking tour (which is about a mile-long loop), and Second Manassas 
    is an auto tour.  The walking tour can be done in as little as an hour, 
    the auto tour will take closer to two...the time will be dictated by 
    your level of interest.
    
    During peak periods (summer weekends, for example) the National Park 
    Service also has brief guided tours which provide more detail about 
    how the battle progressed, what directions the two sides came and went 
    etc.  Since your son is 12, it would help if he has some interest in 
    history, but if he doesn't he may acquire some at a place like Manassas.
    Also, because of his age, you should know that there is no food
    available inside the park so I would recommend eating before you go and
    possibly having a snack in a bag for the time that you're there.
    
    If you haven't been to the following, they might be appropriate for his
    age group...  
    
    Depending on your son's historical interest, Mt. Vernon, the home of 
    George Washington is not very far away from Manassas, and I learned a 
    lot about him while I was there.  Allow less than 2 hours for this.
    
    While you're in D.C., a nice complement to the Vietnam Memorial is a
    trip to the Lincoln Memorial which is less than 300 yards away.  My own
    personal preference is to go there in late afternoon during or after
    the setting sun...the impact is awesome.  It's also a nice tie-in to
    the Civil War theme.  You can catch both in about an hour depending on
    whether you are in search of any names on the Wall, and if you choose
    to read Lincoln's speeches engraved around his memorial...which reminds
    me, if you've never done this before, go around to the side of the
    memorial, there's a small museum with pictures showing how it was
    built, and there's also a window through which you can see the massive
    foundation and pilings which hold the thing up.
    
    Another good one that I really enjoyed was a visit to Ford's Theater 
    where Lincoln was shot.  The Presidential box has been restored to 
    approximate what it would have looked like on that night.  Directly 
    across the street from there is the house that Lincoln died in, and it 
    is open for visitors.  The actual bloodstained pillow is still on the 
    bed, and some of the other furnishings are original.  These too, can be
    seen in about an hour.
    
    The National Air and Space Museum is really good for kids in your son's
    age group since there is a lot to see in there including full sized
    aircraft hanging from the ceiling.  There's also a BIG gift shop that
    kids love to browse in, so be prepared.......Allow at least a half day
    to see this.
    
    Arlington National Cemetary involves a lot of walking, and it can be
    somewhat hilly.  The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown
    Soldier was the highlight for me (I think they change on the hour).  If
    he's into the USMC, the Iwo Jima monument is really something to see,
    but it's a little further to walk.  Again, at least a half day is
    needed to see it.
    
    I also like the Jefferson Memorial, and especially around the beginning
    of April, it's cherry blossom season which is really nice to see.  I
    think you'll catch them around the time you're there.  You can walk
    from the parking lot to the memorial, read all the stuff and be back in
    30-45 minutes.
    
    All in all, the D.C. area has a lot to offer and most of it is FREE!!!!
    or nominally priced.  Also parking is free in most places, and you can 
    usually catch a spot on the street near the Vietnam/Lincoln Memorials 
    which saves you some walking.
    

	I must agree, Manassas was an excellent battlefield to visit. I've
been there twice myself. Once as a tourist doing the First Manassas by foot
and the second time as an reenactor doing an guided tour of Second Manassas,
following Stonewall Jackson's infamous railroad cut battle. Both are pretty
impressive. One word of advice though, make sure ya'll are up on your facts
for the Second Manassas. There are some markers put up by the National Park
Service, but, not as much as the battlefield of First Manassas. Most of area
of Second Manassas is wooded and not as open as the First Manassas.
	I also enjoyed the visitor's center at Manassas. They have an excellent
display and memorabilia section. Let alone the fine selection of books, etc.
Also the usual tourist knick knacks.
	I also found that the park rangers are more than willing to answer
and explain any questions that you might have. I visited the park during the 
off season ( April ) and they were more than willing and able to spend more
time in an one on one situation with visitors.

	Arlington National Cemetery is worth the trip, it is a very moving
experience. A must see is the changing of the guard! The cemetery is also
located on Robert E. Lee's former property (slight bias here :^)..). 
	All the usual haunts of Washington are worth it too. I must agree
here also, the Lincoln Memorial, Ford Theater, the house that Lincoln died
are worth seeing. The Lincoln Memorial is a very thought provoking and
inspirational monument.

	Might I suggest, if ya'll have the time, a couple of more battle
sights that are within reach from Reston. Two that isn't too bad from
Reston is the Antietam National Battlefield and Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania
National Military Park. Both would be within a hour to hour and a half drive.

	Fredericksburg as an excellent stop. Blending both CW and Colonial
era's. With both the battlefield and tourist attractions, it is a most
eye pleasing and informative stop. I highly enjoyed Fredericksburg and plan
on going back.

	Antietam on the other hand is a must! If ya'll must make a choice
between the two, pick Antietam! I toured Antietam in late April early May
before the summer crowds spoiled the effect.
	Gazing across the "Cornfield" from the Dunker Church, or strolling
along the "Bloody Lane" in an early morning mist then looking down upon it
from the stone observation tower, gives you the feeling that you can almost hear
the gunfire and yells of men locked in mortal combat. Looking down upon
Burnside's Bridge from the slope where 600 Georgians held off the Union troops
for so long. If ya'll want to show your son the reason why America is today,
take him there.
	This battlefield is my second favorite next to the Holy Land ...
Gettysburg. (Hint, Gettysburg is a mere hour from Antietam). The visitors
center is excellent! If ya'll like the one at Manassas, ya'll will love the
one at Antietam! A very informative, well thought out display of the battle
is at the visitor's center there. And to my surprise, not to trashed with
tourist trap stuff...
	You can either walk it or drive it. I suggest the driving myself.
It's a big battlefield. The markers are well accesible from the car. And
most of the major points of the battle are mere walking distances from the
car. And it is not as crowded as Gettysburg. It's nestled in an wooded area
from the main route.
	If ya'll want to keep a 12 year old interested, I suggest this is
the place. Food here is also not to accesible. I suggest eating either before or
stop in town of Sharpsburg before touring.

	Enough rambling.....

					The Alabama Slammer 

	 

    ...and I would second the Slammer's recommendations, if you care to
    drive that far...next to Gettysburg, Antietam is my favorite CW
    battlefield.
    
    Fredricksburg/Spotsylvania etc. is really good too, but of all the
    parks I've visited, it took the longest to get through.  I would
    recommend 1 1/2 days to see it all.
    
    We're probably getting you farther away from Reston than you would like
    but if you're going to Antietam, you may want to take in Harper's Ferry
    as well.  It's just down the road a piece.  You could do them both in a
    day if you get an early start.
    
    One other thing I didn't mention is timing.  If you visit a CW
    battlefield, I found it best to get there around opening time which
    usually varies between 8 and 9 a.m.  I did this at Manassas, Antietam,
    Gettysburg etc. with my brother and we had the entire place to 
    ourselves for the first hour at each location.  We found that it really
    helped to get out on the auto tour before it got crowded.  It makes the
    experience that much better too because it's a lot quieter, and it
    gives you an eerie sensation being out there alone while you visualize
    what went on there.  Two places where this ran chills up my spine were
    the cornfield at Antietam and the Wheatfield at Gettysburg.
    
    In short, if you're into the CW, there's lots of places within 1-2
    hours of D.C. that are worthwhile.
    
    

    Agree you should try Fredericksburg, if possible.  I also strongly
    support the idea of getting there early.
    
    I arrived at Gettysburg once at about 7 AM.  Light ground fog, sun
    just coming up, monuments just peaking out....absolutely awesome!!
    Not a soul in the place, and just as well as a few tears were shed.
    
    I thought Spotsylvania was a bit woody and lengthy, but did enjoy
    walking the Mule Shoe Salient.

    replies .1 .2 .3 .4 Many Thanks...gonna do it all!
    
    Good point about Harper's Ferry as my son's name is John Brown and if I
    remember my American history wasn't it John Brown that led the revolt
    at Harper's (something about taking over a "powder house" like the one
    in/at Powder House park in Somerville, MA??? sorry its been a while)
    
    I did the Wall a few months ago and then Arlington/Tomb and Iwo Jima
    (John's gonna be ARMY) and either of those places don't move ya your
    better off elsewhere in the world. 
    
    Gonna do the 'Wall' and the rest as youve all graciously recommended.
    
    Many Thanks
    
    The Canuck!   
    
    
    

    If I recall correctly, John Brown took over what amounts to a kind of
    guardhouse that was located at the entrance to the arsenal.  The
    building has also been used at times as a place to store wagons, and
    was also a firehouse, I believe.  If you asked a Southerner, he's the
    "madman who armed the slaves".  If you asked a Northerner he's a
    "martyr to the cause of abolishing slavery."  
    
    It's interesting to visit parks in Maryland and Pennsylvania, and then 
    going to Virginia and reading about John Brown in each place.  The
    further south you go, the nuttier the guy gets.  In reality, the guy
    was a little weird, but his "arming of the slaves" ended up being
    pikes, sticks, and the like, and he was never a real threat to take
    over the Federal property in Harper's Ferry.
    
    The original building has been restored and now sits across the street
    from its original location (which now abuts the C&O and Amtrak rails).
    Harper's Ferry also was a town that frequently changed hands during the
    Civil War.  The place was somewhat indefensible being bordered by the
    Potomac and Shennandoah rivers, and also surrounded by high mountains
    on 3 sides.
    
    If I'm not mistaken, the Powderhouse in Somerville is where the
    colonists hid their hoard of powder following the Lexington and Concord
    activity.  The complex in Harper's Ferry is far larger than Powderhouse 
    Park.  
    
    Harper's Ferry is really nice to walk around in.

    
    	While at Harper's Ferry about half way up the main street, check
    out the bookstore on the right hand side of the street. Darn if I can
    remember the name of the place...but if ya'll want history books on the
    Civil War, that be the place to stop at.
    	I'm fortunate, my wife was raised in Virginia, so everytime I 
    travel through to visit kinfolk, I can't pass Harper's Ferry without
    stopping in and collecting a few tidbits from that bookstore..
    
    						The Alabama Slammer

    reply .2
    
    The walk along Bloody Lane gave me goose bumps. It is unbelievable how
    the men of both sides took up positions that were almost certain to get
    them killed or what is worse, maimed.
    
    

    re Manassas
    
    A good place to see is the Stone House used as an aid station. The park
    folks give a very good description of the available medical techniques
    at the time of the War. There were two techniques available little and
    none.
    
    The typical surgeon's kit consisted of knives, turniquettes, saws,
    sponges, tweezers and maybe a can of chloroform.  Getting wounded was
    not a good idea.
    
    :-) funny story. 
    
    One of the re-enactors ( I wish I had gotten) his name went through the
    manual of arms and drill for loading and firing a rifled musket. During
    the conversation I had with him, he told me he appeared as an extra in
    the motion picture "Glory". I slapped my forhead and I said "Of course,
    I thought I recognized you !!"