Manassas is gearing up for another historic milestone, commemorating the Second Battle of Manassas., Fri., Aug. 24 through Sun., Aug. 26, 2012. The three-day Sesquicentennial event features: an interactive HistoryMobile, which is an 18-wheeler "museum on wheels" offering a high-tech immersive experience; a National Park Service program, called “Manassas Junction and Its Railroads: From Union Lifeline to Confederate Prize,” that discusses and simulates the burning of Manassas Junction; Civil War baseball; Civil War re-enactor military parade; free Manassas Museum admission with special Civil War exhibits; living history encampments at Liberia Plantation; Cannon Branch and Mayfield Forts, Blue and Gray Ball; lectures and live music. All events are free, except the Blue and Gray Ball and barbecue and bourbon tasting. Visit www.manassascivilwar.org for event information and Blue and Gray ball tickets.
“The Second Battle of Manassas events are designed to take visitors back in time, recreating a ‘real-time’ Civil War experience,” said Debbie Haight, executive director of Historic Manassas, Inc. “This year, tourists can get a hands-on feel of Civil War life through the interactive HistoryMobile and a multimedia presentation from the National Park Service, outlining Stonewall Jackson’s raid,” said Haight.
Parking is available at a five-story garage in Old Town Manassas on Saturday and Sunday.
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The 150th commemoration of the Second Battle of Manassas is hosted by the City of Manassas in coordination with Historic Manassas, Inc. (HMI) and the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission. The interactive HistoryMobile is an initiative of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission and will be located at the Manassas Visitor Center on the corner of West and Prince William Streets. The expandable 78-foot tractor-trailer contains a high-tech experience using state-of-the-art technology and immersive exhibit spaces.
The Second Battle of Manassas commemoration events include:
FRI., AUG. 24
HistoryMobile Exhibit - 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., corner of West and Prince William Streets, Old Town Manassas. Features an interactive ‘museum on wheels,’ using state-of-the-art technology and immersive spaces that demonstrate Civil War stories from the perspective of the young, old, enslaved and free, soldiers and civilians.
Union Headquarters at Liberia Plantation - Tours of the 1825 plantation house visited by President Lincoln while occupied by Union troops. 8601 Portner Ave., Manassas.
Southern Persuasion Country Band - Harris Pavilion, 9116 Center Street, Old Town Manassas.
Battle Street Live! - outdoor entertainment and food, Battle Street, Old Town Manassas.
Stories in Stone Twilight Tour- 8 p.m. - City Cemetery, 9317 Center Street, Old Town Manassas.
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SAT., AUG. 25
HistoryMobile - 10 a.m. to 8.p.m. corner of West and Prince William Streets, Old Town Manassas.
Civil War Baseball - 10a.m.to 4 p.m., Baldwin Elementary School, 9705 Main Street, Old Town Manassas.
Lectures - Center for the Arts at the Candy Factory, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 9419 Battle Street, Old Town Manassas.
Re-enactor Parade – 11 a.m. in Old Town Manassas, Civil War re-enactors from around the country join together in a military parade.
Union Headquarters at Liberia Plantation - meet Union Gen. Irvin McDowell, President Lincoln and staff; enjoy African-American songs and stories and slave interpretation; as well as tours and re-enactors. 8601 Portner Ave., Manassas.
Blue and Gray Ball- ticketed, outdoor event at Harris Pavilion, 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., interact with Civil War personalities, step back in time to 1862 and enjoy music, dancing and food, 9116 Center Street, Old Town Manassas.
Battle Street Live! – 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. outdoor entertainment and food, Battle Street, Old Town Manassas.
Stories in Stone Twilight Tour - 8 p.m., City Cemetery, 9317 Center Street, Old Town Manassas.
SUN., AUG 26
Interfaith Service on the Lawn – 9 a.m., remembering the casualties of the Manassas battles, Manassas Museum lawn, 9101 Prince William Street, Old Town Manassas.
HistoryMobile Exhibit - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., corner of Prince William and West Streets, Old Town Manassas.
Union Headquarters at Liberia Plantation - meet Union Gen. Irvin McDowell, President Lincoln and staff; enjoy African-American songs and stories and slave interpretation; period music, tours and re-enactors. 8601 Portner Ave., Manassas.
NOVA Symphony Concert and Ice Cream Social – 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Harris Pavilion, 9116 Center Street, Old Town Manassas.
Commemoration of Stonewall Jackson’s Raid on the Junction - 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Manassas Museum Lawn, featuring bourbon and barbecue tasting from local vendors, 9101 Prince William Street., Old Town Manassas.
Manassas Junction and Its Railroads: From Union Lifeline to Confederate Prize - 7 p.m. National Park Service program on the Manassas Museum Lawn, 9101 Prince William Street., Old Town Manassas.John Reid, park ranger of the Manassas National Battlefield Park, to present a program about the raid entitled Manassas Junction and Its Railroads: From Union Lifeline to Confederate Price, an hour-long multimedia presentation on a big screen. Public can view a ‘Burning of Manassas Junction’ simulation, where several small train box cars will be lit on fire in the museum parking lot.
DAILY EVENTS
Lee’s Lieutenants Army of Northern Virginia and the Federal Generals Corps -
Manassas Museum Lawn, 9101 Prince William Street, Old Town Manassas. Public can speak with Gen. Robert E. Lee, “Stonewall” Jackson, James Longstreet, J.E.B. Stuart, and many of the other confederate officers. The Federal Generals Corp features Union generals, like, Gen. William T. Sherman, Gen. Ulysses Grant, Gen. George G. Meade and Gen. George S. Greene.
Federal Encampment Liberia Plantation – Union Gen. Irvin McDowell set up camp at Liberia and was reportedly visited by President Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton on June 19, 1862. Living history interpreters will recreate General McDowell’s headquarters with visits over the weekend by President Lincoln, 8601 Portner Ave., Manassas.
Manassas Museum Open - FREE, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., two special exhibits, Collecting the Civil War and the Postmaster’s Private Stamp Collection: The Civil War, 9101 Prince William Street, Old Town Manassas.
Mayfield Fort - 1861 Confederate Earthwork Fort open for self-guided tours, 8401 Quarry Rd., Manassas.
Cannon Branch Fort – 1864 Union Earthwork Fort Open for self-guided tours, 10611 Gateway Blvd., Manassas.
ABOUT WWW.MANASSASCIVILWAR.ORG
Manassas Civil War Commemoration Events are to be held Fri., Aug. 24 through Sun., Aug 26, 2012 to commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War and the Second Battle of Manassas in Old Town Manassas, Va. This three-day event will feature an interactive History Mobile, re-enactor parade, Blue and Gray Ball, living history encampments, and a commemoration of Jackson’s Raid. The Manassas Civil War logo was designed by A. Guy Studios, LLC of Manassas, Va. For a comprehensive list of Manassas Civil War events, go to www.manassascivilwar.org.
ABOUT CITY OF MANASSAS
The City of Manassas, Va., is an independent, full service city of 10-square miles in Northern Virginia. The City is rich in history and the Manassas Junction of railroads played a pivotal role in the American Civil War. The City has a population of 35,821, owns its own public utilities, has the busiest general aviation airport in Virginia and is part of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region. Manassas has been recognized by the Virginia Municipal League and other national and state organizations for its highly successful neighborhood improvement programs and by the Government Finance Officers Association for excellence in financial reporting and budgeting. For more information, go to www.manassascity.org or call 703-257-8212.
