Guided History Walking Tour of Old Town Winchester

Experience 275 years of history on this guided walking tour! Learn about the citizens that lived here and the pivotal events that made Winchester the place it is today. These tours are given by experienced and knowledgeable guides that enjoy sharing their love of local history.

Make your reservation by calling 540-542-1326.

Cost: $10, payable to the guide.

Meet at 2 N. Cameron Street (the corner of Cameron and Boscawen Street, Winchester, Virginia)

Tours are offered May – October
1st and 3rd Fridays at 6pm
2nd and 4th Sundays at 4pm

More tours are available. See: https://visitwinchesterva.com/guided-tours/

Kernstown Battlefield Walking Tour

Join us for a tour of Kernstown Battlefield, during the Battlefield Half Marathon.

The walking tour of the battlefield and Pritchard House will start immediately after the race begins. Tour attendees will gather in the large mowed grass area along the north side of the entrance road of the battlefield.

The tour will last about an hour to allow attendees to gather at the finish line to cheer on their runners. If any attendee needs to leave the tour early to meet a runner, please don’t hesitate to do so.

FREE

Register in advance

157th Anniversary Reenactment of the Battle of Cedar Creek

Presented by the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation
Join us for this special weekend as history comes to life! During this two day event, thousands of reenactors recreate the last major battle in the Shenandoah Valley. See cavalry, artillery, and infantry soldiers in action and in camp. Battle scenarios, music, symposia, and medical, military, and civilian demonstrations are scheduled everyday.

Raffles, merchants, and food vendors onsite.

Public Ticket Information:
$15 Single Day Adult Ticket
$7 Youth 7-15 Single Day Ticket
Children 6 and under are free!
Active military, Veteran, Senior, and Student Discount with Presentation of ID
$7 per day
Saturday: Gates Open at 9:00 AM and Activities Close at 5:00 PM
Sunday: Gates Open at 9:00AM and Close at 2:00 PM

(540) 869-2064
ccbf.us

North-South Skirmish Association: Fall National Competition

The N-SSA is the country’s oldest and largest Civil War shooting sports organization with over 3,200 individuals that make up its 200 member units. Each unit represents a Civil War regiment or unit and wears the uniform they wore 150 years ago.

Member units compete in live-fire matches with original or authentic reproduction Civil War period muskets, carbines, breech loading rifles, revolvers, mortars and cannons. It is the largest Civil War event of its kind in the United States.

N-SSA members come from all over the country to Fort Shenandoah each fall for this National Competition. Competitions, called “skirmishes”, where participating teams shoot at breakable targets in several timed events. The teams with the lowest cumulative times win medals or other awards. Women participate along with the men in all events. There are also competitions for authenticity of Civil War period dress, both military and civilian, as well as lectures on topics of interest.

Spectators are welcome and admission is free. There is a large sutler area and food service is available. For more information, visit the N-SSA web site at: www.n-ssa.org.

 

 

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation 25th Anniversary Celebration

Join as we look back on 25 years of accomplishment with a star-studded red carpet event that will feature fine food, elegant music, and special guests and dignitaries, including former Congressman Frank Wolf and our keynote speaker, legendary Civil War historian Dr. James M. McPherson.

The evening’s events will include:

• A red carpet entrance
• A social hour with hors d’oeuvres and beverages beginning at 6:30 pm.
• A silent auction featuring an array of special items
• Music by the Shenandoah Conservatory Jazz Collective and concert pianist Carter Stevens
• An elegant dinner beginning at 7 pm.
• A special program headlined by the keynote address by Dr. McPherson
• A champagne toast with the cutting of the NHD’s 25th Anniversary birthday cake.

Social Hour: 6:30pm. Dinner: 7:15pm

Don’t miss this once in a lifetime event. Come help us celebrate all that you have helped us do – all that you have done to help preserve the Valley and tell its story. We hope all of the National Historic District family will be able to join us… all of our friends, members, supporters, and partners. We’re celebrating YOU because you are the National Historic District.

Tickets are $25 per person and $40 for a couple.

To purchase tickets, click here or the link below or call 540-740-4545

Full Table Options
Full tables can also be purchased. For more information, call 540-740-4545.

The deadline to purchase tickets is September 8.

shopsvbf.square.site/product/25th-anniversary-celebration/1264

Civil War Graffiti Tour

The 1840 Frederick County Court House (today’s Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum) served as a prison and hospital to both sides during the Civil War. Many of those soldiers wrote their names and drew pictures on the walls – including the famed “Jeff Davis Curse.” Join us for this special tour of the museum and the fascinating graffiti on its wall. Free.

Pre-registration is not required. Tour is hosted by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.

For more information, call 540-542-1145 or email info@svbf.net.

Civil War Walking Tour of Winchester

This downtown walking tour of historic Winchester visits Civil War sites and tells the stories of soldiers and civilians who were caught up in the chaos of the constant combat, occupations, and caring for the wounded. The tour is free. Advance registration is not required. The tour will gather in the courtyard of the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum at 20 N. Loudoun St. on the downtown walking mall. Please wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes.

Pre-registration is not required. Tour is hosted by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.

For more information, call 540-542-1145 or email info@svbf.net.

Civil War Used Book Sale

The SVBF presents a giant sale of used books and magazines, featuring primarily Civil War-related titles. Proceeds from the sale will go towards the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation’s library and archives.

The sale will begin with a one-hour early bird sale for SVBF Members-only from 9am-10am on Saturday, August 28. (If you’re not a Member and would like to join so you can take part in the early bird sale, click here or the button below.) After that the sale will be open to the general public during regular museum hours.

SALE HOURS

Early Bird Sale – SVBF Members Only
Saturday, August 28, 9am-10am

Sale Open to General Public:
Saturday, August 28, 10am-5pm
Sunday, August 29, 1pm-5pm
Monday, August 30 – Saturday, September 4, 10am-5pm
Sunday, September, 1pm-5pm (sale ends)

Second Battle of Kernstown Tour

The Kernstown Battlefield will host a walking and driving tour of the Second Battle of Kernstown, stopping at key battle locations on and around the battlefield property.

The Second Battle of Kernstown was one of the most lopsided defeats suffered by the Union in its Valley of Humiliation throughout the war and avenged Stonewall Jackson’s only defeat at the scene of the action. Come and learn more about the battle that saw 1,200 Union soldiers become casualties while Jubal Early’s Confederates lost only 200 men in what Virginia Sergeant John Worsham called the “most easily won victory” of the war.

Accomplished Civil War author Scott Patchan, known for his books, “Shenandoah Summer” and “Last Battle of Winchester”, will lead the tour. While there is no cost for the tour, your generous donations will be greatly appreciated.

The tour will begin at 9:00 am on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at the battlefield Visitors Center where Scott will provide an overview of the 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign and explain how Southern General Jubal A. Early ended up facing off against Union commander General George Crook at Kernstown on July 24, 1864.

After the overview, we will move to several areas of the historic battlefield throughout the Kernstown and Stephens City area. Weather permitting, anticipated tour stops include Newtown (Stephens City), Bartonville, Sandy Ridge, Opequon Church, Middle Road, Pritchard’s Hill and Lane, and the location of General John C. Breckinridge’s flank attack on the east side of I-81.

This boots on the ground tour will take us to Sandy Ridge to explore the seldom seen location where Crook’s misreading of the situation nearly caused the destruction of Col. Joseph Thoburn’s division at the hands of North Carolina General Stephen D. Ramseur. The pinnacle of the tour will occur in Pritchard’s Lane, where the popular Irish leader from Chicago, Col. James A. Mulligan, lost his life battling against Georgia General John B. Gordon and his men. We will conclude the day with a wrap up of the outcome of the battle and its impact on the progress of the war.

Depending on the length of the tour, we may break for lunch. Please bring comfortable walking shoes, proper clothing for the weather, and water.

Sign up for the tour here

Second Battle of Winchester Anniversary

The Kernstown Battlefield Association will commemorate the 158th anniversary of the Second Battle of Winchester, which occurred during June 13-15, 1863. This battle was launched across the Pritchard Farm, extended into Winchester, and eventually to Stephenson where 4000 Union troops were taken prisoner. The success of this battle allowed Lee to bring the Army of Northern Virginia up from Fredericksburg, through Winchester, and into Maryland and Pennsylvania, culminating in the Battle at Gettysburg.

During the weekend of June 12-13. 2021, the KB with host a full schedule of special events to commemorate this significant historic event. Please visit the KB website to sign up for a tour time led by Jerry Holsworth. The schedule of events is as follows:

Saturday, June 12:
9 am: Co. F, 21st VA arrives and sets up their living history camp. A Provost will allow visitors to “enter the camp to see their relatives and friends”.

11am: Co. F drill demonstration

2pm: Co. F drill demonstration

Sunday, June 13 (actual date of 2nd Winchester on the Pritchard Farm):
10 am: 2nd Winchester Tour on the Pritchard Farm by Jerry Holsworth

10:45 am: Holsworth Tour to visit Co F, 21st VA for living history presentation

11 am: Co. F drill demonstration

12 noon – 1 pm: Lunch break for 21st VA and Holsworth Tour

1:00 pm: 2nd Winchester tour on the Pritchard Farm by Jerry Holsworth

1:45 pm: Holsworth Tour to visit Co F, 21st VA for living history presentation

2:00 pm: Co. F drill demonstration

2:00 pm: Turner Ashby Camp annual picnic (private event) begins in the Artillery Building

4:00 pm: Turner Ashby Camp picnic concludes. Attendees are guests for a Co F, 21st VA drill demonstration

Virginia COVID-19 guidelines for masks and social distancing during the tour will be practiced. Masks are not required indoor or outdoor for those who have been fully vaccinated. The vast majority of the tour is outdoors, but movement in vehicles between locations will be required. High-risk persons, those with COVID symptoms, or who have been in contact with individuals with symptoms, should not attend.

kernstownbattle.org