There are currently 423 sites that comprise the National Park System. A mere 63 of those are designated as national parks and receive the lion’s share of attention, funding, and visitors. Books have been written about each, and there’s no shortage of information about them online. But what about the other 360 sites?

Known by a surprising number of designations – from national monument to national battlefield to national lakeshore – the vast majority of the National Park Service’s protected areas aren’t actually “national parks.”

The Roarbots’ series of NPS Adventures takes a big-picture view of one of these sites and highlights some of the best it has to offer. This almost always includes activities and suggestions we can recommend from personal experience. And pictures. There are lots and lots of pictures. Glad to have you aboard!

Welcome to Manassas National Battlefield Park!

Stats

• Manassas National Battlefield Park
• Location: Manassas, Virginia
• Established: 1940
• Admission: Free
• Social Sites: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

Manassas is unique in Civil War history as the only location to figure prominently in two separate battles. The battle of First Manassas – also known as Bull Run – was the first major engagement of the war on July 12, 1861. The single day of fighting left 900 soldiers dead (out of about 18,000 engaged soldiers on each side), resulted in a Union retreat, and dashed any hopes for a swift end to the war. But it did give Stonewall Jackson his nickname.

The battle of Second Manassas took place on August 29-30, 1862. It was much larger, with an estimated 62,000 Union and 50,000 Confederate soldiers engaged in battle. Ultimately, a combined 3,300 soldiers were killed, the Confederacy won a decisive victory and brought it to the height of its power, and it emboldened Robert E. Lee to push farther north into Maryland.

Visitor Center and Museum

The museum inside the Henry Hill Visitor Center tells the story of the First Battle of Manassas through artifacts, text displays, and a fiber-optic battle map (the museum for Second Manassas is at Brawner’s Farm). If you’ve got the time, there’s also a 45-minute park orientation film – Manassas: The End of Innocence – that shows on the hour. (That is, it does during non-COVID times, so be sure to check what’s open and available if there’s still a pandemic on when you visit.)

Let’s be real, though: 45 minutes is a HUGE ask for a park film, even one narrated by Richard Dreyfuss. Especially so if your time is limited. Luckily, some kind soul has uploaded the entire movie to YouTube, so you can watch at your own pace on your own time and then visit Manassas impressively informed in advance.

Hiking Trails

Unlike some battlefields that are spread out over great distances and have a driving tour to connect all the sites (e.g., Gettysburg), Manassas is relatively compact and eminently walkable. In fact, even though two major roads intersect in the middle of the park, most of the historical sites are only reachable on foot.

Manassas covers some 5,100 acres and has more than 40 miles of trails crisscrossing the park. Two primary loop trails begin at the visitor center and connect key spots related to the two battles fought here. They’re named, appropriately enough, the First Manassas Trail (5.4 miles, to the east of the visitor center) and the Second Manassas Trail (6.6 miles, to the west of the visitor center). Several shorter loop trails branch off from these two.

Driving Tour & Historical Structures

If you’re not up for a walk or are short on time, you CAN take a driving tour. An 18-mile route connects 12 locations that figured prominently in the second battle (including a few that are farther afield): the Stone House, unfinished railroad, Chinn Ridge, Stone Bridge, and more. Almost all of the historical buildings are closed to the public. The one building that is open – the house at Brawner’s Farm – is home to a small exhibit about Second Manassas.

Brawner’s Farm

Stone House (used as a hospital during both battles)

Stone Bridge (site of the Union retreat from Second Manassas)

Carter Cemetery at Pittsylvania ruins

Henry House (which dates to 1870 and was the park’s first museum and visitor center)

Gravesite of Judith Henry, the only civilian casualty of First Manassas

Junior Ranger

Like most NPS sites, Manassas has a park-centric Junior Ranger program. The book focuses on both battles that took place here, obviously, as well as a bit of general Civil War history. There’s also an option to complete some activities at home and earn the badge virtually. For the Roarbots, Junior Ranger booklets and swearing-in ceremonies are a mandatory part of any NPS visit.