Virginia Museum of the Civil War
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Location
New Market, Shenandoah County
Site
New Market Battlefield State Historical Park
Highlights
Exhibits, battlefield trails, Bushong Farm
Operator
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Museum of the Civil War sits within New Market Battlefield State Historical Park, where the Battle of New Market unfolded on May 15, 1864. The museum and surrounding landscape connect the battle’s military story with the historic Bushong Farm and the Shenandoah Valley setting in which Union and Confederate forces fought.[1]
Plan time for both the indoor exhibits and the outdoor grounds: the site includes a battlefield park, walking trails, scenic overlooks and historic farm buildings. The museum also describes a film about the battle and an audio tour of the battlefield; check VMI’s official visitor information before setting out for current hours, closures, admission and access details.[2][3]
Plan a trip to Virginia Museum of the Civil War
Why visit the Virginia Museum of the Civil War?
This is a place where the landscape is part of the interpretation. Museum displays introduce the conflict and its participants, while trails and battlefield features help visitors relate those accounts to the ground outside. The broader site preserves the core battlefield area and Bushong Farm, making it possible to pair exhibits with an outdoor visit.[4]
The museum’s focus includes the Battle of New Market and the role of Virginia Military Institute cadets in the Confederate victory. It is a useful stop for visitors interested in the Shenandoah Valley’s Civil War history, but the story is best understood as part of a larger wartime campaign—not only as a tale of the cadets.[5]
Start here
Begin inside the museum to get an introduction to the battle and the site, then use the grounds to trace the story across the battlefield. VMI identifies exhibit galleries, a film titled Field of Lost Shoes, an audio tour and the historic Bushong Farm among the site’s visitor experiences.[6]
Allow time outdoors, where the battlefield trails cross open ground and wooded areas. The park also notes scenic overlooks toward the Shenandoah River; conditions underfoot and the amount of walking will vary with your route and the weather.[7]
What to see and do
Explore the museum galleries
See exhibits relating to the Civil War in Virginia, the Battle of New Market, VMI and the Bushong family. Check the museum’s current visitor information for exhibit availability.
Watch Field of Lost Shoes
The museum lists this film about the Battle of New Market among its experiences. Confirm the current screening schedule when planning your visit.
Walk the battlefield
Follow trails across preserved battlefield ground to connect the museum’s interpretation with the terrain where the fighting took place.
Visit Bushong Farm
The historic farmstead is part of the battlefield site. The restored Bushong House was used as a hospital by both sides during the battle.
Take in the river views
The grounds include scenic overlooks toward the Shenandoah River. Check the official site for current trail and grounds information.
Use the battlefield audio tour
VMI offers an audio tour to help visitors explore the New Market Battlefield beyond the museum building.
History and significance
The Battle of New Market took place on May 15, 1864, during the Civil War campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley. Confederate forces under John C. Breckinridge, joined by the VMI Corps of Cadets, repulsed Union troops. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources describes the battle’s outcome as helping preserve supply and communication lines between the Army of Northern Virginia and the Valley.[8]
VMI’s archival account says the cadets were ordered to join Breckinridge’s forces and marched nearly 85 miles north before arriving at New Market on the morning of the battle. Fighting on rain-soaked, freshly plowed ground became associated with the name “Field of Lost Shoes.” The cadets’ participation is a central part of the site’s story, alongside the experiences of the soldiers and civilians caught up in the battle.[9]
The battlefield park and the restored Bushong House preserve physical links to that history. The Department of Historic Resources notes that the house, on the eastern edge of the battlefield, served as a hospital for both sides. The museum interprets the battle and the wider Civil War in Virginia through its exhibits and historic grounds.[10][11]
Planning a visit
The museum is at New Market Battlefield State Historical Park, 8895 George Collins Parkway, New Market, Virginia. VMI’s visitor page lists regular hours as 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and notes holiday closures; hours and closures can change, so confirm details with the museum before traveling. Admission, event schedules and access arrangements should also be checked on the official site.[12]
A visit involves both indoor exhibits and outdoor walking on battlefield grounds. Wear shoes suitable for trails and changing weather, and check current trail conditions and accessibility information with the museum. VMI lists a phone number of 540-740-3101 for visitor questions.[13]
Nearby attractions
Shenandoah Valley
Explore the broader valley’s landscapes, towns and Civil War history.
Harrisonburg
A Shenandoah Valley city to pair with a battlefield visit.
Front Royal
A northern Valley town and gateway to outdoor destinations.
Shenandoah National Park
Mountain scenery, trails and overlooks east of the Valley.
Travel books and maps: Browse related Virginia travel books and maps on Amazon
References
- ↑ Virginia Museum of the Civil War, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Military Institute. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Virginia Museum of the Civil War, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Military Institute. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Visit the Virginia Museum of the Civil War, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Military Institute. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Virginia Museum of the Civil War, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Military Institute. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ New Market Battlefield Park, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Commonwealth of Virginia. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Virginia Museum of the Civil War, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Military Institute. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ New Market Battlefield State Historical Park, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Commonwealth of Virginia. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ New Market Battlefield Park, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Commonwealth of Virginia. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Battle of New Market, VMI Archives Research Guides, Virginia Military Institute. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ New Market Battlefield Park, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Commonwealth of Virginia. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ The Museum, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Military Institute. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Visit the Virginia Museum of the Civil War, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Military Institute. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Visit the Virginia Museum of the Civil War, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Military Institute. Retrieved 2026-10-22.