Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park

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Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park

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CIVIL WAR HISTORY

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park

Four battlefields and historic sites tell the story of a pivotal stretch of the Civil War in and around Fredericksburg.

Location
Fredericksburg and surrounding communities

Managed by
National Park Service

Sites
Four battlefields and historic places

Admission
No entrance fee

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park preserves four major Civil War battlefields—Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House—along with historic places including Chatham Manor, Ellwood and the “Stonewall” Jackson Death Site. The sites are spread across a broad area, so this is less a single park entrance than a series of places to explore by car, on foot or with a ranger.

The park’s story spans four battles fought between December 1862 and May 1864, as the armies repeatedly clashed on the approaches to Richmond. Start with a battlefield map and choose one area—or set aside time to visit several. Park grounds are generally open from sunrise to sunset, but visitor-center and historic-building hours vary by site and season; check the National Park Service schedule before setting out.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Plan a trip to Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park

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Why visit the park?

This park makes it possible to follow the changing course of the war across several nearby landscapes: Fredericksburg’s steep defensive heights, the wooded ground at Chancellorsville and the Wilderness, and the earthworks and fields around Spotsylvania Court House. Visiting more than one battlefield helps put the campaigns into context, but each site can also be explored on its own.

There is no entrance fee. The park offers two visitor centers, self-guided battlefield driving routes, walking trails, exhibits and ranger programs. Each battlefield has its own map and visitor services, so plan around the particular sites you want to see rather than expecting one central visitor hub.

Start here

If you have time for one starting point, visit an open visitor center and ask staff which sites and programs are operating that day. The Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center is near the Sunken Road; the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center serves as an orientation point for Chancellorsville, the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House. Hours and available services can change, so confirm the current schedule before traveling.

For a first visit to Fredericksburg Battlefield, follow the Sunken Road walking route and continue toward Marye’s Heights and the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. The National Park Service describes the loop as about 0.8 mile; terrain and access conditions may affect individual visitors.

What to see and do

Fredericksburg Battlefield

Walk the Sunken Road and explore the ground around Marye’s Heights, where Union troops repeatedly attacked the Confederate defensive position in December 1862. The battlefield’s driving route connects additional stops outside the city center.

Chancellorsville Battlefield

Visit the battlefield visitor center, see exhibits and use the driving route to explore a campaign that unfolded in May 1863. Ranger programs are offered when scheduled; check current hours and program details.

Wilderness Battlefield

Explore wooded battlefield ground associated with the May 1864 clash between the armies led by Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. The park provides a self-guided driving route and walking opportunities.

Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield

Visit the battlefield’s trails and exhibit shelter to learn about the fighting around the Confederate earthworks, including the area known as the Bloody Angle.

Chatham Manor

This historic plantation house served as a Union headquarters and hospital during the Civil War. Its grounds and exhibits also interpret the site’s history as a plantation and the lives of enslaved people who lived and worked there.

“Stonewall” Jackson Death Site

The former farm office where Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson died is preserved at the site of Fairfield plantation. Grounds and building access have different schedules; confirm current operations before visiting.

History and significance

The park preserves the sites of four major battles fought from December 1862 through May 1864: Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House. Together, these campaigns trace a period in which Union forces repeatedly tried to move south toward Richmond and Confederate forces fought to stop them.

At Fredericksburg in December 1862, Union attacks against Confederate positions at Marye’s Heights failed at heavy cost. In May 1863, the Chancellorsville campaign brought another major Confederate victory, though Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was wounded by friendly fire and later died at Fairfield. A year later, Grant’s Overland Campaign brought fighting at the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House, where battles continued through much of May.

The park’s historic places also preserve stories beyond military operations. Chatham and Fairfield were plantations worked by enslaved people, while the battlefields and nearby communities experienced the war’s effects on soldiers and civilians alike.

Planning a visit

The park’s sites are spread across several communities, and a car is useful for moving between battlefields. The National Park Service provides directions, physical addresses, maps and self-guided driving-tour information for the different locations. Check those resources before leaving, since a mailing address for park headquarters is not the address for every battlefield or historic site.

Park grounds are generally open daily from sunrise to sunset, while buildings and visitor centers keep separate seasonal schedules. Some locations are open only seasonally, and ranger programs may depend on staffing and weather. Confirm current hours, closures, program details and accessibility information with the National Park Service before your visit.

Download or pick up the appropriate battlefield map before exploring. Trails and historic ground may include uneven surfaces; check the park’s accessibility guidance for site-specific information and contact the park if you have questions about your planned route.

Nearby attractions

Fredericksburg, Virginia
Explore the city at the heart of the Fredericksburg Battlefield and a convenient base for visiting the park’s nearby sites.

Manassas National Battlefield Park
Another Virginia Civil War park, preserving the battlefields of First and Second Manassas.

Richmond, Virginia
Virginia’s capital, with museums and historic places connected to the Civil War and the wider story of the state.

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References

External links

• Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park — National Park Service
• Plan Your Visit — National Park Service