Most of the northern portion of the Beaver Dam Creek battlefield has been destroyed by development, but Richmond National Battlefield Park protects 365 acres along the lower section of the creek near the site of Ellerson's Mill. That area includes some of the ground the Confederates defended during the June 26, 1862 battle. Located on the south side of Cold Harbor Road (VA Route 156) just east of Mechanicsville, a walking trail from a parking area takes visitors across the historic creek from the Confederate side to the Union side.