Make some history this weekend.
Robert James
Many notable battlefields and historic sites are located a short driving distance from the government buildings, landmark memorials and fascinating museums of our nation’s capital.
Whether you’re a visitor looking to round out your travel itinerary or a local seeking a day trip outside the city, these scenes of America’s earliest conflicts offer an opportunity to connect with history, learn through experience and support local businesses.
There are several historic battlefields accessible within 60 minutes of the Capitol that help reveal the influence of the Civil War on Washington, D.C.
- Manassas National Battlefield Park (Manassas, Va.) interprets two of the most famous battles in Northern Virginia, including the first major clash of the Civil War.
- Also see the wartime headquarters (for both sides) of Liberia House, Confederate hospital at Ben Lomond Historic Site and nearby Bristoe Station Battlefield.
- After visiting the battlefield grab fun-named food and a board game at Crossroads Tabletop Tavern, specialty popcorn or fudge at Popcorn Monkey, or classic American fare at Public House Kitchen & Brewery in the Old Town.
- Compliment history with libations at The Winery at Bull Run, where vineyard tours focusing on Civil War history are paired with the perfect wine and battlefield artifacts and relics on display.
- Exploring the only engagement in which a sitting U.S. Senator was killed in action, Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park (Leesburg, Va.) offers a look at a Union military disaster that shaped the political handling of the rest of the war.
- Before hiking the battlefield, pick up breakfast or lunch sandwiches from South Street Under, and finish your day with a beer and pizza at Fire Works.
- Around Leesburg are fantastic vineyards and historic manors including George C. Marshall’s at Dodona, Morven and Oatlands.
- In 1864, the capital was under serious threat. Monocacy National Battlefield (Frederick, Md.) reveals the story of a crucial final stand of untried Union troops hoping to delay a veteran Confederate army intent on capturing Washington, D.C.
- In nearby Frederick, visit the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and Hessian Barracks, with lunch or dinner at one of several Black Hog BBQ’s in the area or at Monocacy Crossing adjacent to the battlefield.
- Containing the only battlefield in Washington, Fort Stevens (D.C.) followed Monocacy in the critical effort to save the capital in 1864. Here, President Lincoln came under fire.
- Find more Civil War history around Fort Stevens at the Battleground National Cemetery, President Lincoln’s Cottage and the African American Civil War Memorial Museum.
Many of the most important engagements of the Civil War were fought across the two neighboring counties of Culpeper and Spotsylvania in Virginia.
- Now incorporated into the Culpeper Battlefields State Park, the 1862 Battle of Cedar Mountain and 1863 Brandy Station cavalry engagement offer two unique battlefields an hour-and-a-half from Washington.
- C.F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area (containing Kelly’s Ford), the Museum of Culpeper History, Salubria, and Rappahannock Adventures demonstrate the mix of nature and history that embodies Culpeper County.
- Chow down on some of the best Thai food at Pinto Thai for lunch, with dinner at Flavor on Main, an art-décor restaurant serving Prohibition-themed cocktails.
- Uniquely, the Old House Distillery Tasting Room features a small World War II museum to honor veterans while sampling local wine and beer.
- Fredericksburg headquarters the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park which includes the battlefields at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House.
- Make sure to visit Slaughter Pen Farm at Fredericksburg, First Day at Chancellorsville Battlefield and Payne’s Farm Battlefield near the Wilderness, all Trust-preserved sites.
- In Fredericksburg, witness colonial history at the Washington Heritage Museums featuring the Mary Washington House, Hugh Mercer Apothecary, Rising Sun Tavern and St. James House. Presidential history in the city also includes George Washington’s Ferry Farm and the James Monroe Museum.
- Once you’ve worked up an appetite trekking across battlefields, stop by Mason Dixon Café for terrific diner fare, Soup and Taco for Mexican, Basilico for an Italian deli experience, or Sammy T’s for varied bar food.
- Directly across from the First Day at Chancellorsville, shop for candy, sweets, coffee and meats at the Battlefield Country Store.
In 1862 and 1863, Confederate forces invaded the United States around the capital area, culminating in clashes at some of the bloodiest and most famous battlefields in America.
- Famous for John Brown’s Raid and eponymous Fort, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park features hikes interpreting the 1862 battle around the city, in addition to beautiful overlooks above the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers.
- History for those with a sweet tooth! True Treats Candy allows shoppers to learn about and try hundreds of historical candies from ancient times to today.
- Grab breakfast and coffee before you set out on a hike at Battle Grounds Bakery, enjoy great food in a local atmosphere at The Rabbit Hole, savor a beer with a view at Harpers Ferry Brewery, or partake in vegan meals at Kelley Farm Kitchen.
- Around two hours from Washington, Antietam National Battlefield is one of the best-preserved and most important battlefields of the American Civil War. Antietam is the bloodiest day in American history, as well as key to the story of Emancipation.
- Nearby, South Mountain State Battlefield includes the only section of the Appalachian Trail to cross a major Civil War battlefield. Headquartered on the battlefield, Washington Monument State Park atop South Mountain offers stunning views of the area.
- Only ten minutes from Antietam, Crystal Grottoes Caverns allows visitors to descend into a fascinating geological formation.
- Travel into Sharpsburg for a cold treat at Nutter’s Ice Cream or dinner at Captain Benders Tavern.
- As the most famous battlefield of the Civil War, Gettysburg National Military Park is a must-see historical treasure over two hours from Washington, D.C.
- Off the battlefield, several museums highlight key aspects of the battle:
- Civilian experiences take focus at the Jennie Wade House, Shriver House, Beyond the Battle Museum and Children of Gettysburg 1863.
- Gettysburg Black History Museum tells the critical story of African Americans living in the city before, during, and after the battle.
- Dioramas abound at Gettysburg Diorama and Civil War Tails, which has a unique feline overlay.
- Gettysburg Heritage Center and Seminary Ridge Museum both provide introductory overviews of the engagement in July 1863.
- Off the battlefield, several museums highlight key aspects of the battle:
- Located near the battlefield, Eisenhower National Historic Site preserves the farm haven and diplomatic retreat of the 34th president.
- Gettysburg caters to the hungry traveler spending the day on the battlefield:
- Blue and Gray Bar and Grill offers a themed mix of traditional bar food, including burgers named after commanders and wings inspired by famous regiments and battlefield locations.
- The Gettysburger Company serves up an acclaimed selection of cheeseburgers alongside other classic American fare.
- Gettysburg Eddie’s sports bar takes its inspiration not from the battlefield, but a local baseball legend in the early days of the sport.
- With a mix of period cuisine and upscale American selections, Farnsworth House contains several dining options in a historic venue that was utilized by Confederate sharpshooters during the battle.
With two major campaigns, twenty battles and hundreds of smaller skirmishes, the Shenandoah was intensely fought over during the four years of Civil War.
- Winchester, an hour-and-a-half drive from D.C., features several key Civil War battlefields in its vicinity: Cool Spring, Second Winchester, Third Winchester, Kernstown and the Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park.
- Orient yourself at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.
- Explore regional Civil War history at the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum and Stonewall Jackson’s Headquarters, both in Winchester.
- Start your day in Winchester with breakfast at Papermill Place, followed by a Caribbean lunch at Island Delights and dinner at Cork Street Tavern.
- Further south in Shenandoah County, battlefield and geological history combine to make for a fascinating trip outside of the capital.
- Civil War sites in this area include the Virginia Museum of the Civil War and New Market State Battlefield, Cross Keys and Port Republic.
- Marvelous cave systems populate the area, including the famous Luray Caverns, Shenandoah Caverns, Melrose Caverns, Skyline Caverns and Grand Caverns.
- Traveling between battlefields in the valley can be made even more pleasant by motoring through the Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive.
- Combine a visit to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation’s headquarters with coffee at the neighboring Jackson’s Corner Coffee Roastery and Café.
- Afterward, enjoy a gourmet sandwich for lunch at Gathering Grounds in Luray. Finally, round out your trip with catfish and BBQ at The Fishin’ Pig.
With the Burning of Washington and the resolute Star-Spangled Banner, the Chesapeake Campaign in 1814 tested and defined the early United States. These sites in Maryland help explain that story.
- Start your journey at Bladensburg Waterfront Park, the site of the American defeat at Bladensburg that led to the capture and burning of Washington, D.C. Afterward, grab breakfast on your way to Baltimore at Busboys and Poets in Hyattsville.
- Before exploring Baltimore proper, visit North Point State Park and Battle Acre Park to trace the vital delaying action by Maryland militia before the Battle of Baltimore.
- After, eat at The Fountain, a 1950s-themed soda and lunch counter restaurant.
- Central to the defense of Baltimore and inspiration for the national anthem, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine is a necessary stop for understanding the War of 1812 in Baltimore.
- Follow your tour of Fort McHenry by visiting the The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, Battle Monument, Maryland Museum of Military History, Maryland Center for History and Culture and Pride II clipper inspired by privateers of the War of 1812.
- Time left in Baltimore? See the sloop-of-war USS Constellation and Civil War museum at President Street Station.
- For dinner, devour some delicious crab cakes, softshell crab and other seafood at Phillips Seafood in the Inner Harbor before returning to Washington.
We’ve got some tips and advice for preparing day trips to historic sites across the capital area.
Check the local weather for each location and try to leave early in the morning for the longer drives to get the most out of a destination.
Visit the American Battlefield Trust’s website to get historical resources on the battlefields and campaigns included in this itinerary before your travels.