Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier will proclaim America’s Independence Day on July 4, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with activities and programs.
Families will enjoy the chance to meet George Washington, hear about World War I from an American Doughboy, participate in 19th century games and take part in a ceremony concluding with a cannon fire salute. All visitors will have the opportunity to join staff for tours of the Breakthrough Battlefield which on April 2, 1865, resulted in the evacuation of both Petersburg and Richmond.
General Washington (portrayed by Brian Hilton) will discuss the meaning and legacy of the American War for Independence. You will have the opportunity to interact with Washington by asking questions and offering your own thoughts about the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the 4th of July, and the union of the states. What better way to celebrate the birthday of our country than to engage in conversation with the “Father of Our Country”? There will be opportunities for photographs with General Washington following the program. This is a family friendly event for people of all ages.
Living-historians representing the Hanover Independent Company of 1775 will also share how civilians supported patriots and British forces in the American Revolutionary War. Visitors can hear the Citizens of Old Virginia perform musical tunes from the Civil War as they share home front views of the war from both northern and southern perspectives.
Bill Stallings will bring the Great war to life as an American soldier better known as Doughboys from World War I. Visitors will hear about America’s unprepared mobilization and the experience of fighting in trenches and facing new technologies, during this terrible conflict. Several artifacts from the conflict will also be on display and their importance and stories shared with families and visitors. Everyone will be able to participate in games including America’s pastime, baseball.
All visitors will have the opportunity to join staff for tours of the Breakthrough Battlefield which on April 2, 1865, resulted in the evacuation of both Petersburg and Richmond. A mere seven days later, the surrender at Appomattox helped to secure the Union and began healing a nation.
Visitors will see that some inspirations remain the same as Thomas Jefferson observed in his quote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
All event activities and programs are included with regular daily paid admission.
One of “Virginia’s Best Places to Visit” according to the Travel Channel, and designated as a National Historic Landmark, Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier is a 424-acre Civil War campus located in Dinwiddie County, Virginia offering a combination of high-tech museums and hands-on experiences. The Park has four world-class museums and four antebellum homes. The Park is also the site of The Breakthrough Battlefield of April 2, 1865 and America’s premiere participatory experience, Civil War Adventure Camp. For more information, please call 804-861-2408 or visit www.pamplinpark.org.