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In 2011, America will mark a bittersweet anniversary - 150 years since the start of the American Civil War.
Follow the path of the soldiers beginning at Manassas National Battlefield Park, the place where General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson earned his name. The site of two significant Civil War battles is preserved in perpetuity as a 5000 acre National Park where the vistas remain as they were nearly 150 years ago. Still standing today is the Henry House, site of the first Civilian casualty, the Stone House, used as a hospital during both battles, and the Stone Bridge over Bull Run. At the New York Monument, remember the 5th New York Zouaves who lost 123 men in five minutes. Today the Visitor Center tells the story of the Civil War soldier through displays of civil war era uniforms, weapons and field gear, electronic battle maps, and the film "Manassas: End of Innocence" depicting the First & Second Battle of Manassas, narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss. Next, stop for lunch in Old Town Manassas. This historic Main Street Community, once known as Tudor Hall or Manassas Junction was little more than a railroad crossing. During the Civil War it became strategically important due to the power of carrying men and supplies from both capitals (Richmond and DC) and the Shenandoah Valley....the breadbasket of the Confederacy. Destroyed during the Civil War, the town was rebuilt during the Victorian era. Manassas now boasts charming, century-old facades, boutiques, historic buildings, unique restaurants, festivals, Sunday dances, ice skating, a railway depot and more. The historic Candy Factory is now a contemporary art gallery and the Opera House Gourmet store is a great stop for "Virginia's Finest" treats.
We'll continue on to historic Middleburg in Loudoun County where Confederate Colonel John S. Mosby set up his base camp from which to raid nearby Union outposts. Today it's the unofficial capital of horse country in America. For more than 100 years sporting enthusiasts and their horses have claimed the town and its lush rolling countryside as their own. We'll dine at the Red Fox Inn which has been offering hospitality to travelers since 1728 and is the oldest continually operated inn in the United States. We'll then head to Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, where you'll find 110 designer and name brand stores including Burberry, Coach, Kate Spade, Movado, and many more in an outdoor village-like setting and offering everyday savings of 25-65%. Recharge by enjoying a delicious dessert and freshly brewed coffee from Leesburg Corner's own Harry & David store and a tasting from local winery, Loudoun Valley Vineyards, then spend your evening shopping your favorite brands. We'll spend the night at the Holiday Inn Leesburg at Historic Carradoc Hall. This unique hotel is attached to a stately 1747 manor house which was once the home of Captain William Harper, a Revolutionary War soldier. Later, during the Civil War, it was part of the Underground Railroad network of safe houses for slaves escaping to the north. The next day we'll tour Dodona Manor, the restored home of General George C. Marshall who is best known as the author of the Marshall Plan that laid the groundwork for post WWII European recovery; Ball's Bluff Battlefield Regional Park, the site of the second largest battle fought in Loudoun; and finally, Historic Morven Park, a 1,000 acre estate featuring a Greek Revival Mansion that was the home of Virginia Governor Westmoreland Davis, replica Civil War huts, a collection of restored 19th century horse-drawn carriages, the Museum of Hounds and Hunting, and intricate boxwood gardens.
In Maryland, the Civil War is best explored in the footsteps of generals, and through the stories and remembrances of those who survived. Our tour links together a collection of sites from Montgomery County, to Frederick County to Washington County, MD. With one foot in the North, and one foot in the South, Maryland's counties tell a meaningful story of the Civil War - its causes, battles, heroes and villains. We'll visit Monocacy, site of the battle that saved Washington, D.C. A stop at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine is a must do when in Maryland. It is the premiere repository of exhibits and artifacts devoted to the technological and procedural advances made in the medical field during the war. We'll pass by the areas of Camp David and Site R (rumored to be Dick Cheney's undisclosed location after September 11th) with a stop at Cozy's. We'll dine at the historic Old South Mountain Inn, poised atop scenic, historic South Mountain, where General Lee fought back General McClellan, allowing time for Confederate troops to regroup. We'll visit Antietam National Battlefield, site of the "Bloodiest One Day Battle in American History" - 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat on September 17, 1862. The battle prompted Abraham Lincoln's issuance of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. After, we'll drive to Montgomery County, to see the Clara Barton House National Historic Site, which commemorates the life of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross.
