Civil War History Comes to Life in Northern Virginia July 23-24, 2011

MANASSAS, Va., June 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Visitors to the metropolitan Washington D.C. area will travel back in time to the summer of 1861 during a reenactment of the first major battle of the Civil War, the Battle of First Manassas/Bull Run, on July 23 and 24, 2011.  Attendees will be an eyewitness to “The Moment that Changed America” as more than 8,300 Union and Confederate reenactors march into history at Prince William County’s first staging of the battle in 50 years. 

The ground will tremble as more than 350 horses of Calvary units gallop across the fertile farms and fields.  The thunder, flash and smoke of more than 50 cannon will mix with the dust from the feet of marching soldiers, artillery fire and black powder to create the fog of war. Reenactors portraying historic generals will follow the actual battle scenario that occurred 150 years ago.

Tickets to the reenactment are available by presale only online at www.manassasbullrun.com. The battle reenactment begins at 9:30 a.m. and continues for more than 2 1/2 hours.  Families can roam the soldiers' camps to see the conditions experienced by the Civil War soldier. In the living history area, reenactors and historians will interpret life in 1861 for the soldiers, civilians, slaves, men, women and children. The U.S. Colored Troops will depict the struggle of escaped slaves. Other groups will depict camp life for the soldiers including cooking, drilling, music, cards and games, field hospitals, medicine, music and much more.

Living history presentations will include a portrayal of Frederick Douglass, a program on the life of the slave in 1861 by Dr. Anita Henderson, medical advances during the War, photography and concerns for the soul of the soldier. Another topic will be “Patriots in Disguise” about female Loreta Velazquez who arrived from Louisiana to fight as Lieutenant Harry Buford.

Civil War era merchants known as sutlers, traveled with the troops and provided provisions to these ill equipped soldiers from canteens to caps. More than 30 sutlers as well as 40 modern day food vendors and merchants will sell their wares to civilians and soldiers alike.  Among these are B & B Tart, which sells wool and other period fabrics dyed with natural colorings.  Others participating include Gardener’s Dulcimer, The Lanternman, and North State Haberdashery. Horses will be shod by The Blacksmith with tack repaired and replaced by Duvall Leatherwork. 

Ticket prices start at $24.00 for adults and $15.00 for youth aged 6 to 12 (children under 6 are free). All tickets include complimentary parking at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia with shuttle service to and from the reenactment location adjacent to Manassas National Battlefield Park.  Use of the private farm was donated to the event by the Snyder Family in honor of their late mother, a local historic preservationist, Annie Snyder. 

Discover Prince William & Manassas, the area’s tourism marketing agency, is the lead planner and marketer of the reenactment.  The agency is also charged with promoting the more than 80 civil-war themed events planned this year and over the four year commemoration. “The events tie in well with one of our strategic goals, which is to establish Prince William & Manassas as the leading destination for Civil War history, education and heritage in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area," said Ann Marie Maher, Executive Director. "The events are expected to attract as many as 25,000 visitors generating $24.8 million in direct visitor economic impact to the destination.” For tickets, travel planning assistance and additional information, visit www.manassasbullrun.com or call 888-721-1861.

MEDIA PASSES, IMAGES, VIDEO:  www.manassasbullrun.com

SOURCE Discover Prince William & Manassas