Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!
Flat Hat Award trip➢
Each year, the NPTC recognizes a park ranger or volunteer for outstanding service. Club members nominate individuals who made their park visits memorable. The club officers host a meetup at the winning park unit. In April, we travelled to Wolf Trap National Park For The Performing Arts for the award ceremony for Ranger Will. On this mini road trip, Patty and I squeezed in 5 new NPS units, including Manassas National Battlefield.
- Fort Washington Park
- Thomas Stone NHS
- Piscataway Park
- Wolf Trap National Park For The Performing Arts
- Manassas NBP
Manassas National Battlefield➢
Manassas National Battlefield Park in northern Virginia preserves the sites of two major Civil War battles: the First Battle of Manassas (First Battle of Bull Run) and the Second Battle of Manassas (Second Battle of Bull Run). These battles were pivotal in the early years of the war and marked significant Confederate victories.
The outcome of the first battle shocked the North, which had expected a quick victory, and foreshadowed a long and bloody conflict. It also established General “Stonewall” Jackson as a key figure in the Confederate Army. Civilians from DC, anticipating an entertaining display of Union military prowess, stationed themselves on nearby hills to watch.
The Confederate victory at the second battle allowed General Robert E. Lee to launch his first invasion of the North, leading to the Battle of Antietam.
We visited Manassas after the ceremony at Wolf Trap. It was drizzling and cold, so we watched the park’s film and looked at the exhibits in the visitor center. Afterwards, we caught the end of a ranger talk while walking the Henry Hill loop.
Location: 6511 Sudley Road, Manassas, Virginia
Designation: National Battlefield
Date designated/established: May 10, 1940
Date of my visit: April 27, 2024
