Here’s a lineup of what’s going on in Manassas and at the Manassas Museum this summer.
Archaeology & Swim Camp; August 9 – 12; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; $200/ages 9-13
Does your child have what it takes to be an archaeologist? Would they like to be part of an archaeological dig? During this camp, they will at setting up a dig site, shoveling, sifting and learning about the artifacts we hope to discover on the museum grounds. After digging and sifting in the morning, they will enjoy a fun afternoon at the Stonewall Park Pool. Call 703-368-1873 or visit www.manassasmuseum.org to register.
Historic Downtown Walking Tours; Through October; Thursdays & Fridays at 12 Noon; free; meet at the Manassas Museum
Why weren’t the battles of Manassas fought in what is now the City of Manassas? Participants will learn about how Manassas began and significant episodes of our community’s past. Visitors need to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the temperature and for the weather.
Museum at the Market; Through October; Saturdays from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m.; free; Lot B, Prince William and West Streets
Write with a quill pen or break a spy code. These are just some of the activities the Museum staff feature at the Saturday Farmer’s Market that are fun for the whole family. Visit the City of Manassas Farmer’s Market Facebook page for each week’s activity.
Summer Liberia Plantation Tours; Through-September 4; Sundays at 12 Noon; FREE, 8601 Portner Avenue
See Liberia Plantation, the 1825 home used by Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War and visited by Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis.
Exhibit: The Quest for Light and Liberty; Through August 28; free
Guest Curator John Hennessy’s exhibit looks at post-war Virginia from Reconstruction through the early 1900s. For African–Americans, the tumultuous decades after the Civil War offered both tantalizing hints of racial progress and the heartbreaking realities of political exclusion. In Prince William County and across America, African–Americans struggled for rights, dignity, education, and a voice in the political process—for “light and liberty.” The exhibit includes artifacts never before displayed and an interactive activity for young people.
Exhibit: John Singleton Mosby: Lawyer, Soldier, Statesman; Through-August 28; free
Created by guest curator David Goetz to honor the 100th anniversary of the death of John Mosby, this exhibit will examine the many facets of Colonel John S. Mosby’s life, including his career as a lawyer and diplomat, and will include some of his personal artifacts. Mosby used cunning, audacity and great intelligence to rise from private to full colonel in four years in the Confederate army, ultimately organizing and commanding the fearsome 43rd Battalion, Virginia Cavalry (Mosby’s Rangers) the last two years of the war.
Van Tours; August 13 & 20; 11 a.m. -4 p.m.; $75
Where did the Confederate Army go after the Battle of First Manassas? Did Washington sleep here? Have you ever noticed historic signs throughout Northern Virginia and want to stop and read them? This is your chance to answer these and other questions and to learn about the rich history of the area. The tour will include food and an (adult) beverage at a local attraction.Call 703-368-1873 or visit www.manassasmuseum.org for tickets.
National Night Out; August 2, 6-8 p.m.; Free
Enjoy music, entertainment and fun for the whole family as we celebrate a night out against crime on the Manassas Museum Lawn. Held in conjunction with the Manassas City Police Department.
Free Book Talk: Manassas: Out Flew the Sabers with Author Daniel Davies; August 14; 1:30 p.m.
Fleetwood Hill at Brandy Station was the site of four major cavalry battles during the course of the Civil War, but none was more important than the one fought on June 9, 1863. That clash turned out to be the opening engagement of the Gettysburg Campaign – and the one-day delay it engendered may very well have impacted the outcome of the entire campaign.
Civil War Weekend; August 26-28; free
Enjoy dozens of free events for all ages and interests at the museum, in Historic Downtown, and at Liberia Plantation. Please check the latest schedule at www.manassasmuseum.org.
