Manassas
National Battlefield Park
About the Park
Manassas National Battlefield Park preserves the sites of both the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) and the Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas).
Key activities:
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The Henry Hill Visitor Center offers a film and a small museum focusing on the 1st battle.
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Behind the Henry Hill VC you can see the Henry House, Stonewall Jackson statue, and other monuments.
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Various tours are given throughout the year.
Other things to see:
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The Brawner Farm Interpretive Center has a few exhibits on the 2nd battle.
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From Brawner Farm, you can walk (about a mile) or drive over to the unfinished railroad line, which has a monument and signs.
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The Stone House, which served as a hospital during the battles, is usually open during the summer.
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A driving tour offers additional sites throughout the battlefield.
Manassas National Battlefield Park NPS Site
Discussion Topics
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The Union army lost an otherwise winnable battle at the 1st Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) because they weren't prepared for battle. Most had never fought in war before and many were overwhelmed with fear when they were first fired at. Have you ever been overwhelmed by a new or frightening experience? How do you learn from that experience to be better able to handle it the next time?
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The 2nd Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) was the only battle in which General John Pope led the Union army. He was overly confident in his own opinions and failed to adjust his thoughts when circumstances on the battlefield contradicted his assumptions. How can we stay humble enough to accept that we may be wrong about our opinions and be open to new information?
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Judith Henry was the first civilian to die in the Civil War. Why are civilians different than soldiers? Why do soldiers on both sides of a battle typically avoid harming civilians?
Maps
