Fall into History at Eight Colorful Battlefield Parks and Historic Destinations
(Washington, D.C.) — With its welcoming weather and famously bright backdrops, fall provides the perfect opportunity for Americans of all ages to enjoy the outdoors and experience the best of what our country’s battlefield parks have to offer. In honor of this celebrated season, the American Battlefield Trust encourages everyone to get outside and learn about history with events and activities at historic sites nationwide. Among the many season events on offer are:
October 19: Fall Festival at Bentonville Battlefield, Four Oaks, N.C.
Bring the family and celebrate fall at Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site! Activities include wagon rides, 19th-century carnival games, a corn-shucking contest, townball (19th-century baseball) and more! Learn more.
October 19 & 26: Halloween Lantern Walk, Lincoln, Mass.
Celebrate Halloween at Minute Man National Historical Park with the Guild of Historic Interpreters! For two consecutive Saturdays, younger children can join a slightly spooky early evening lantern walk down the Battle Road Trail to meet the spirits of 1775. Learn more.
October 26–27: Drink Your Apples! Historic Cider Making, Harpers Ferry, W.V.
Learn the time-honored tradition of preserving harvest-time apples by making cider at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Learn more.
October 27: Halloween and the Civil War, Kennesaw, Ga.
Come explore the historical origins of this (in)famous holiday at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park — and learn how it is connected to the changing shape of America during the Civil War in this special ranger-led program. Learn more.
October 27: 18th-Century Field Day, Gloucester County, N.J.
Enjoy battle reenactments, colonial demonstrators, vendors, food and fun at Red Bank Battlefield Park! Learn about the Battle of Red Bank and why New Jersey is called “The Crossroads of the American Revolution.” Tour the Whitall House and watch hearth cookers preparing delicious fall-inspired food. Take in a spectacular sword fight and see a colonial magic show. Cheer on the Jonas Cattell Memorial Run participants at the finish line. Learn more.
November 2: Guided Battlefield Hike, Clinton, S.C.
The 1780 Battle of Musgrove Mill was a vital turning point in America’s fight for independence in the South Carolina backcountry. This ranger-led hike will cover the 1.5-mile battlefield trail at Musgrove Mill State Historic Site, during which attendees will learn about why the battle was fought, who participated and what occurred during the encounter. Learn more.
November 15 & 17: Civil War Walking Tour, Pecos, N.M.
Take a ranger-led walking tour to better understand the Civil War and the Battle of Glorieta Pass, the “Gettysburg of the West,” at Pecos National Historical Park. The tour will cover about one mile along the Battlefield Trail, which is groomed and relatively flat with minimal elevation gain. Learn more.
November 23–24: 156th Anniversary Commemoration: Battles for Chattanooga, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
Join Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park on the weekend before Thanksgiving for the commemoration of the 156th Anniversary of the Battles for Chattanooga. Learn more.
For more travel ideas, check the National Park Service events calendar at findyourpark.com, visit a state park website, search for museums and historic sites near you, or browse the American Battlefield Trust’s suggested travel itineraries.
The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. To date, the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 51,000 acres of battlefield land associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.