new market state historical park

Walking the extensive grounds of this park give a feel for the enormity of the energy Civil War infantry expended at the Ballet of New Market. The grounds of the battle are on both sides of the Interstate, and you can walk them both and see monuments to people and units on either side. Imagining yourself marching into battle after carrying 40-60 lbs. of equipment for miles and miles, and then going forward to meet cannon fire, cavalry, and infantry as the battle commences makes you feel the courage of the men and boys (some Cadets only 14!) involved.Horrified as I am for the price of the freedoms and unity of our country today, I am thankful for those who struggled in all eras of our history. I appreciate those who preserve that history in ways that help us experience it, not just read about it.

It's hard to imagine that 150 years ago Americans were fighting a war on this very spot. The peace and beauty of this area is incongruous with such a notion. The local farm where the battle was fought has been lovingly maintained. You can even go inside the farm house where the battle was fought. Go inside the basement where the family who lived there hid to avoid the bullets and cannonballs. The barns and other outbuildings are all there and in very good condition. This is a smaller battlefield so you can easily walk all of it. There are split-rail fences and old cannons still there. There is a scenic overlook where the Shenandoah River and some very beautiful farms can be viewed. The Battlefield is very easy to find. Interstate 81 goes right through it, which is both good and bad. Good--it's easy to find and get to. Bad--a very busy interstate highway cutting through a Civil War Battlefield. The Interstate highway planners should be ashamed of themselves.

Staff was friendly and very helpful. Didn't have much time but did watch the movie which was pretty long but informative. Took a quick drive on the battlefield road - you can walk it if you have time.

There was a movie first then a tour of the building which housed displays of all the history. Then we went out to see the field of shoes battle ground. You could imagine the effort the cadets had to go through to push back the Union forces. They have a reenactment which must be spectator. Plan on at least 2 hours.

You need a ticket to the museum to tour this battlefield and to get the map which explains the numbered markers. Battle in July 1864 which involved cadets from VMI. You can tour the 1825 home where people hid in the cellar during the battle. There are some other structures from that time. You can tour this area by foot or by car. One note of warning if touring by car, to see the 1905 monument to the Pennsylvania 54th Regiment (one of only two monuments in the park) you need to drive a few miles north of New Market on Route 11. The monument is on the west side of the road and there is a small parking area. Be careful of the steps--they are high and there is no hand rail. The museum should do something to make that safer.

look at your own pace . Had marker of thing happen there . Had house and building around it . there is smach penny there

Go to the museum first and watch the movie about the VMI boys. This will set you up for your self-guided visit. The museum has a lot of historic artifacts but not so many you are over whelmed. The old house on the property is furnished as it would have been during the 1860s. Worth a couple hours of your time to get a history lesson.

I loved the movie that they show every 30 minutes about the battle. The staff were very friendly and helpful.

This is a very nice park. There is the battlefield of the Battle of New Market, which is still a key moment for the Virginia Military Institute. The view of the valley and the Massanutten Mountain is alone worth going. And the museum, run by VMI, is excellent, covering both the battle and the Civil War as a whole. The video production is first-rate, well worth watching.

My husband and I really enjoyed the visit to the museum and the New market battle site. The museum did a very good job of explaining the major battles of the Civil War very quickly. The movie was quite moving about the young cadets who fought in the battle. The self-guided walking tour for a good too.

This is hallowed ground...all of which makes it's current presentation a bit disconcerting. Yes, the battlefield is literally divided by Route 81; we are not kind to history. But the interpretive perspectives of the museum, no doubt with good intention, are not always easy to follow. The display focuses primarily on the chronological sequence of "Virginia battles," (virtually no mention of nearby Antietam, or Gettysburg). As the park is administered by VMI (did I mention the $10 per ticket entrance fee?) the involvement of their cadets is understandably heralded but with limited overview of the battle itself. For the ardent historian there is interest in all of this, but for a broader view, or a family visit, I'd recommend the larger federally run sites.

This was the first time I had ever seen a ReEnactment and, to say the least, I was floored. This was the 150th anniversary and people were dressed in the mode of the day, from uniforms to hoop skirts. Amazing!

Enjoyed our visit and our children's introduction to some civil war history. It was almost 90 degrees when we visited, but there was shade in places. Kids loved seeing the canons in the fields and seeing the diagrams of how far they traveled by foot.

Of course, the 150th anniversary was very crowded, BUT well-planned and executed. Enjoyed the 4 days immensely and I'm not even a Civil War buff. The story of the lost shoes from the VMI Keydets makes an enlightening movie that all interested parties should see. Thanks Major Marshall and staff for making this visit so memorable.

Went there on a school trip with my son. The museum was very informative and had a lot of civil war items on display. The reenactment was awesome. Everyone was very welcoming and we learned a lot about the civil war.