Petersburg: The Cockade City - Virginia Is For Lovers

Address

6125 Boydton Plank Road
Petersburg, VA 23803
Phone

804-828-2408 (8048282408)
City

Petersburg

Locality

Dinwiddie
Social

The city of Petersburg served a prominent role in the Civil War. It was as a major supply source for the Confederacy. This city also witnessed the first observance of Memorial Day and the longest military siege in American history. Here are a few must-see attractions:

First stop: City Point. From June 15, 1864- March 29, 1865, General Ulysses S. Grant directed the siege of Petersburg and overall Union war effort from the grounds of Appomattox Plantation at City Point (now Hopewell). With its strategic location at the confluence of the James and Appomattox Rivers, City Point was an ideal setting for a large Union supply base.

Next stop: Petersburg National Battlefield. In June 1864, Ulysses S. Grant realized that the key to conquering Richmond was to bring down the remaining major supply source, Petersburg. Three days after an unsuccessful attack, Grant decided to surround the city and wear down the supply desperate Confederate soldiers.

Lunch in Olde Towne Petersburg

Next stop: Pamplin Historical Park. Experience the lives of the common soldier, civilian and enslaved people at this National Landmark 424-acre campus which features four historic homes, The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, 5 miles of trails and the Breakthrough Battlefield. Interpreters bring history to life while special electronic devices allow visitors to experience an audio/visual tour at over eighty stops within the museum and in the park.

Next stop: Centre Hill Mansion. Built in 1823 by Robert Bolling IV, Centre Hill remained a lavish Petersburg residence until 1936. President Abraham Lincoln visited Union General George Hartsuff at Centre Hill Mansion on April 7, 1865, just days after the fall of Petersburg and Richmond.

Final stop: Blandford Church. This 18th-century parish church is a memorial to the Southern soldiers who died during the Civil War. In honor of the Confederate dead, each state contributed a leaded glass window designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Insiders Tip: Attractions mentioned offer group rates and special programming options for adults and students, so be sure to ask.