"Bull Run battlefield" Topic

My daughters and I are visiting Bull Run in a couple of days. Any recommendations about must see things or places. We only have one day.
Thanks

Well, it's not the huge sort of place that Gettysburg is, so you ought to be able to see the highlights in a day. Start at the visitors center and follow the tour routes.

I love Gettysburg but this site is very easy to walk about
You can follow the action easily and really get a sense of the battle.
Yes start at the station and hydrate

If you only have a day I would suggest the visitor center at Bull Run, walk Bull Run, Second Bull Run expands out from there, and right up the road is Brawners Farm which preceded Second Bull Run by a day or so. Brawners Farm has a small visitors center and some great trails. Much of the area is preserved so it's easy to walk much of the original battleground. The Bull Run visitor center has a ton of great maps and books you can buy if you are so inclined as well.

The small town of Centerville has a quaint downtown and last I was there a nice used bookshop with a good amount of military history for sale.

If you are open to absolutely stunningly good bakery goods there is a Korean Bakery very near by called Jireh Bakery Cafe that makes the best savory vegetable pockets and sweet mango cream rolls you will ever taste. It sounds exotic but isn't at all and the place isn't a dive. Great food to take for a lunch while exploring the battlefields as most everything is sold individually wrapped and can be eaten with one hand. They make it all on site as well.

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Keep in mind much of the area around Bull Run and Centerville towards Fairfax, Alexandria and DC is a nightmare of urban sprawl.

If you want something to see near by off the beaten path I highly recommend driving 24 miles north from Bull Run to Leesville and going to Ball's Bluff Battlefield right along the banks of the Potomac River. The entire site is preserved pretty much 100% and it's recently been nicely developed into a more approachable park for the public. It used to be pretty basic, a few rough trails in the woods. One of the smallest and least visited National Cemeteries is on that battlefield as well. Some nice cannon and some good walking trails.

Any idea for the name of the bookstore at Centerville?

My apologies, it's not in Centerville but in Manassas! It's called Prospero's Books.

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Thanks,

Vince

Yes, walk the 1st Bull Run field. But stay on the paths and check for ticks. This is primo tick season. Second Bull Run is a mix of driving and short walks. Same advice as above.

Balls Bluff is worth the visit. It is just outside Leesburg, VA. It is about 30 miles and, as pointed out above, it is an urban nightmare to drive around here.

Bristoe station is near there a site of a CW battle we managed
a walking tour there is a small visitors centre. Then we arrived in the nick of time at Bull Run for the tour.

Yes a little flanking move to avoid the urban areas is worth planning.

As a side trip you might consider driving to Quantico and check out the US Marine Corps museum. This maybe the best museum that I had ever seen.

Thanks
Duane

Some good links:
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I think you would have to start by asking what is it that you, and also important, your daughters are interested in? Civil War geeks like us could probably enjoy seeing a monument or looking at an open field and knowing that on that spot 150 years ago, give or take, something happened. For those less interested in the ACW it is simply another hunk of rock with a plaque on it, or a field.

If your daughters have an interest or at least a tolerance of history but no special interest in the ACW, I think Duane's suggestion of the U.S. Marine Corps museum at Quantico is a good one. Other suggestions would include George Mason's home at Gunston Hall or Sully plantation in Chantilly. Another good trip would be the Udvar Hazy (Smithsonian annex) air and space museum at Dulles airport. Slightly further would be Mount Vernon. and then there is Washington DC.

If they have no interest in history there is a water park close by. link If they are in to shopping Potomac Mills isn't too far away.

If you are blessed with family members who are interested in the ACW there are a number of add on options. Someone mentioned Bristoe battlefield. There are also a couple of ACW fort sites in Manassas, but don't expect much. ACW forts in better condition nearby would include Fort Ward in Alexandria and Fort Marcy in North Arlington. Lee's home of Arlington is located in Arlington Cemetery. If you were willing to rush things at Bull Run you could probably also hit one of the Fredricksburg battlefields, you could go west to Cedar Creek or head north to Monocacy.

You would also not be far from the Air and Space Museum at Dulles. Basically giant hangar full of planes and space shuttle.

I appreciate all the suggestions. I knew TMPers would respond!

Yes, don't miss the Air and space museum. Wonderful museum.

I liked Fort Ward. It is small and the staff is friendly.