Due to the forecast for inclement weather Friday night into Saturday, Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield has decided to cancel our outdoor event Soldiers of Virginia, 1607-1945, scheduled for Saturday, October 30th. We hope visitors will join us for Soldiers of Virginia next year on October 29, 2022.
Due to the forecast for inclement weather Friday night into Saturday, Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield has decided to cancel our outdoor event Soldiers of Virginia, 1607-1945, scheduled for Saturday, October 30th. We hope visitors will join us for Soldiers of Virginia next year on October 29, 2022.
Read about the program for 2022:
Visit Cedar Mountain to learn about the experience of soldiers who served in Virginia, from the first settlement of Jamestown in 1607 up to World War II.
During this unique living history event, more than a dozen accurately dressed individuals with appropriate equipment and arms will share stories that bring to life the time period they represent. There will also be firing demonstrations at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm. An exciting “Mad Minute” caps the program: all of the troops will fire as quickly as they can for sixty seconds.
Between the firing demonstrations, visitors are welcome to stroll from station to station for a fascinating snapshot of the gear and clothing representing each time period. The soldiers employed by the Virginia Company in 1607 arrived wearing colorful clothing, pieces of armor and carrying slow and heavy single shot weapons that required a burning piece of rope to fire them. By 1945 the American soldier was wearing colors that blended with his environment and carrying weapons that were relatively lightweight and could fire multiple shots in the space of a minute. Visitors can see the development of uniforms and weapons as technology and needs changed.
Children’s activity available for families: make your own history puppet to learn about military uniforms and gear.
Event schedule:
10:00 am – Event opens to public. Visitors are able to meet and chat with soldiers throughout the day, in between the scheduled arms demonstrations.
11:00 am demonstration – Matchlock to Firelock, 1607-1846
1:00 pm demonstration – Caplock to Breechloader, 1846-1865
2:00 pm demonstration – Trap Door to Bolt Action, 1898-1918
3:00 pm demonstration – Firepower against the Axis, 1941-1945
4:15 pm demonstration – The Mad Minute: Rate of Fire through the Ages
5:00 pm: Event ends.
The program is open to visitors of all ages. The program fee is $5/adult in support of Friends of Cedar Mountain educational programs. Children are free.
Bring a picnic and enjoy an outdoor lunch at the battlefield (picnic tables are available).
We do not recommend bringing pets, which may be disturbed by the weapons demonstrations.
Free parking will be available at the battlefield, located 5 miles south of Culpeper off of US Route 15. Access to the event is a short walk from the parking area.
Soldiers of Virginia is an open air event on the battlefield. In the event of inclement weather, the program will not be held and an update will be posted here and on the Cedar Mountain Battlefield Facebook page.
Please direct any questions to [email protected]
Thank you for your interest!
