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Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park

National Military Park · VA

Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania, this is America's battleground, where the Civil War roared to its bloody climax. No place more vividly reflects the War's tragic cost in all its forms. A town bombarded and looted. Farms large and small ruined. Refugees by the thousands forced into the countryside. More than 85,000 men wounded; 15,000 killed--most in graves unknown.

Official NPS page →

Current Alerts (1)

Park Closure

Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center Closed, Store and Grounds Open

Starting November 20, 2025 the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center will be closed while updates are made to building systems. Front Desk operations including visitor orientation will move to the adjacent Fredericksburg Battlefield Bookstore. The Chancellorsville Visitor Center remains open to visitors 9am - 5pm all week.

Entrance Fees

This park is fee-free.

Upcoming Events

Civil War Book Group: Sleeping with the Ancestors: How I Followed the Footprints of Slavery: Joe McGill

Sep 2, 2026 · Meet at Fredericksburg Branch of Central Rappahannock Regional Library (1201 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401)

Labor Day Weekend Living History

Sep 5, 2026 · Along the Sunken Road near the Fredericksburg Visitor Center.

Voices of the Past: A Slave Dwelling Project Weekend

Sep 11, 2026 · The Chatham program will take place at 120 Chatham Lane, Fredericksburg VA 22405. Other programs will take place at historic sites across the area. A shuttle will be available for transport between sites for Saturday's programming.

Slave Dwelling Project Weekend: Living History

Sep 12, 2026 · 120 Chatham Ln, Fredericksburg VA 22405

The Story of Ellen Mitchell

Sep 12, 2026 · 120 Chatham Ln, Fredericksburg VA 22405

Sparking Freedom

Sep 12, 2026 · 120 Chatham Ln, Fredericksburg VA 22405

Avenues to Freedom: The USCTs

Sep 12, 2026 · 120 Chatham Ln, Fredericksburg VA 22405

Sparking Freedom

Sep 12, 2026 · 120 Chatham Ln, Fredericksburg VA 22405

Chatham Laundry Open House

Sep 12, 2026 · 120 Chatham Ln, Fredericksburg VA 22405

Community Canvas Children's Activity Tent

Sep 12, 2026 · 120 Chatham Lane, Fredericksburg, VA 22405

Things to Do

Chancellorsville Anniversary

View special programming for the upcoming anniversary of the Battle of Chancellorsville.

Earn Your Junior Ranger Patches

Become a Junior Ranger at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP! Our park has four booklets of activities available for kids of all ages. Complete all four booklets to complete your set of patches and learn about the battlefields.

Fredericksburg Anniversary

View special programming for the upcoming anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg.

Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminaria

The Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminaria is an annual event featuring over 15,000 lanterns in the cemetery – one for each soldier buried in the cemetery grounds. This event takes place on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. The luminaria honors soldiers who have died in the service of this country.

Hike the Battlefields

Explore trails at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park and experience the battlefields up close.

History at Sunset

History at Sunset is an annual series that focuses on areas rarely visited, stories rarely told, or familiar sites seen through a different lens. Park rangers lead each History at Sunset event, which may be an evening tour or special program in the park or the surrounding area.

Programs at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP

Join one of our regularly scheduled programs to explore deeper into the history of the park and tackle the tough questions surrounding the history of the Civil War and how we remember the war today. Programs usually run from spring through fall, with the highest concentration of offerings in the summer.

Wilderness & Spotsylvania Anniversaries

View special programming for this year's anniversary of the Battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House.

Visitor Centers

  • Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center
  • Chatham
  • Ellwood
  • Fredericksburg Battlefield Bookstore
  • Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center
  • Jackson Death Site

Source: National Park Service.

Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park: Alerts, Camping & Things to Do | ExploreParksUSA