Memorial Day 2025

Cannon Demonstration at Memorial Day 2024

NPS Photo

 

Memorial Day 2025

Join National Park Service Staff on May 24th, 25th, and 26th to observe Memorial Day at Manassas National Battlefield Park. Over 3,500 soldiers lost their lives because of the two Civil War battles that occured on the park. Each and every Memorial Day, we reserve time to revere, respect, and pay homage to the men who fell during the Civil War.

This special event will feature several Park Ranger Guided Tours, Living History Demonstrations, Jr. Ranger Activities, and additional programs.See our Schedule of Events listed below!

For more information, check our website in the following weeks as we finalize programming.

 

Schedule of Events

The following is our scheduled programs, talks, tours, and activities. All events are subject to change and cancellation.

Saturday, May 24th

10:00AM: Faces of the Fallen Exhibit Dedication & Unveiling

• Join Park Staff and visitors as we unveil the new exhibit "Faces of the Fallen." The exhibit features photographs of over 120 soldiers who perished in the First and Second Battle of Manassas. Short biographies accompany each photograph, to better learn these soldier's stories.

10:20AM: Faces of the Fallen Informal Q&A

• Immediately following the unveiling ceremony, we invite to public to participate in an informal Q&A where you can ask the exhibit curator and park staff about the exhibit and get an inside look into making a museum exhibit.

11:00AM: Faces of the Fallen Ranger Guided Tour (1st Manassas)

• One of the most powerful ways to tour a battlefield is to walk in the footsteps of the soldiers who fell in combat during First Manassas. Faces of the Fallen is designed to follow one soldier in combat. You'll learn about their personal thoughts, reasons for fighting, what the regiment did in combat, and what one soldier's death meant to their comrades and family.

1:00PM: Henry Hill Walking Tour

• Join a park staff for a tour on Henry Hill discussing the major action of the First Battle of Manassas on the ground where the battle was fought. 

2:00PM: Faces of the Fallen Ranger Guided Tour (2nd Manassas)

• One of the most powerful ways to tour a battlefield is to walk in the footsteps of the soldiers who fell in combat during Second Manassas. Faces of the Fallen is designed to follow one soldier in combat. You'll learn about their personal thoughts, reasons for fighting, what the regiment did in combat, and what one soldier's death meant to their comrades and family.

3:30PM: Second Manassas Henry Hill Walking Tour

• Learn about the Second Battle of Manassas on the ground where it took place. A park ranger or volunteer will take you to the landmarks of Henry Hill and decribe the day's events. Imagine the cannons roar and the crack of musketry as park staff narrarate the battle.

Sunday, May 25th

10:00AM: Henry Hill Walking Tour

• Join a park staff for a tour on Henry Hill discussing the major action of the First Battle of Manassas on the ground where the battle was fought.

11:00AM: Life and Death in the Civil War Walking Tour

• The Civil War amounted to over 600,000 deaths, more than any other war in American history. How did 1860's Americans think about death? What were their mourning practices? How did families locate their lost relatives? Join a park ranger on a special walking tour focussed on these questions and more.

1:00PM: Faces of the Fallen Ranger Guided Tour (1st Manassas)

• One of the most powerful ways to tour a battlefield is to walk in the footsteps of the soldiers who fell in combat during First Manassas. Faces of the Fallen is designed to follow one soldier in combat. You'll learn about their personal thoughts, reasons for fighting, what the regiment did in combat, and what one soldier's death meant to their comrades and family.

2:00PM: Second Manassas Henry Hill Walking Tour

• Learn about the Second Battle of Manassas on the ground where it took place. A park ranger or volunteer will take you to the landmarks of Henry Hill and decribe the day's events. Imagine the cannons roar and the crack of musketry as park staff narrarate the battle.

3:30PM: Faces of the Fallen Ranger Guided Tour (2nd Manassas)

• One of the most powerful ways to tour a battlefield is to walk in the footsteps of the soldiers who fell in combat during Second Manassas. Faces of the Fallen is designed to follow one soldier in combat. You'll learn about their personal thoughts, reasons for fighting, what the regiment did in combat, and what one soldier's death meant to their comrades and family.

Monday, May 26th

10:00AM: Faces of the Fallen Ranger Guided Tour (1st Manassas)

• One of the most powerful ways to tour a battlefield is to walk in the footsteps of the soldiers who fell in combat during First Manassas. Faces of the Fallen is designed to follow one soldier in combat. You'll learn about their personal thoughts, reasons for fighting, what the regiment did in combat, and what one soldier's death meant to their comrades and family.

11:00AM: Salute Firing/Artillery Demonstration

• Join Park staff and volunteers in learning about Civil War artillery. See how the crew loads and fires a Civil War cannon. Learn about how artillery was used and about the various tasks needed to ensure it's effectiveness. 

11:30AM: Names of the Manassas Fallen (Part I)

• Listen to park staff recite the names of over 3,500 soldiers who were killed at First and Second Manassas echo over the hillside where they once fought.

1:00PM: Salute Firing/Artillery Demonstration

• Join Park staff and volunteers in learning about Civil War artillery. See how the crew loads and fires a Civil War cannon. Learn about how artillery was used and about the various tasks needed to ensure it's effectiveness. 

1:30PM: Names of the Manassas Fallen (Part II)

• Listen to park staff recite the names of over 3,500 soldiers who were killed at First and Second Manassas echo over the hillside where they once fought.

3:00PM: Faces of the Fallen Ranger Guided Tour (2nd Manassas)

• One of the most powerful ways to tour a battlefield is to walk in the footsteps of the soldiers who fell in combat during Second Manassas. Faces of the Fallen is designed to follow one soldier in combat. You'll learn about their personal thoughts, reasons for fighting, what the regiment did in combat, and what one soldier's death meant to their comrades and family.

5:00PM: Names of the Manassas Fallen (Part III)

• Listen to park staff recite the names of over 3,500 soldiers who were killed at First and Second Manassas echo over the hillside where they once fought.

 

A segment of the "Faces of the Fallen" exhibit.

NPS Photo

"Faces of the Fallen" Exhibit Unveiling

The park is unveiling a new permanent exhibit, “Faces of the Fallen”, in the Henry Hill Visitor Center that will feature photographs and short biographies for 120 of the over 3,500 who were killed on the Manassas Battlefield or died as result of wounds incurred at the battles.

The "Faces of the Fallen" exhibit will be a permeant installation to the atrium portion of the Henry Hill Visitor Center, utilizing semi-permeable glass sticker, allowing light to shine through the faces of these soldiers. Every visitor that uses the rear entrance of the visitor center will pass through the exhibit prior to their exit to the battlefield, providing a harrowing and humbling perspective of the scale of loss of battle, giving context, demanding respect and reverence, and humanizing the scenes of battle from July and August 1861 and 1862.

This project is the culmination of almost a year of research, collaboration with approximately 80 private, state, and federal resources, exhibit design, fabrication, and installation.

The ratio Union/Confederate is a direct comparison to the casualty rates from the battles (120 soldiers, 66 Union, 54 Confederate). This exhibit seeks to make the enormous human cost of the battles and the sacrifice of the soldiers who died at Manassas accessible visually through the scale of the exhibit.

Additional new and updated exhibits in the gallery will provide infographics with key facts and figures about the scale of casualties of the Civil War and a breakdown of casualties for both the First and Second battles of Manassas.

We're incredibly proud to unveil this new exhibit on 10:00AM Saturday, May 24th as part of our Memorial Day 2025 observance.