Ohhh my freaking gosh y'all! Ok let me start by saying,... we went to the Petersburg national battlefield (federal) that morning and I wanted to cry because that was supposed to be our big exciting thing to see the Battle of the Crater,..,, well needless to say the park/museum at the federally owned part needed some serious help and funding. But,.... Y'all,..... this privately owned place knocked it out of the park! They did such an amazing job bringing history to life. The staff was freaking amazing,... especially the sweet little old man in the museum about the actual battle (wish I remembered his name). I can not brag on this place enough!!! read more

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William Boisseau a tobacco farmer constructed his plantation home around 1815. Originally a 2 wide and 1 room this type of home was popular in Dinwiddie County during the late 1700's, early 1800's. Later his son John G. Boisseau expanded the east side of the residence creating a central hall and added Greek Revival details. None of the original furnishing remain today. Confederate Brigadier General Samuel McGowan used the home as a HQ at some point during the Civil War. A downstairs room in the home he used is set as it might have been when he used it. After the war he returned to South Carolina and became a judge. Beautiful Tudor Hall is located in Pamplin Historical Park. Admission is required. read more

Pamplin Historical Park - Museums Near Me - Petersburg, Virginia

Pamplin is very different from your almost stereotypical battlefield park, almost all of which are part of a National, State, or perhaps Civil War Trust-run battlefields. It is a private museum on what was formerly a key part of the siege lines around Petersburg, and delivers a multi-media experience both inside and outside the building. It costs money to enter, but it's well worth the price of admission. To start with, you need to explore the building. You get a player with recordings that tie to various exhibits, so you can hear the sound of battle and the voices of the troops. It sounds corny, but even as a 'veteran' of many Civil War battlefields I was impressed. The outside has lots to see as well. What marks this ground as especially important is it was the location of a major break-thru in the Siege of Petersburg; in fact there is a film which walks you thru the end of the siege. You can still see the trench lines of both sides, as well as recreations of period-era cabins and fortifications. One of my favorite (and saddest) stories was of two brothers who fought on opposite sides of the battle. The wounded Confederate officer asked the Union troops who captured him if they knew of a particular Maryland unit. They responded...That's us! Turns out, his brother was a commanding officer in that unit, who ironically had also been wounded. At first, the Union brother didn't want to see him, but (after much encouragement from his superiors) eventually they were put side-by-side. Sadly, this story didn't end well, as both perished from their wounds. read more

Extremely well kept museum, excellent exhibits & helpful staff. It's a great deal to cover, so it would be easy to spend an entire day here. Excellent for history enthusiasts, although great for anyone who is even slightly interested in Civil War history. Reasonably priced & close to many other historic locations. Many events are offered throughout the year. Highly recommended place! read more

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Pamplin Park is the best interpretive Civil War site I have ever visited. The number and quality of the exhibits were staggering. The movie shown in the theater was a very good production showing the true cost of war. Be aware, not recommended for small children due to a few of the battle scenes. The way the Park tells the story of the breakthrough was very interesting as they told all parts of the story, both Yankee, and Confederates as well as civilian and slave populations. Probaly the biggest asset to the park is the way the staff interacted with the guests. All were very welcoming and informative. Highly recommend a vist here. read more

Happen to come across this site as we were in town for a couple of weeks and started doing some Civil War exploring. This place is very well run and has a lot of extra details put into the exhibits, the movie presentations, and even how they perform hourly demonstrations. They have a completely rebuilt time era town with a barricaded fort as well some original untouched earthworks. I had no idea how much historical based acreage was in the Petersburg - Richmond area. This is a great place for a field trip or just for the everyday history buff that is looking to remember some of our country's darker days. After all, if you don't learn from your history you are bound to repeat it one day. read more

Pamplin Historical Park - Museums Near Me - Petersburg, Virginia

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I had a great afternoon there, even it was freezing cold outside. I spent about 3hrs in the park and museum. Even there is less to see during winter (no gardening, less animals around, less theater) it was interesting und I learnt a lot about living on a southern farm and the civil war. read more

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I am just about the biggest history nerd anyone can find in the area under the age of 30. I take my museums pretty darn seriously, and I have to say that Pamplin, for me, has become the benchmark to which I compare all other museums. The complex really comprises three museums into one: a highly interactive indoor facility with showcase exhibits; a living history area with a working plantation, a reconstructed field fortification, and a military camp; and the actual battlefield and separate museum devoted to the Federal breach of the Petersburg defenses. Each one of the components is engineered to give the visitor a first-person and hands-on perspective of military and civilian life in the period of 1861-1865. The main museum facility is like nothing I had ever encountered before. As opposed to normal museums, you will actually get a taste of the many varied aspects of military life, as you will see, feel, hear, and share in everything from a soldier's recruitment, to their first taste of battle, to their moments of relaxation. The living history area serves as a glimpse into military and civilian life during the 1860s. The plantation house, the fields of crops, and the slave quarters give the visitor an honest account of civilian life in the southern US, while the military camp and fieldworks illustrate both the innovations and shortcomings of waging war in the 19th century. Reenactors are well-versed in their area of study, and really do a good job of immersing the visitor in the moment. The third component is geared towards the actual battle that was fought on the site - the breach of the Boydton Line that made the Confederate defense of Petersburg untenable. A separate museum is devoted to multimedia displays and relics that illustrate the battle, and regular tours of the surviving earthworks let the visitor walk the same path that the Vermont Brigade used to breach the Confederate lines. The Pamplin Historical Park is a private foundation, so there is a fee to get into the site. They do have a pretty decent AAA discount, but considering what a massive amount of information they have to share, any price is totally worth it. In my opinion, this is how history is meant to be presented - hands-on, honest, and [dare I say it?] FUN. Make sure you have AT LEAST 4 hours to see the site, because you could easily spend an entire day soaking in all that there is to see and learn. read more

You have to go all day to get the best experience, but it may not be practical with kids, so count on going on multiple occasions. We did the audio guided museum tour, Tudor hall, battlefield center, and demonstration at the military encampment, and spent some time in one of the conference rooms reading about Dr. Pamplin in about 4 hours read more

It is very quiet in the off season. The amount of preserved Confederate flags was amazing to see. However, most of the displays were re-created. I like authentic historical items. They did have this but not as much as I hoped. There were show times for the films. The nice man at the battlefield museum was kind enough to play it when I got there since not very many people in the museum. Lots of walking so be prepared. Not comfortable with leaving my ID with host in order to use headphones for walking tour. read more

I can't say enough about how well done this museum is. The exhibits are set up so that you can tailor it to each individual's interests and needs. Included in your admission is a headset that enables you to type in the number for any segment of an exhibit from animals to weapons to foods to soldier experiences and you can hear a narrative regarding that portion of the exhibit. As you move from room to room, the narrative keeps up with where you are automatically. Another highlight would be the battlefield simulation where you walk through a multimedia exhibit which gives you a full sensory experience about being a Civil War soldier on the battlefield. My family's favorite part was visiting the plantation. There was both a main residence and slave quarters, all set up as they were during the time period. There were also animals and crops along with a tobacco house. Other than my wife, my 9 and 12 year old, as well as myself, were not too excited about stopping here initially. As soon as we walked into the facility and saw the map on the floor, with the states color coded by division (Union, Confederate, Border States, and Territories) our opinions changed. Check it out if you are looking for something to do in the area! read more

This is definitely a place you could spend a whole day, and for anyone not familiar with the area, Petersburg is about a 25-minute drive south of Richmond on I-95 so it won't take you any longer than driving across town does. Virginia and several other Confederate states are gearing up for a multi-year sesquicentennial (150 years in regular language) celebration of the Civil War, so there are already a lot of special programs and reenactments being scheduled at parks. Pamplin is sure to have some humdinger events since it was the loss here that pretty much toppled Richmond. While you're in Petersburg, check out the historic downtown district which has lots of antique shops and several good places to eat like Alexander's and Brick House Run. read more

This place is seriously awesome! It's huge and has something for everybody. It is incredibly interactive, as well. I was very impressed with how well it is maintained and run. The staff were incredibly helpful and friendly. We got to watch a rifle demonstration by the battlefield which was awesome, and they have a variety of other demonstrations/events/activities that go on throughout the day. Definitely worth it! read more

Great visit! Exceeded expectations. We have visited many museums/historical sites/visitors centers all over this part of Virginia, and Pamplin Historical Park may have been my favorite. They have a lot os stuff, so plan to spend most of the day here. It is staffed by a lot of knowledgeable and helpful people. The Civil War trenches were in incredible condition, best that I have seen. If you are visiting on a hot day, there are plenty of shaded areas and air-conditioned buildings. read more

I was extremely impressed with this lovely park and the main museum with its exceptionally well done exhibits. The parkland has a period house with outbuildings, trench fortifications, etc. The information presented is well researched and easy to understand. The main museum is magnificent with very imaginative displays. I have visited many museums, battlefields and cemeteries relating to the civil war and this is just about the very best. read more

I brought my 13 yr old daughter here on a recent visit to Virginia. This was our favorite adventure, we saw many of the places around the area but this one was extra awesome!! We literally shut down the museum (cause we are just party animals like that) Educational, fun, affordable...just wonderful!! And check out the interactive museum where you follow the story of a solider!! Wear comfortable shoes tho...there is so much to see you will be walking a lot!! read more

This place is amazing! Exhibits & recreations bring the story of BOTH sides of this conflict. The best Civil War place we have been and we found it by accident! The admission is $12.50 for adults, but well worth the cost. Use your AAA card for a discount. It is privately owned, hence not a part of the National Park system, but it is outstanding. Kids will love the realistic exhibits & the authentically recreated trenches & fortifications. Much better than just looking at pictures. read more

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This is a great location to visit if you are a civil war buff or not! Great group of volunteers and employees welcome you. A must see attraction when you are in the area. read more

I can't imagine a better Civil War museum. Pamplin combines vivid and interactive museum displays of how civilians lived and how the soldiers endured the civil war along with outdoor exhibits that bring the past to life. This place is GREAT for all ages and interests. read more

I totally enjoyed my trip here! The museum is excellent and well done. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Due to the fact that I was there for several hours, I appreciated the fact that there were restroom facilities all over the place! I'm not one who is fond of audio tours, but this one is well done. You have the option to only use the audio headset in the Civil War Soldier Museum, but I recommend taking it with you outside along the trails, battlefields, the outer buildings, and plantation tour. Like I said, I'm not a fan of audio headset tours, but this one was interesting, and worked like a charm every time. When touring the museum, you'll pick a soldier to follow throughout the war. In the end, you find out if he survived the war or not. Kind of like the Holocaust Museum, in that regard. But throughout the museum, the audio provides specific details about your soldier's experiences via the letters he wrote home, etc. The outside trail areas are beautiful to walk and very well maintained. The entire property is very well maintained, I should say. I didn't have kids with me, but there were several there during my visit and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves. I did notice that the one movie wasn't recommended for kids under 13 due to violence and language. The whole complex is a living museum and I recommend speaking to any of the staff working there. They were all quite friendly and interesting to talk to. I didn't see any of the shows or demonstrations that they put on that day. Top notch. Well worth the admittance fee. read more

Well done, great exhibits, and excellent audio tour capabilities. It probably helped that it was a nice day in late spring and not swarming with bugs. The encampment reenactors were a highlight of the tour. read more

Enjoyed this Park a little pricey but very informative and nice grounds. Lovely walk and enjoyed the great museum inside the buildings. History lessons close up. Loved it. read more

After visiting the park service Petersburg sites, I happened by Pampllin historical park about 3pm. It closes at 5pm and I thought I needed more time here so I returned the next day at 10am. This is a must see attraction! I enjoyed it more than Monticello. I was throughly entertained and educated from 10 am to 5 pm. The cost was only $12.50 which included headphones for the day. Fascinating facts about the battle fought there. I also learned about life in the military, life as a slave, life of the plantation and so much more. There was a guide who showed us demonstrations of the guns, life in the camp, and the military strategy. There is a plantation home and out buildings that you can go through at your leisure. The headset narrative is exceptional. The museum has so many interesting things to see and hear about. There a several short movies and different areas of the tour. I can't say enough great things about this place and the people to preserve and work here. This is a must see!!! read more

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This place was extremely well conceived and beautifully designed. It is part of a private foundation organized by Mr. Pamplin, a former high ranking executive for Georgia Pacific. It is not affiliated with the National Park system. Easy to spend at least half a day here and is one of the best history museums I have ever seen for kids. We stopped here on a whim on our return trip from Williamsburg, VA. My wife and kids actually enjoyed this museum more than colonial Williamsburg. AAA discount available ($12.50 for adults; cheaper for kids; under 6 is free) read more

I have been to a lot of Civil War sites but this is the BEST. Great people working there and very friendly and helpful. Hope to go back sometime. If you are in the area be sure to stop. read more

This place is simply amazing. My wife is from Bolivia and we both love US History. This place is full of civil war history and is very well maintained. Can not say enough about how well the whole park and museum is maintained. Love the head set idea to find out info so you can continue moving. Overall the best civil war experience I have witnessed. read more