What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 9am - 5pm

Virginia Museum of the Civil War at New Market Battlefield

Name: Virginia Museum of the Civil War at New Market Battlefield
Address: 8895 George Collins Memorial Pkwy, New Market, VA, 22844, US
Telephone: +18665151864
Price range: $

Home
United States
New Market, VA
Virginia Museum of the Civil War at New Market Battlefield

Call Directions Website Contact the museum

Welcome to the page of The Virginia Museum of the Civil War at New Market Battlefield State Historical Park.

Learn more about the Civil War and see what items are featured in our gift shop! Located at 8895 George Collins Parkway, New Market, VA 22844

This is the only state-owned Civil War museum in Virginia and is administered by the Virginia Military Institute. The site consists of three elements: The Virginia Museum of the Civil War, the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park and the Historic Bushong Farm.The site is on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail System. The museum focuses on the whole war in the Commonwealth of Virginia with special attention paid to the Battle of New Market on May 15th 1864 and the role played by the corps of cadets from the Virginia Military Institute. A total of 257 cadets from VMI participated in the battle with 47 wounded and 10 killed because of the fighting. The museum features exhibits, dioramas, artifacts from the battle and an Emmy-award winning film called Field of Lost Shoes shown hourly in the theater. Outside visitors will enjoy three hundred acres of core battlefield property accessible by foot or car. The New Market Battlefield State Historical Park offers two walking trails across the farm and battlefield terminating atop Bushong's Hill and two scenic overlooks 100 feet above the Shenandoah River. Historically-named features include the Field of Lost Shoes, a wheatfield so named by cadets because of lost footwear, and the Fatal Orchard, a dangerous part of the battlefield next to the farm. Finally, the Bushong Farm features seven buildings to explore. The two frame houses were witnesses to the battle that day. Exhibits inside tell the story of what life was like in the Shenandoah Valley before and during the Civil War.

10/19/2026

Spirits of New Market is almost upon us, so it’s time to catch up on your spooky reading! Check out our collection of haunted reads – our site is featured in The Big Book of Virginia Ghost Stories and Haunted Shenandoah Valley!
Don’t forget to join us for Spirits of New Market this Saturday, October 24th. The museum store will be open!
Questions? Give us a call at 540-740-3101.

10/17/2026

It’s time for another edition of Semiquincentennial Saturday! And this week we’ve got ancestors you have definitely heard of. Our Cadet is George Lee, and his grandfather is Major General Henry “Lighthorse Harry” Lee.

Born in March of 1848, Cadet George Lee was just 16 years old when he was engaged at the Battle of New Market. He remained with the VMI Corps of Cadets until Richmond was evacuated, and he went on to join the Army of Northern Virginia. After the war he attended Washington College, now Washington and Lee University, studying law and obtaining his license in 1872. Cadet Lee lived and practiced law in Virginia, Tennessee, and Arkansas before he retired. He spent his last years at the Confederate Home in Richmond, VA, where he died at the age of 85.

A Virginia native, Henry Lee rose quickly through the ranks of the Continental Army as a gifted cavalryman and earned himself the nickname Lighthorse Harry. Commissioned as a Captain by Virginia Governor Patrick Henry in 1776, Lee and the Virginia Light Horse dragoons joined Continental Army as the First Regiment of Light Dragoons, arriving in 1777, in Philadelphia, PA to serve under General Washington. Just a year later in 1778, Lee had the attention of many British officers for his raids on their troops and an attempt was made to capture Lee while he was inside a tavern. Beating back a British patrol, Lee’s legend only grew. Most of his time during the American Revolutionary War was spent southern theatre, though he was present at the Surrender at Yorktown.

Limited in wordcount but not wishing to leave out other significant Revolutionary ancestors of Cadet Lee. He is related to both Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Nelson by the marriages of maternal aunts, and to Francis Lightfoot Lee and Richard Henry Lee, his second cousins twice removed and both signers of the Declaration of Independence. It was Richard Henry Lee who on June 7, 1776, presented the motion to declare independence.

“Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances. That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.”

Image 1: Henry “Lighthorse Harry” Lee ca.1785 by Charles Wilson Peale Source: Independence NHP
Image 2: Richard Henry Lee Source: New York Public Library

10/16/2026

Good morning, and time for a new Fun Fact Friday! It was on this day in 1859 that abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry (then in Virginia), intending to seize the arsenal and trigger a slave rebellion. By the next morning, Brown and his companions had captured prominent citizens and weapons but were foiled by late afternoon when Marines under Colonel Robert E. Lee stormed Brown’s hideout, killing many raiders and capturing Brown.
A quick trial ensued, and Brown was found guilty of treason, murder and inciting a slave insurrection. In fact, it was Virginia Military Institute Cadets, under the leadership of William Gilham and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, who helped provide security for the resulting ex*****on of Brown in Charles Town on December 2 that year. Further, VMI Superintendent Francis H. Smith was directed by Virginia Governor Wise to oversee the hanging itself.
Nonetheless, Brown’s ex*****on only deepened tensions across both North and South. Northern abolitionists and prominent writers such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson praised Brown’s anti-slavery actions and increasingly portrayed him as a martyr. At the same time, Southern secessionists argued that the raid revealed the violent extremism they believed existed within the abolitionist movement and used it to justify calls for disunion. Within a year of Brown’s ex*****on, Abraham Lincoln would be elected president, and by April 1861 those growing sectional tensions erupted into open conflict with the Battle of Fort Sumter and the beginning of the Civil War.
At the Virginia Museum of the Civil War, we recognize John Brown’s raid as not only a key moment in the history of VMI and Virginia, but the entire nation. It galvanized and polarized citizens across North and South and was one of the major incidents that led to the outbreak of greater violence, one that would soon subsume Lincoln, Lee, Jackson, the Cadets who witnessed Brown’s hanging, and Americans from all walks of life.

(Image: Daguerreotype of John Brown published in 1859; credit: Library of Congress)

10/13/2026

Thank you to the students from Shenandoah Valley Academy for spending Community Service Day here last week! We appreciate your efforts with projects around our site! We look forward to seeing Mr. Mora's History classes in a few weeks!

10/12/2026

Originally out of print since 1856, The American Gardener, written by William Cobbett, is back in print and details how to lay out your garden, how to make a greenhouse, and about planting fruits and vegetables. Not interested in gardening but still like flowers? No problem! Check out our newest book, A Victorian Flower Dictionary. This book features fifty different flowers, giving a meaning and the history behind each one.
Questions? Give us a call at 540-740-3101.

10/10/2026

We’ve got three Cadets for you in today’s edition of Semiquincentennial Saturday! Cadets Henry A., Louis C., and John S. Wise, and their great grandfather Lt. Col. John Cropper.

Cadet Henry Wise matriculated at VMI in 1859, and while he did not officially graduate until 1865, he is considered a member of the class of 1862. Under Confederate General Jackson’s command, he was with the Cadet Corps in Richmond, serving as drill master. Appointed 1st Lieutenant of the 46th VA Infantry, he was captured and paroled in February 1862, which cost him his position. Returning to VMI where he was appointed Lieutenant and Assistant Professor of Math and Assistant Instructor of Tactics at VMI in 1862, and as Captain in 1863-64. Second in command of the Corps during the Battle of New Market, he briefly took command when Scott Shipp was wounded in action. After the War, Cadet Henry Wise had a long career as an educator in Virginia and Maryland, serving as an instructor, principal and Superintendent of Baltimore City Schools.

Cadet Louis Wise, younger brother of Henry, matriculated at VMI in 1862, and was Cadet 1st Lieutenant of Co. C during the Battle of New Market, where he was twice wounded. His post-war life took him to Mexico where he was engaged as a civil engineer for the Imperial Mexican Railroad. Moving to Texas, where he spent the remainder of his life, Cadet Louis Wise was an educator, Assistant Adjutant General of the State of Texas, and finally as the owner of a real estate brokerage firm.

The cousin of Cadets Henry and Louis Wise, Cadet John Wise, was a Cadet Corporal of Company C during the Battle of New Market but was wounded early in the day and saw little fighting. A lawyer by trade in his postwar life, Cadet John Wise was appointed United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia by President Chester A. Arthur.

The great-grandfather of all three was mentioned in last week’s post, John Cropper. Commissioned in 1777 as a Major, Cropper served under General Washington at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown. Made a Lieutenant Colonel in 1778, he served again under General Washington at the Battle of Monmouth that same year. In 1779, while on leave, Cropper’s home, Bowman’s Folly, was raided by a Loyalist privateer. Initially returning to his regiment, the experience made Cropper anxious to be away from his family, and he attempted to resign his commission, but was denied by the Continental Congress. He was allowed to leave his regiment and become a Colonel of the local militia unit, a position he held until the end of the War.

Image 1: Henry Wise ca.1904 Source: VMI Archives Digital Collections
Image 2: John Wise ca.1864 Source: VMI Archives Digital Collections
Image 3: John Cropper by Charles Wilson Peale Source: National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution

10/09/2026

Autumn is truly a great time for any visitor to stop by and take in the crisp air, colorful leaves, and sweeping mountain views that create the perfect setting to explore a landscape where history happened!
Just like in summer, the New Market Battlefield State Historic Park offers plenty of opportunities for visitors to connect fully with the season:
🍂 Wander our scenic battlefield walking trails beneath the changing leaves or take in the orchard-framed view of the Field of Lost Shoes in the late afternoon light.
👻 Step back in time at the Bushong Farm, where historic farmhouses and outbuildings offer a glimpse into 19th-century agricultural life while still bearing the scars of the Battle of New Market and the haunting stories of its witnesses and participants.
🌄 Visit our Shenandoah River overlook, where an expansive westward view showcases the brilliant fall colors of the Valley and the winding riverscape below.
🎁 Looking for the perfect book to cozy up with or a holiday gift? Stop by our General’s Store to browse biographies of Civil War figures, books for young historians, seasonal apparel, and unique items perfect for history lovers.
🥨 After exploring, cool off at our picnic area, complete with tables, restrooms, and vending machines – a perfect relaxing place to enjoy a snack with a view of Massanutten Mountain lit up with autumn foliage.
Whether you’re seeking reflection, outdoor adventure, or a hands-on exploration of history, fall is one of the most beautiful times of year to experience New Market Battlefield State Historic Park. And don’t forget, the Virginia Museum of the Civil War remains open and ready to complement your visit with exhibits, artifacts, and stories that bring the past to life. Come visit and make some history of your own!

10/05/2026

It’s Fall and that means cooler weather! Stay warm with one of the sweatshirts from our museum store. Choose from the Field of Lost Shoes, Battle of New Market, the 1880s VMI logo, and more!
Some of these sweatshirts can be found on our online store: museumstore.vmi.edu
Questions? Give us a call at 540-740-3101.

10/03/2026

Happy first weekend in October and happy Semiquincentennial Saturday! Our cadet and revolutionary ancestor this week are Benjamin Colonna and……Benjamin Colonna!
Cadet Benjamin A. Colonna was nearing the end of his time at the Virginia Military Institute when he took part in the Battle of New Market. Matriculating at VMI in 1860, Cadet Colonna was a member of the Corps who marched with Confederate General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, to Richmond to drill and train new recruits. After the War, Cadet Colonna entered the service of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, retiring in 1895. He spent time working alongside his brother, Charles J. Colonna, at the Colonna Shipyard in Virginia’s Tidewater which is still in operation today.
Cadet Colonna is spoken of frequently at the Virginia Museum of the Civil War, his portrait (pictured here), hangs in the museum’s lower level. His detailed map of the New Market Battlefield is referenced during programs and copies are available in the museum store.
Born in February of 1763, Cadet Colonna’s grandfather, Benjamin Colonna, would have been just 12 years old when the Battles of Lexington and Concord marked the first engagements of the American Revolutionary War. Living in Accomack, Virginia along the Eastern Shore, Mr. Colonna would have likely seen and heard of military actions in the area. The most famous of which is probably when a Loyalist Privateer raided Bowman’s Folly the home of Lt. Col. John Cropper, and Cropper’s subsequent and unsuccessful revenge on a British barge. Though his exact dates of service and rank could not be pinpointed, Mr. Colonna was successful at collecting his pension for two years of service during the War.

Image 1: Benjamin A. Colonna Source: VMI Archives Digital Collections
Image 2: Benjamin Colonna Certificate of Pension Source: National Archives

Address

8895 George Collins Memorial Pkwy
New Market, VA
22844

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18665151864

Website

https://www.vmi.edu/museums-and-archives/virginia-museum-of-the-civil-war/, https://museumstore.vmi.edu/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Virginia Museum of the Civil War at New Market Battlefield posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Virginia Museum of the Civil War at New Market Battlefield:

Want your museum to be the top-listed museum in New Market?