The quiet hills around Manassas look much the way they did during the Civil War. The stillness is deceptive though; the first and second battles of Bull Run (Manassas) were fought on this soil, and thousands of soldiers paid in blood. Manassas National Battlefield Park is just a few miles north of the small town once known as Manassas Junction, a railroad community. Open year-round, the 5,000-acre battlefield looks much as it did during war time, and is open to visitors interested in a glimpse of Civil War era events.
History is around every corner in Manassas, from the quaint Old Town district to the Manassas Museum System, which includes separate displays on the Civil War, the railroad and Northern Virginian culture. The Freedom Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, details US military involvement in 20th century conflicts.
From the Potomac River to Bull Run Mountains, outdoor activities abound including hiking, fishing, birdwatching, camping, biking, boating and kayaking. Area wildlife refuges and wetlands offer natural adventure, and there are several golf courses are located in the general area. Nearby Bull Run Regional Park offers 1,000 wooded acres to hikers, bird-watchers and horseback riders.
Manassas is located in Northern Virginia about 30 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. off I-66.
