Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

A little more than four years after it started, the Civil War ended at the town of Appomattox Court House in Virginia, with an agreement signed by Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. The historic document came after the death of 630,000 Americans and enough political turmoil to tear the country apart for decades to come.

With a visit to Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, guests can view the site of the famous surrender and learn about the issues that led to the end of the war. Located about 95 miles west of the state capital of Richmond, Appomattox Court House Park welcomes thousands of guests of all ages each year and is indeed one of the most visited of all the historic parks in the U.S.

Situated on 1,700 acres in rural Virginia, there are several reconstructed buildings guests can view during a visit to the park. The McLean House is the actual site of the surrender and visitors can tour the structure on their own with site interpretation available from Park Rangers, or on a guided tour that’s offered seasonally. The house is furnished with original and reproduction items.

The Museum/Visitor Center is located in a reconstructed courthouse about 2 miles from the McLean House. Living history programs are available during the summer months, however, all year long guests can enjoy exhibits associated with the surrender, including the pencil used by General Lee to make corrections in the surrender terms to documents and several other military artifacts.

The Visitor Center also offers two different 15-minute video slide programs about the surrender, viewed in the comfort of an air-conditioned 70-seat theater. The shows run all day long every half hour. Guests should allot 3 to 4 hours to visit Appomattox Court House National Historical Park.

The park is located on Va. Rt. 24, just 2 miles northeast of the town of Appomattox. It’s most crowded during the summer months when families with school-aged children are visiting and interpretive programs are in full swing. To avoid the crowds, consider visiting in the spring or fall. Lodging is available in Appomattox, if desired.

Contact:

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

Hwy. 24, P.O. Box 218                         

Appomattox, VA 24522

(434) 352-8987 x 26