5 Significant Civil War Sites to Visit in Petersburg, Virginia

Located near the former Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, the city of Petersburg played a significant role in the Civil War. From the Siege of Petersburg battle to the cemeteries where Confederate soldiers were laid to rest, the area is full of Civil War sites. We’ve rounded up a handful of landmarks just a stone’s throw from Petersburg hotels to get you started on your history tour.

Feel the weight of war at the Petersburg National Battlefield

Feel the staggering history of the Petersburg National Battlefield, a site of approximately 70,000 casualties during the Civil War.

The Siege of Petersburg was a significant battle in the Civil War that led to the fall of the Confederate capital and, eventually, General Robert E. Lee’s surrender. It was also the longest military incident during the war, lasting nearly 10 months. The expansive Petersburg National Battlefield includes several visitors’ centers with exhibits and movies, along with a 33-mile driving tour that includes 13 historic Civil War sites. One highlight is The Crater, a battle where Union troops blew up a mine, significantly weakening Confederate forces. Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant said the attack was “the saddest affair I have witnessed in this war.” Check the schedule in advance for a list of tours, talks, educational programs and history demonstrations.

See the past brought to life at Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier

The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier is just one of the many learning opportunities on the 424-acre campus of Pamplin Historical Park.

A 15-minute drive from downtown Petersburg, the 400-acre Civil War heritage site Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier has been called “the new crown jewel of Civil War sites in America” by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian James M. McPherson. It’s home to a world-class museum dedicated to Civil War soldiers and preserves aspects of the Third Battle of Petersburg. When visiting, be sure to tour the restored Tudor Hall Plantation, view exhibits in The Field Quarter and Battlefield Center, check out The Banks House (Grant’s headquarters), and hike meandering trails, where you can view preserved Confederate fortifications.

Experience the heart of early 19th-century life at the Exchange Building

Unique among the area’s Civil War sites, the Commodities Exchange Building, which opened in 1841, was a hub where merchants sold bulk items like tobacco to shopkeepers in downtown Petersburg. Less than five years later, the market shut down, and since that time it has also housed the local newspaper, lawyers, police and even a courthouse. During the Civil War, it was home to the Bank of the City of Petersburg. Listed as a National Historic Landmark, the Greek Revival-style building remains one of the best-preserved merchants’ exchanges in the country and is now a museum dedicated to life in Petersburg before, during and after the Civil War.

Connect with our country’s first president at Blandford Church and Cemetery

Take a guided tour of Blandford Church and Cemetery to learn about the oldest structure still standing in Petersburg. Photo Credit: Petersburg Preservation Website

Built in the 1730s and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Blandford Church and Cemetery is said to be the oldest structure in Petersburg with a history that is well-documented. It’s also the site of the 1799 memorial service for George Washington. During the Civil War, the church played a significant role as a telegraph station and hospital. Today, as one of Petersburg’s Civil War sites, the Revolutionary-era church pays tribute to the thousands of soldiers who lost their lives in the war. During the restoration process, famous glassmaker Louis Comfort Tiffany created a series of stained-glass windows that honor the soldiers buried in the neighboring cemetery.

Take a peek at the unique Tombstone House

The marble walls of the Tombstone House carry an unusual legacy.

A quick 10-minute drive from downtown Petersburg, the Tombstone House is worth a look. In 1934 the residence was constructed using marble tombstones from the graves of Union soldiers who died in the Siege of Petersburg and were buried in the nearby Poplar Grove National Cemetery. During the Great Depression, the upkeep of the marble headstones was costly, so the city cut off the top halves of more than 2,200 tombstones and laid them on the ground, and then sold off the bottom halves for $45 to Petersburg resident Oswald Young, who used them to construct his house on Youngs Road. This is still a private residence, so be sure to respect their property and stick to driving by during your visit.