Take your family to experience Civil War history at Bristoe Station Battelfield Heritage Park (no website; 10708 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA; 703-257-5243). This large open space was the site of the significant 1862 Civil War battle of Kettle Run. Bristoe Station was also campgrounds for both Union and Confederate troops throughout the Civil War. The site is free and open to the public, with guided tours available during the summer months (as of June 2011). Plan ahead before paying a visit, as the park does not offer restrooms or concessions.
Plan a visit to the historic 1830 home of John W. Hall, part of the larger Brentsville Courthouse Historic Center (www.pwcgov.org). The home was continuously occupied from 1830-1924, and was transported to the historic center in 2000 to save the building from demolition. The building has been restored and refurnished with reproduction furnishings to approximate the appearance of the home when occupied by Confederate general and Bristow resident John H. Hall. The building is host to seasonal cooking and historic lifestyle demonstrations.
Visit the Brentsville Courthouse Historic Center in Bristow, VA (www.pwcgov.org). This 25 acre historic site features five buildings commemorating the history of Prince William County in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The courthouse and jail were both built in 1822. As of June 2011, admission to all five buildings on the site, including the historic John W. Hall home, is $5 dollars, with guided tours available Thursday to Sunday between the months of May and October. Families may also enjoy walking the many nature trails around the site.
Paying a visit to the Brentsville schoolhouse will give families an understanding of learning in a one-room schoolhouse (www.pwcgov.org). The schoolhouse is a part of the larger Brentsville Courthouse Historic Center in Bristow. The school building exclusively educated the children of Brentsville between 1871-1904. In 1904, a second private school was built in Prince William County, but students attended Brentsville continuously through 1944. The schoolhouse has been restored to emulate its appearance during the late 19th century.
