History Hangout

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how th......More

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park.   This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

Meet on the front lawn of Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA.

Star Party

Gaze at the night sky with the National Park Service and the Shenandoah Astronomical Society (SAS), on land preserved by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. A National Park Service ranger will present a brief talk about night sky preservation. Afterwards ther......More

Gaze at the night sky with the National Park Service and the Shenandoah Astronomical Society (SAS), on land preserved by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. A National Park Service ranger will present a brief talk about night sky preservation. Afterwards there will be opportunities to use the telescopes for night sky viewing.Telescopes are provided, or you may bring your own. SAS members can teach you how to use it. Bring camp chairs or blankets.Overcast skies or inclement weather may cancel the program. Call the Visitor Center at 540-490-9569 to confirm on the day of the program.

Meet at Thoburn's Redoubt (stop two on the self-guided battlefield tour) along Bowman's Mill Road. This is a remote area with no bathroom facilities. The property does not have a street address. Go to coordinates 38°59'55.4"N, 78°19'10.7"W or follow

History Hangout

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how th......More

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park.   This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

Meet on the front lawn of Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA.

History Hangout

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how th......More

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park.   This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

Meet on the front lawn of Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA.

History Hangout

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how th......More

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park.   This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

Meet on the front lawn of Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA.

History Hangout

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how th......More

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park.   This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

Meet on the front lawn of Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA.

History Hangout

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how th......More

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park.   This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

Meet on the front lawn of Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA.

1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign

The climatic 1864 Shenandoah Valley campaign brought the largest, and most decisive, battles to an already war-torn region. Join a National Park Service ranger to learn about how these battles, such as Cedar Creek, influenced the outcome of the Civil War. Kernstown Batt......More

The climatic 1864 Shenandoah Valley campaign brought the largest, and most decisive, battles to an already war-torn region. Join a National Park Service ranger to learn about how these battles, such as Cedar Creek, influenced the outcome of the Civil War. Kernstown Battlefield Association, a nonprofit group, operates the historic battlefield. The battlefield is part of Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District. 

Meet on the front lawn of the Pritchard House of the Kernstown Battlefield, 610 Battle Park Drive in Winchester, VA.

History Hangout

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how th......More

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park.   This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

Meet on the front lawn of Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA.

History Hangout

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how th......More

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park.   This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

Meet on the front lawn of Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA.

History Hangout

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how th......More

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park.   This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

Meet on the front lawn of Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA.

History Hangout

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how th......More

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park.   This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

Meet on the front lawn of Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA.

Colts & Carbines

How did the cavalry impact the Battle of Cedar Creek? Drive the battlefield with a ranger and visit several lesser-known landmarks related to both US and Confederate cavalry troopers.  

Meet at the NPS Visitor Center, 7712 Main Street, Middletown, VA

History Hangout

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how th......More

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park.   This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

Meet on the front lawn of Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA.

History Hangout

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how th......More

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park.   This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

Meet on the front lawn of Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA.

History Hangout

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how th......More

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park.   This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

Meet on the front lawn of Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA.

Kneading in Silence

Purchased by the Hite family with her two young boys, Judah was the Hites' enslaved cook at the time of her death in 1836. Rare primary source documents from the Hite family reveal insights into her life. 

Enter under the front porch of Belle Grove Plantation to meet in the winter kitchen, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA.

History Hangout

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how th......More

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park.   This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

Meet on the front lawn of Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA.

History Hangout

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how th......More

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park.   This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

Meet on the front lawn of Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA.

History Hangout

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how th......More

Hangout at Belle Grove Plantation with a National Park Service ranger. Join a conversation about the region’s long record of human settlement while enjoying a panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley. Learn why this landscape was important during the Civil War and how the community preserves it as a national park.   This is a regular recurring program from May 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Wednesdays - Saturdays at 11:30 am Sundays at 2:30 pm

Meet on the front lawn of Belle Grove Plantation, 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA.