"On to Richmond" Field Trip
Richmond National Battlefield Park is delighted to offer the "On to Richmond" Battlefield Field Trip for the 2024-2025 school year. The program takes place at two of our battlefields, Gaines Mill and nearby Cold Harbor, and runs from 10:00 AM - 12:45 PM.
When Richmond was made the capital of the Confederate States of America in 1861, its capture became one of the primary goals of the Union. Two assaults, the Peninsula Campaign of 1862 and the Overland Campaign of 1864, brought Union troops within sight of Richmond. Students will tour two battlefields, Gaines Mill, part of the Peninsula Campaign, and Cold Harbor, part of the Overland Campaign.
At Gaines Mill students will learn about the Seven Days Battles and key people as they take a short "Battlefield Walk." Students will drill as a team to learn about the important part that artillery during this battle. After students complete the two programs at Gaines Mill, they will load on their buses and travel 1 mile to Cold Harbor Battlefield. At Cold Harbor students will eat their picnic lunch, then continue their journey through the Civil War to 1864, learning about the key people and this important battle. Students will take a short "Battlefield Walking Tour" and see the earthwork, and hear the stories of both Union and Confederate troops. During the "Five Deadliest Items" students will learn about the most lethal items soldiers would encounter during the war.
This completely outdoors and hands on program takes two and half hours. 120 students maximum per reservation.
Making a Reservation
To make a reservation, please follow the steps listed below:
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Prepare a list of 3 possible dates for your field trip.
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Provide the following: name of school, contact person, phone number, grade level, number of students, date and time, accessibility needs.
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Contact Richmond National Battlefield Park's Education Department by emailing Mark_Whitefoot@nps.gov at least two weeks prior to the earliest possible date for your field trip.
We will respond to your request as soon as possible and work with you to find a suitable date. Please note that your field trip reservation is not finalized until you have received an “Official Field Trip Confirmation.” The “Official Field Trip Confirmation” will be a document attached to an e-mail from Ranger Mark Whitefoot, the park Education Coordinator.
