Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

11/10/2026

Reminder to please join us tomorrow, November 11, 2026, for Legacy of Service: Exploring Stories of Veterans at Appomattox Court House.

On Veterans Day, a series of special programs and a visitor center display featuring veterans’ accounts of their experiences at Appomattox will honor those who served in the Armed Forces.

1:00 p.m.- Veterans of Appomattox Court House
From the Civil War to World War I, discover how veterans contributed to preserving the memory of the events at Appomattox Court House in April 1865.

2:00 p.m. – After the Surrender: Veteran Visits to Appomattox
Civil War veterans from both sides often returned to Appomattox for the shared purpose of healing and remembrance. Using their stories, a ranger-led tour of the village will follow in the footsteps of veterans who came back to Appomattox Court House after the war.

3:00 p.m.- United States Colored Troops at Appomattox
More than 180,000 African American soldiers served in the U.S. Army during the Civil War. Seven regiments of USCT, totaling more than 5,000 soldiers, participated in the Battle of Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. Learn more about the lives of these veterans before, during and after the war.

11/09/2026

: Who was technically the highest-ranking Confederate general during the Civil War?

a. Joseph E. Johnston

b. Robert E. Lee

c. P.G.T. Beauregard

d. Samuel Cooper

11/08/2026

: Which state contributed the FEWEST soldiers to the Federal armies during the Civil War?

a. Minnesota

b. West Virginia

c. Kansas

d. Tennessee

11/08/2026

: Fall colors brighten the forest along one of the park's numerous hiking trails. While much of the park is heavily wooded today, in 1865 the landscape would have included much more open farmland.


Image: photo by NPS/N.D.
Alt Text: leaf covered trail through the woods. Trees line both sides of the path, with leaf colors of green, yellow, orange and red. The blue sky above is barely visible.

11/07/2026

: What was the total population of Appomattox County, Virginia on the eve of the Civil War, according to the 1860 Census?

a. 4,300

b. 6,700

c. 8,900

d. 13,200

11/07/2026

On November 8, 1864, one of the most important elections in American history took place. President Abraham Lincoln's re-election was far from certain. Federal military efforts in the South had stalled. The year had also been the bloodiest of the Civil War. The vote could help decide how the war would end.

Confederate leaders hoped that low Northern morale would lead to Lincoln's defeat. They hoped a new president might seek peace talks and allow Southern independence. In the North, Democrats who opposed the war backed Gen. George B. McClellan. McClellan wanted to restore the Union. Yet his party's platform called the war a "failure" and urged talks to end it.

As the election drew near, Federal victories gave Northern troops and voters new hope. On August 5, the U.S. Navy defeated Confederate forces at the Battle of Mobile Bay. On September 2, Gen. William T. Sherman's armies captured Atlanta, Georgia. The siege at Petersburg, Virginia, went on. But Federal troops also won key battles in the Shenandoah Valley. These wins led many in the North to believe that the Union could soon win the war.

On Election Day, Lincoln and his running mate, Andrew Johnson, beat McClellan and George Pendleton. Lincoln won 212 electoral votes to McClellan's 21. The popular vote was closer: 2.2 million for Lincoln and 1.8 million for McClellan. Many Federal soldiers also voted for Lincoln. They wanted to see the war through to the end.

Lincoln's win, along with more Republican seats in Congress, meant the Union would keep fighting. Its goals were to defeat the Confederacy, bring the nation back together and end slavery. Less than six months later, Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House.


Image: "Presidential Campaign of 1864," poster from the National Museum of American History/Smithsonian Institution.
Alt Text: 1864 election poster shows portraits of Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson as well as George McClellan and George Pendleton, their parties’ platforms and the candidates’ letters accepting their parties’ nominations. Also visible is a map of the United States as of late 1864, showing Union occupied areas of the Confederacy.

11/06/2026

Across the National Park System, memorials, monuments and historic landscapes preserve the stories of those who served and sacrificed. From the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and World War II Memorial to the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Pearl Harbor National Memorial and the newly dedicated Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial, these places invite us to reflect on the people behind the history.

Beyond the memorials, historic battlefields, military forts and other sites across the country help tell the stories of generations who served. On Veterans Day, take time to visit a place of remembrance, discover a story you didn't know, and honor those who served.

Explore places that commemorate America's military history: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/veterans-day.htm

Image: Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial Raptors in Flight. NPS/Brodsky

11/06/2026

: Where in North Carolina was the “Bennett Place?” This small farmhouse witnessed the surrender of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston to U.S. General William T. Sherman on April 26, 1865, just over two weeks after Lee's surrender at Appomattox.

a. Smithfield
b. Durham Station
c. Raleigh
d. Greensboro

11/06/2026

11/05/2026

The histories, cultures, and living traditions of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islander communities are an important part of the stories told across our national parks.

Throughout the year, and during November’s Native American Heritage Month, explore the stories, places, and cultural heritage preserved and shared in national parks and communities across the country: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/native-american-heritage-month.htm

NPS Photo

11/04/2026

It’s leaf-peeping season. The trees have made an effort, so the least we can do is go outside and stare at them.

Leaf peeping is the ancient human tradition of traveling long distances to look at leaves, take photographs, and stand in the middle of roads while saying, “Oh, wow, look at that one.”

Nobody knows exactly when this became a major event, but the trees seem okay with the arrangement. So get out there and see what all the rustle is about.

NPS photos

11/04/2026

As Veterans Day approaches, take a moment to honor those who have served our country. One way to celebrate their service is by helping them discover the places and stories that make our nation's public lands special.

U.S. military veterans and Gold Star Families are eligible for a free America the Beautiful Military Lifetime Pass, providing free access to federal recreation lands where entrance or standard amenity fees are charged.

From the quiet beauty of a mountain trail to the stories preserved at historic sites, our public lands offer opportunities to explore, reflect, learn, and connect with the places that help tell America's story.

Learn how to get your pass and start planning your next adventure: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/veterans-and-gold-star-families-free-access.htm

Image: Korean War Veterans Memorial at National Mall & Memorial Parks /NPS

11/02/2026

Hello darkness, my old friend. Now you start at 5:00 pm.

With daylight saving time behind us, the sun is clocking out a littler earlier. Just as before, if you’re heading to a national park, make sure and check park hours, trail conditions, weather forecasts, and sunset times.

Fun fact: admiring fall foliage is much more enjoyable when you’re not trying to navigate a trail in the dark while wondering which tree looks familiar.

NPS photo

11/02/2026

11/02/2026

: How many soldiers served in the U.S. Army on the eve of the Civil War?

a. 8,000

b. 16,000

c. 25,000

d. 50,000

11/02/2026

🦋 Imagine flying thousands of miles to make it home for a family reunion. Monarch butterflies do it every year.

Every fall, two journeys come together. As millions of monarch butterflies travel south on one of nature's greatest migrations, families gather to honor loved ones during Day of the Dead or Día de los Mu***os.

For many communities, the arrival of the monarchs is more than a sign of the changing season. These butterflies are seen as messengers, symbolizing the return of loved ones in spirit and serving as a beautiful reminder of the enduring connections between generations.

Traveling thousands of miles across North America, they depend on healthy habitats, including in parks, to rest, feed, and continue their journey.

What animal makes you feel connected to your family or community?

Several parks across the country host cultural Day of the Dead programming, including San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, among others.

NPS Photo taken at Amistad National Recreation Area

11/02/2026

Día de los Mu***os, or Day of the Dead, is a centuries-old tradition that honors the lives of loved ones who have passed. Its roots stretch back to Indigenous cultures of Mesoamerica, where ancestors were remembered through ritual, art, and celebration. When the Spanish arrived in what is now Texas, these native customs merged with Catholic traditions like All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day; creating the vibrant holiday we know today.

At San Antonio Missions, you can see this cultural fusion come to life. From colorful altars adorned with marigolds and candles to music, food, and stories, the park reflects how Spanish and Indigenous traditions shaped communities along the San Antonio River.

Come explore mission descendant ofrendas/ Day of the Dead altars while they are still inside the Mission San Jose granary for a few more days!

NPS Photo/ Andrew Shirey

11/01/2026

: During the Civil War, which three railroads terminated in nearby Lynchburg, Virginia? Combined with the James River Canal, these railroads made the city a strategic supply nexus and a major Confederate hospital center.

a. South Side RR

b. Virginia and Tennessee RR

c. Virginia Central RR

d. Orange and Alexandria RR

11/01/2026

: Fall color has begun arriving at Appomattox Court House!


Image: photo by NPS/C.B.
Alt Text: a maple tree with some of its leaves starting to turn red while others remain green. Also visible are a gray-painted, two-story frame structure with back porch and stairs, grass fields, fences and other trees.

10/31/2026

This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Pumpkins* scream in the dead of night!

Happy Halloween!

*No pumpkins have been observed screaming in national parks. You may be hearing a coyote, bobcat, fox, owl, or that marmot looking for Alan…or was it Steve?

Image: Boo! Carved jack-o’-lantern with ranger hat at Hartwell Tavern at Minute Man National Historical Park