Joseph Caylor… Without question, the battlefields, trenches, farms, and homes in and around Petersburg, Virginia in late 1864 to early 1865 were witness to one of the most pivotal campaigns in the entire U.S. Civil War and our national history.
Any person interested in American history should definitely visit this great battlefield. Visiting Fort Stedman, the Crater, and Five Forks are just a few areas worth experiencing if you are in this part of Virginia. The park is wide and spread out, so if you plan to visit most of the places, try not to view it all in one day.
Confederate and Union armies led by Robert E. Lee and Ulysses U. Grant, respectively, fought on ground that eventually directly led to the surrender of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. The beginning of the end of the American Civil War all started here.
James Romeo… A visit to Petersburg National Battlefield will help you better understand the end of The Civil War. There is a lot to see spread out in and around the Petersburg area, so be sure to plan ahead so you can visit as much as possible. City Point, Five Forks, The Crater, and other locations hold many stories about what took place during the nine and a half month siege of Petersburg, which cut off supply lines to the citizens of Petersburg and Lee's defending army. Shortly after Petersburg was lost, General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House. After visiting Petersburg, I recommend visiting nearly Appomattox Court House National Historical Park to continue learning about how The Civil War came to a close.