Pamplin Historical Park, Petersburg

Petersburg is a fantastic place to visit and it can be confusing which sites to see with all the parks and museums. I would strongly recommend Pamplin Historical Park (also the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier) as your first stop!! It has everything for all ages! The indoor exhibit walks you through life size exhibits of what it was like to be a Soldier during the Civil War (Camp life, etc). That exhibit alone has got to be one of the best I have ever seen. Then you go outside and visit the "plantation" with the plantation house (half of the house represents plantation life and the other half represents the Confederate occupation during the Civil War) along with the slave quarters. One of the slave quarters has a video presentation that represents the perspectives of the slave owner, his wife, and the slaves themselves; reality on the ground! Then you walk a little further and they still have part of the original battle-site, along with a theater that presents a one hour film. The price may be a little steep for a large family, but it is privately owned, has a friendly staff and is one of the best museums on the Civil War!! You definitely get your monies worth here!!!

Went with my daughter's elementary grade from Norfolk, VA. Our guide Mark was amazing. Lots to learn. I even learned something new and I went a few years ago with my son's class.