Manassas National Battlefield Park

MANASSAS. Because of its strategic and logistical importance, Manassas was the site of two important Civil War events, the First and Second Battles of Bull Run. During the first, picnickers looked on as the South defeated the North in 10 hours. A year later, General Lee scored a tactical miracle when he defeated a much larger Union force. Today, loop trails, guided tours and information kiosks provide insight into the heroism and loss experienced by both sides. Quiet, serene, almost pastoral, the park's rolling terrain serves as a chilling reminder of what happens when a nation is divided against itself.