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All the United States Virginia Manassas Ben Lomond Historic Site

Ben Lomond Historic Site

Hear, smell, see, taste, and touch history at this immersive Civil War hospital.

Manassas, Virginia

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Paige Backus
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Recovery room at Ben Lomond Historic Site.   PGibbonsBackus
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About

When you walk through the doors of this former plantation, it’s like stepping back into its time as a Civil War hospital. It’s an immersive experience, one where you can hear, smell, see, taste, and touch the past. Unlike many other old museums, the Ben Lomond Historic Site lets you get hands-on with history.

Ben Lomond was never meant to be a hospital, and was originally a private tobacco plantation that used enslaved laborers. Because it happened to be close to the First Battle of Bull Run (which the Confederates referred to as the First Battle of Manassas), it was converted into a field hospital along with about 20 other private buildings.

Today, its rooms are packed with recreated Civil War-era medical tools that let you do more than see what the building would have looked like during the 19th century. You can get a feel for the surgical tools, play around with the crutches, and even dress in the uniforms of both soldiers and surgeons.

The sounds and smells, too, are evocative. The scent of sweat, filth, smoke, and gangrene wafts through the building—though thankfully not nearly as strong as it would have during the hospital’s working days. As you pass through, you’ll also hear the boom of a cannon, the shuffle of feet, soldiers’ cries for help, and the sounds of surgeries. Even your tastebuds can get involved in the action, as you’ll have a chance to sample the typical food the patients were served.

In addition to checking out the former hospital, while visiting the site you can learn more about antebellum life at the plantation and view its historic buildings, including one of Prince William County’s only remaining original slave quarters.

Related Tags

Civil War History Hospitals Military History Slavery Military

Know Before You Go

Ben Lomond Historic Site is managed by Prince William County’s Historic Preservation Division. It is open for regular tours and a variety of special events from May 1st to October 31st, Thursdays through Mondays, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The rest of the year they are open for tours, you just have to call ahead! For more information, call 703-367-7872 or check out their events on Facebook.

Community Contributors

Added By

Pagb04

Edited By

Edward Denny, Kerry Wolfe, blimpcaptain

  • Edward Denny
  • Kerry Wolfe
  • blimpcaptain

Published

June 27, 2018

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  • https://emergingcivilwar.com/2017/05/05/ecw-weekender-ben-lomond-historic-site/
Ben Lomond Historic Site
10321 Sudley Manor Dr
Manassas, Virginia
United States
38.788771, -77.506265
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Nearby Places

Liberia House Historic Site

Manassas, Virginia

miles away

Manassas Station

Manassas, Virginia

miles away

Mount Gilead

Centreville, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Manassas

Manassas

Virginia

Places 3

Nearby Places

Liberia House Historic Site

Manassas, Virginia

miles away

Manassas Station

Manassas, Virginia

miles away

Mount Gilead

Centreville, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Manassas

Manassas

Virginia

Places 3

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