Virginia Museum of the Civil War

Virginia Museum of the Civil War is off I-81 exit 264 at 8895 George R. Collins Pkwy. On display are exhibits, dioramas and artifacts documenting the Civil War. Special emphasis is paid to the 1864 Battle of New Market, when 257 cadets from the Virginia Military Institute aided veteran Confederate troops in victory over Union forces. The Emmy-winning film “Field of Lost Shoes” is shown in the museum theater hourly. Of interest is the Kaminsky Gallery of Civil War Firearms.

Administered by the Virginia Military Institute, the 300-acre site includes New Market Battlefield State Historical Park and is accessible by foot or car. Two 1-mile walking trails cross the property and terminate atop Bushong's Hill, where scenic overlooks offer views of the Shenandoah River 100 feet below. Also on the park grounds is the historic Bushong Farm; dating from the early 1800s, it features seven buildings, such as the 1825 House, a barn and the Wheelwright Shop.

Time: Allow 2 hours minimum.