FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Susan Ralston | Culpeper Battlefield Tours LLC
Email: info@culpeperbattlefieldtours.com | Phone: 540-632-4500
Website: www.165th.org

 Thousands of Reenactors to Converge on Brandy Station for the 165th Anniversary of First Manassas

CULPEPER COUNTY, VA – History will come to life on a massive scale this spring as the 165th Anniversary Coalition hosts a landmark commemoration of the Battle of First Manassas. Scheduled for the weekend of May 16–17, this event marks the largest reenactment of the historic 1861 battle in over a decade.

Set against the rolling landscape of the Brandy Station Battlefield, the event will be the largest Civil War re-enactment in the country this year with thousands of reenactors representing more than 25 organizations. Participants are traveling from as far as Wyoming, the Midwest, and across the Northeast and South to honor the first major clash of the American Civil War.

 A Powerful Tribute to American History
The 165th Anniversary Coalition has chosen this event to kick off a five-year series of commemorations marking the significant milestones of 1861–1865. While the original battle took place in July 1861, organizers moved the commemoration to May to ensure a premiere, large-scale experience for the public without conflicting with local living history events.

“Each generation since the founding of this nation has faced its own challenges, but few were as profound as those faced during the Civil War,” said Terry Shelton, spokesperson for the 165th Coalition. “This event is more than a spectacle; it’s an opportunity to commemorate those who struggled and to cherish the lessons our history holds. We have united to become the most powerful nation on earth, and we owe it to that legacy to remember our journey.”

 Event Highlights & Public Access

The Brandy Station Battlefield provides a stunning, hallowed backdrop for this "living history" experience, offering terrain remarkably similar to the original Manassas site.

·       For Participants: Reenactor registration is now open at www.165th.org.
·       For the Public: The full event schedule is available via Culpeper Battlefield Tours.

 Tickets: General admission tickets will go on sale in April at culpeperbattlefieldtours.com.

 About the 165th Anniversary Coalition
The Coalition is dedicated to preserving the history of the American Civil War through large-scale, educational commemorations. Partnering with the American Battlefield Trust, the Coalition ensures that these historic events are honored with accuracy, respect, and a commitment to land preservation.