ABSTRACT
The American Civil War, ‘the climax of a half century of social, political, and economic rivalries growing out of an economy half slave, half free’ (Wilshin 1953: 1), divided the nation and remains an emotional topic for many citizens of the United States. This chapter will examine the nature of tourism at Manassas National Battlefield Park, located in Manassas, Virginia, and a holding of the National Park Service (NPS). When considering the most significant campaigns of the Civil War, the First Battle of Manassas in 1861, also known as the Battle of Bull Run, quickly comes to mind as the first major land engagement of the war (Zenzen 1998). The sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) of this 21 July 1861 battle that culminated in Union army defeat was commemorated at the Manassas National Battlefield Park and surrounding areas on 21 July through 24 July 2011.
