Over 138 years ago, the woods and waters of Newport News echoed with the sounds of the Civil War; the tramp of thousands of boots along the Great Warwick Road, the thunder of cannons, the crack of rifle fire, the shout of orders - sometimes to "ghost" soldiers, and the cries of the wounded and the dying. The Civil War in Newport News saw the birth of the modern navy, the first, primitive forms of aerial reconnaissance and the ultimate irony of a conflict being lengthened by the enforced labor of the very people many hoped the war would free.

Today, Newport News pays tribute to this heroism of the past with historic homes, battle sites, fortifications, monuments and extraordinary collections of personal artifacts. The story of the Civil War is the story of the people - from decorated generals to eighteen-year-old privates. Come and meet them in Newport News.

If you are interested in bringing a group to Newport News to experience the Civil War, please call Mid-Atlantic Receptive Services at 1-800-769-5912. Make sure to ask for the Peninsula Campaign in Newport News.