Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Two of the most important battles of the Civil War were fought in the fields just north of Manassas, and the city still feels the weight of that history. In July 1861 the First Battle of Manassas, also called Bull Run, shattered hopes of a short war, and in 1862 the armies met again on the same ground. The town itself grew up around the railroad junction that made it worth fighting for.
Today Manassas is an independent city of about 42,000 people in Northern Virginia, about 30 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. Its compact Old Town keeps brick storefronts, a restored 1914 railroad depot and the Manassas Museum, which tells the story of the battles and the town.
Beyond the battlefield, visitors can tour Liberia House, a plantation home that hosted both Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln, and Ben Lomond, a manor used as a field hospital. The Jennie Dean Memorial honors a pioneering school for Black students, while the Hylton Performing Arts Center and summer concerts at Harris Pavilion keep evenings lively.
Rolling fields just north of the city where the First and Second Battles of Manassas were fought in 1861 and 1862. Start at the Henry Hill Visitor Center for a film and maps, then walk the loop past the Stonewall Jackson statue and the Stone House. A driving tour covers the second battle; allow half a day.
Built in 1825, this brick plantation house served as headquarters for Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard and later for Union forces. Both Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln visited during the war. The city restores and opens it for tours and special events, so check the schedule before you go.
A stone manor house from the 1830s that served as a field hospital after the First Battle of Manassas; soldiers' graffiti still marks its walls. The grounds include one of the largest public old rose gardens in the country, blooming in May and June. House tours are offered seasonally.
The site of the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth, founded in 1893 by Jennie Dean, a formerly enslaved woman who raised money to give Black students an education. Building foundations, a scale model and interpretive signs tell the story. It is a quiet open-air site, free to visit.
A walkable historic district of brick storefronts around Center Street with restaurants, breweries, coffee shops and boutiques. Trains roll right through the middle of town, and festivals such as the fall jubilee fill the streets. Park in the free garage and wander; it is liveliest on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The city museum in Old Town tells the story of Manassas from Native American times through the railroad era and the Civil War battles, with artifacts, maps and personal accounts. It also runs the city's historic sites. Admission is modest, and staff can suggest which sites are open that day.
The restored 1914 depot in Old Town still serves commuter and Amtrak trains and also houses the visitor center and a small rail heritage exhibit. Pick up walking tour maps here. Railfans enjoy watching freight and passenger trains pass, and the town holds a railway festival in early summer.
A modern performing arts center on George Mason University's Manassas campus, hosting orchestras, opera, dance, touring Broadway-style shows and family performances. Its main hall is known for excellent acoustics. Parking is free and easy; check the season calendar and book popular shows in advance.
An open-air pavilion in the center of Old Town that hosts free summer concerts, movie nights and events, then turns into an outdoor ice skating rink in winter. Skate rentals are available on site. It is surrounded by restaurants, so pair a skate or a concert with dinner in Old Town.
A county-run water park with a lazy river, a large wave-free pool, water slides, a zero-depth area for small children and a sand play area. It is a popular way to beat Northern Virginia's summer heat. Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day; arrive at opening on hot weekends, as it can reach capacity.
Top-rated local businesses in Manassas, with real reviews on WiserMap.
No reviews yet. Been to Manassas? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Manassas? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: jpmueller99 from Columbus, OH, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Harrison Keely, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: DHSgov, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Kevin Prince, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: John Bowles, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ben Schumin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
