Our Park of the Month - Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park has an extensive research library with over 2,500 volumes available to the public. 

Park staff help a visitor find out if his ancestor fought during the Battles of Sailor's Creek

The Visitor Center in the background at Sailor's Creek Battlefield houses exhibits and the research library

I love getting lost in good books. Reading gives you a chance to learn, relax and become someone else. So, Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park doesn’t have a pool or a beach but we have an awesome library. Trust me my nerd friends; this is a really great treat! This library is a very useful and interesting tool for many reasons. The library contains over 2,500 volumes that were donated from a private collection to the park. The majority of the books are American Civil War related. There are also texts about Southside Virginia, architectural details and domestic life and arts. We have a complete set of Virginia Regimental Histories Along with Battles and Leaders by H.E. Howard of Lynchburg. The library also contains a collection of historic American Civil War maps from the Appomattox Campaign and research files about the battles. See lots of interesting items!!

People can research ancestors, histories and learn more about the American Civil War, while visiting the park. The library also allows our rangers a better way to help people trace their family members. Recently, a ranger was asked to find out information about “Charles Henry Guerin”. He was from New Jersey. His unit was thought to be at the battle at the Hillsman House. But upon research it was discovered that the unit was present but not involved in the fighting. He possibly was guarding wagons or working with supplies. We can use these tools and pinpoint details!

The Sam V. Wilson, Jr. LTC (Ret.) USA Research Library was named in honor of then Chief Ranger Sam Wilson (third from left).

This is a non-circulating library but you are welcome to come and work at the tables. Please call the visitor center at 804-561-7510 or by email to make an appointment. Plus if you come and visit the library you may even meet the author of some of the books written about Sailor’s Creek! The library is in a partnership with the Nottoway County Public Library system. They are helping to catalog all of the collection and make it available to be searched online. I can’t wait to meet more historically minded friends at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park!

The library contains over 2,500 volumes that were donated from
a private collection to the park.

The park is located at 6541 Saylers Creek Road, Rice, Va. From U.S. 460, take Route 617 (Saylers Creek Rd.) to the park. From U.S. 360, take State Route 307 (connecting highway between U.S. 360 and U.S. 460) to Route 617 North (Saylers Creek Rd.).

Drive Time: Northern Virginia, three to three and a half hours; Richmond, one to one and a half hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, two and a half to three hours; Roanoke, two hours.