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Last Letters Home: Mothers in the Civil War
Where
Program Location: Visitor Center
Main Park Address: Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park, 6541 Saylers Creek Rd., Rice, VA 23966.
When
May 10, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park will honor mothers and families during the Civil War through a special Mother’s Day program centered on letters written between soldiers and home. This program explores the emotional world of wartime mothers, from waiting and worrying to mourning and surviving, and highlights how their experiences shaped the way the war was remembered after it ended.
Visitors will learn about the powerful connection between the modern holiday of Mother’s Day and its roots in the Civil War era, while also gaining a deeper understanding of how women preserved family bonds, recorded memory, and carried grief long after the fighting stopped. The program emphasizes the enduring role of mothers not only in wartime but in how history itself is remembered.
Other details
Standard parking or admission fee applies: No.
Extra fee: No.
Registration required: No.
Children welcome: Yes.
Phone: 804-561-7510
Email Address: SailorsCreek@dcr.virginia.gov
Event types
History/Culture | Kids/Family | Special Event
Additional dates
Last Letters Home: Mothers in the Civil War - May 9, 2026. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
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