On July 21, 1861, Union and Confederate soldiers clashed in an unexpectedly chaotic skirmish, proving to both sides the Civil War would become larger than they had anticipated. This first major land conflict of the Civil War, The First Battle of Bull Run, also known as the First Battle of Manassas, was fought nearby in Prince William County, Virginia. Campers use miniature soldiers, war games, reference books, documentaries, and detailed models to learn about this pivotal battle. To stimulate ideas for building their own dioramas and terrain board, they spend a day visiting the historic battlefield in Manassas at the National Battlefield Park Virginia, experiencing history first-hand.
