Civil War Weekend 2027

Register soon for Civil War Weekend 2027!

We look forward to welcoming you to Blacksburg March 19-21, 2027 for Virginia Tech’s annual Civil War Weekend. It’s your opportunity to learn from leading experts in Civil War history and enjoy the company of other history enthusiasts—all in the comfortable surroundings of the Inn at Virginia Tech.

This year’s theme, “The Civil War in American Culture,” examines the conflict’s remarkable impact on American literature, film, music, and visual art. The war’s intense human experiences—and the struggles surrounding emancipation and Reconstruction—have inspired generations of novelists and filmmakers from Margaret Mitchell to Ken Burns and Steven Spielberg.

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Schedule

Speakers

Spring Campaign

Our distinguished speakers will highlight how deeply Civil War era history has shaped American culture over the last 160 years. The opening lecture comes from acclaimed historical novelist Jeff Shaara, whose publications include Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure as well as a brand new book about Abraham Lincoln. We’ll get a preview of an exciting new exhibition of Civil War soldier art scheduled to open later in 2027 at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.

Painting of a Civil War battlefield — Image courtesy of Virginia Museum of History and Culture

2 men posing in Civil War uniforms — Longstreet (Tom Berenger) and Lee (Martin Sheen) as portrayed in the movie Gettysburg, courtesy of IMDB.com.

Additional presentations will investigate the history behind blockbuster movies such as Gettysburg, Glory, and Cold Mountain. Music lovers will especially appreciate a live concert featuring wartime tunes from the Federal City Brass Band.

Members of a brass band wearing Civil War uniforms — The Federal City Brass Band at Berkeley Plantation in June 2012 for the 150th anniversary of the birth of Taps.

You can also join us for an optional two-night “Spring Campaign.” Typically we journey to far-flung places like Gettysburg or Charleston, but this year we’ll explore Civil War sites in our own backyard: Southwest Virginia. Accompanied by local guides, we’ll visit the battlefields of Cloyd’s Mountain and New River Bridge, as well as plantation homes and other places shaped by the war.

Roadside historical marker for the battle of Cloyd's Mountain — Cloyd's Mountain marker. (Jean Elliott )

Front exterior of a historic cabin from the 1800s — Slave cabin on the property at Historic Smithfield. (Rachel Stanley)

Historic salt kettles in Saltville, Va. — Salt furnace and kettles at the historic Salt Park (Lucas Kelley)

Whether this is your first Virginia Tech Civil War Weekend, or you’ve been attending ever since our first meeting in 1991, we look forward to welcoming you to the group and sharing new perspectives on this endlessly fascinating period of American history. See you in March!

Paul Quigley

James I. Robertson, Jr. Professor of Civil War Studies

Director, Virginia Center for Civil War Studies