Appomattox Court House National Historical Park is maintained by the National Park Service. The site contains the house of Wilmer McLean, where Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the Civil War. The surrender occurred April 9, 1865.
The park is the recreation of a small village and was made a national monument in 1940, then made a national historical park in 1954. It is located about 3 miles east of Appomattox, Virginia. The park has a couple of dozen restored buildings, a few ruins, and some cemeteries.
The Visitor's Center is the first building you see on the right as you walk up from the parking lot.
In it, visitors can watch a short film about the surrender and the end of the Civil War.
The Visitor's Center also houses a collection of items about the area, the McLean House, and general Civil War memorabilia.
NPS staff hold talks and Living History sessions throughout the day. Visitors are able to tour the McLean House and see the room where the surrender occurred.
Other buildings, such as the tavern, the homes of enslaved people, and the jail, are also open for visitors.
A bookstore/gift shop is also open and worthy of a visit!
It was nice to see license plates from all over the country in the parking area. We take Virginia's rich history for granted, and love to know that people come from all over the world to learn about the history where we live.
