Commemoration of the 161st Anniversary of Surrender and Freedom Day

Contact: Brian Miller, 434-665-6331

Appomattox, Va.- Appomattox Court House National Historical Park will commemorate the 161st Anniversary of the Surrender and Freedom Day with five days of special programs. The park will offer living history presentations, guided walks, demonstrations and family activities. The fun begins on Wednesday, April 8 and continues through Sunday, April 12, 2026.

The anniversary marks the pivotal events of April 1865 that led to the victory of Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant. His victory forced General Robert E. Lee to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia. This momentous event led to the end of slavery throughout much of Virginia and set the nation on the path from civil war to the first steps of reunification.

The weeklong commemoration explores the military campaign, the surrender proceedings, emancipation and the broader legacy of Appomattox. The event kicks off on Wednesday, April 8 at 11 a.m. with the presentation "Final Fury and the Last to Die: The Battles of Appomattox Station and Appomattox Court House," presented by Park Historian Patrick Schroeder.

On Thursday, April 9, the 161st anniversary of the surrender, programming examines the battle, the surrender meeting, and the broader implications, including two battlefield walks.

The weekend of April 11-12 includes first-person presentations by Generals Grant and Lee, small arms demonstrations, Federal and Confederate camps, a re-creation of the Stacking of Arms, children's activities and more.

A special evening program on Saturday, April 12 at 6 p.m. at Appomattox County High School features "Appomattox: Final 48 Hours." Witness the events of the final 48 hours with a first-person living history presentation featuring Generals Grant and Lee. See the full program schedule on the park's event page. All programs subject to change.

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About Appomattox Court House National Historical Park:On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the end of the nation's largest war. The stories of Appomattox Court House go far beyond the final significant battles of this nation's Civil War. Learn more at www.nps.gov/apco.