Woodbridge, Va. –– Leesylvania State Park in Woodbridge has become the place for re-enactors who depict what life was like during the Revolutionary War.
About 40 people attended the state park’s Lee’s of Leesylvania Event, used to highlight the area (on the park grounds) where General Harry “Lighthorse Harry” Lee was born. Lee is the father of the famed confederate general Robert E. Lee.
Among the mix of attendees to the event were college students from Northern Virginia Community College who all watched 12 re-enactors — members of the First Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line — dressed in full Revolutionary War-period attire fire their rifles on park grounds.
They also received extra credit for coming to hear a lecture from their professor, Michael Cecere, author of the book “Great Things are Expected from Virginians: Virginia in the American Revolution.”
The park is nestled along the Potomac River in Woodbridge, in between large suburban developments off U.S. 1. Residents use the park for boating, hiking, picnicking and other events, but a living history event at the park is a treat for visitors.
“With re-enactors, it’s always fantastic to have people who come here all the time to walk their dog or hike on the trails to see the living history events going on here. It’s an added bonus for coming to the park, not something they can see a lot of other places,” said Leesylvania Chief Park Ranger Sarah Phillips.
Later this year in honor of the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, another living history event is planned at the park that will include a hot air balloon used near the present day site of the park to spy on enemy cannon locations in Maryland.
A total of six historical events have been planned for the year, along with the park’s regular twilight canoe tours and musical performances at the marina.
