Seniors Stroll Into Historic Manassas

Manassas, population 38,000, is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia that senior travelers will find 26 miles outside of Washington, DC. The Manassas Historic District, Cannon Branch Fort, Liberia, and Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Manassas began life as Manassas Junction, so named for the railroad junction between the Orange and Alexandria Railroad and the Manassas Gap Railroad. The O&A owned the railway from Alexandria through Manassas to points south, ending in Orange, Virginia.

On July 21, 1861, two armies clashed for the first time on the fields overlooking Bull Run. Heavy fighting swept away any notion of a quick war. In August 1862, Union and Confederate armies converged for a second time on the plains of Manassas. The Confederates won a solid victory bringing them to the height of their power. Today the site is a National Park.

Seniors Visit the Hylton Performing Arts Center and Manassas Museum

TripAdvisor notes that the Park is the #1 attraction and right behind is the Hylton Performing Arts Center and the Manassas Museum. Sites senior visitors will not want to miss.

The 1,123-seat Hylton Performing Arts Center went from a dream to a reality. The museum has an extensive exhibit of the Civil War era and the City’s railroad history and features changing exhibits, tours, programs and is a highlight with many visitors.

The Old Courthouse is a Romanesque revival courthouse, designed by James C. Teague and Philip T. Marye was completed in 1893 and served the country until 1984 when a new courthouse was built nearby. The old Manassas Courthouse was the site of 1911 Peace Jubilee where President Taft once stood.

 Seniors Also Visit Old Town Manassas

The Harris Pavilion is a fun place and the home for public ice-skating during the winter months. From April to November, the pavilion has a variety of entertainment and events. The arts are highly popular with the locals.

With three galleries full of local and international artistic talent, one can experience the arts in Old Town Manassas. Old Town Manassas encompasses 206 contributing buildings.

Senior visitors can browse through the large selection of pottery created on location by approximately 30 potters at Manassas Clay. Seniors can also observe oil paintings in progress and see “behind the scenes” of an art studio at Creative Brush Studio. The Luck Stone Quarry is a draw for many visitors, so unusual with its layers of dark colored stone.

Senior travelers, enjoy your stop in Manassas. -jeb