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 effective end of the nation's largest war. Questions remained: could the nation reunite as one? How would emancipation be realized?
Visitor Center - Appomattox Courthouse
Start your visit here at the reconstructed Appomatttox Courthouse building, which houses the park's visitor center. The original courthouse burned down in 1892 and was rebuilt in 1964 as the visitor center. Ask the staff here to help you plan your park visit, pick up brochures on local attractions and key Civil War subjects, learn more in the park's exhibits, and watch the park's 17-minute orientation film, "With Malice Toward None."
McLean House
General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to General Ulysses S. Grant in the McLean House parlor on April 9, 1865. This event marked the beginning of the end of the Civil War. The McLean House was originally constructed in 1848 as the guest house for the Raine Tavern. This house was disassembled in 1893. The group that bought the house considered rebuilding it at the Chicago World's Fair, but changed their minds and planned to re-build it in Washington, D.C.. The investors involved in the move went backrupt so the disassembled house never left Appomattox Court House. The house materials laid in the yard unprotected for over 50 years. When the home was rebuilt in 1948, only 5,500 bricks remained.
The house is open and staffed daily during the warm season. During winter months the house may be open on a limited schedule.
Parole Pass Printing
The terms of the surrender allowed Confederate soldiers to be paroled and return home, instead of prison. During their April 10 meeting, Grant and Lee agreed that each Confederate would receive an individual parole pass certifying that the men would not take up arms against the United States. Per Grant's instructions, these passes could aid the former Confederates during their journey home, allowing them to use federal transportation (ships and trains where available) and to draw food and supplies from federally controlled stations in the South. Approximately 30,000 blank passes were printed at the Clover Hill Tavern in just 26 hours. After the Confederates surrendered their military equipment, they were eligible to receive the pass. Some higher ranking Confederates were paroled by Federal officers, but most passes were signed by Confederate officers for the men in their commands. During the summer months park staff use the printing press above to print passes that they distribute to visitors on most days during June, July and the first half of August.
East End of the Village
The eastern portion of the village includes the Kelley/Robinson house, signs to mark the Confederate Stacking of Arms, and the location where Lee and Grant met again on April 10. A ranger is stationed at the East End of the village on most weekends during the summer to share these stories, including the life of John Robinson, who helped found the first African American church in Appomattox after he was emancipated. Visitors can also learn about the second meeting between Grant and Lee on April 10, 1865 and the Gordon/Chamberlain salute that started the formal surrender of Confederate infantry arms and flags on April 12, 1865.
Guided Programs
During the warmer season, the park offers multiple daily guided talks provided by park ranger staff and living history staff, who portray individuals present in the village in 1865. All programs explore the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, whether through the lens of modern day historical understanding or through the perspective of a person who lived through the experience. Join a guided program to dig deeper into the park's stories and ask pressing questions!
Directions From Camp Parsons: 49 min (39.8 miles)
- Camp Parsons - 214 Wood Haven Trail, Cumberland, VA 23040
- Head north on Wood Haven Trail - 1.1 mi
- Turn right onto VA-45 N - 1.4 mi
- Turn left onto Wilson Russell Dr - 0.4 mi
- Turn left onto US-60 W - 19.7 mi
- Keep left to continue on State Hwy 24 W - 17.0 mi
- Turn right onto National Park Dr - 0.3 mi
Website: https://www.nps.gov/apco/index.htm
Phone: 434 694-8904
Address: 111 National Park Drive, Appomattox, VA 24522
