Belle Grove Plantation

06/11/2026

Belle Grove's first Descendants' Day in Honor of Juneteenth is this Saturday, June 13! Descendant Community Group members, including Lisa Johnson Assogba and Athea Bell Burton (shown here with their family members), planned this day honoring free and enslaved ancestors at Belle Grove and the surrounding region.

This is a free program thanks to funding from Crescent Cities Charities.

⛪Faith: The day begins at 9 a.m. at Walnut Springs Christian Church, 1905 Oranda Road, Strasburg, Virginia 22657 with a service to honor Benjamin Tanny a man enslaved at Belle Grove who was baptized and joined this church in 1831.

The program continues at Belle Grove at 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, Virginia 22645 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

🌯🥔 Food: There will be food for sale from Pan D Endz Cuisine and Potato Sensations

🎶 Music: Gospel Music by Mount Olive Baptist Church (Middletown) Praise Team and Men's Choir and 2nd Guildfield Baptist Church (Front Royal) Praise Team. Plus soloists Elizabeth Roberts (First Lady of Guildfield Baptist Church, Front Royal) and Jesse Davis (Harrisburg, PA)

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Stories: “Once Upon a Time”—a roundtable with our Elders: Goldie Baltimore, James Johnson, Pastor Franklin Roberts, Ellen Gant, Buck Sloane, Randolph Deneal, Sandy Sonnie. Moderated by Carter Oneal Johnson.

📖 History: Talk with Lisa Johnson Assogba, a dedicated genealogist and local historian, discuss stories of resistance and self-emancipation with the William & Mary Institute for Historical Biology, learn about Coming to the Table a group "Taking American Beyond the Legacy of Enslavement," and hear about Belle Grove's research and programs on the Black history of the site.

Please feel free to dress casually and for warm weather. We hope to see you there!

This event is a part of “Justice for All” programming presented by four National Trust Historic Sites in Virginia as part of the commemoration of America’s 250th. View the full schedule of events at https://savingplaces.org/justice-for-all

06/10/2026

Don’t forget Father’s Day June 21!

06/10/2026

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 21 and the Belle Grove Museum Shop has great gifts for Dad! Is he a history buff? Plan a weekend outing to Belle Grove to take a tour and hang out with Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Park Ranger—11:30 Saturday and 2:30 Sunday. All details at bellegrove.org/visit

06/10/2026

Looking forward to starting “Descendants’ Day in Honor of Juneteenth” this Saturday, June 13 at 9 a.m. at Walnut Springs Christian Church Disciples of Christ at 1905 Oranda Road, Strasburg, Virginia 22657. Pastor Rev. Wendall Schurtz and Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Strasburg Head Pastor Rev. Patti Page Brown will lead a service to celebrate Benjamin Tanny a man enslaved at Belle Grove who was baptized and joined this church in 1831. Then join us for a memorial walk along the route that Mr. Tanny would have taken to attend services. Find all details about the day here: https://bellegrove.org/calendar/descendants-day

06/07/2026

Thank you to Clem's Kitchen for hosting a wonderful dinner Saturday night for some of Belle Grove's supporters! Chef Amanda prepared an amazing four course meal served in the historic kitchen. Thanks to the entire staff for a warm welcome and excellent service. It was a lovely evening.

Clem's Kitchen has new summer hours and a great patio too. Be sure to check them out!

06/06/2026

A great day to be out on the trails!

We hope you are able to get outside on this !

A great way to blend history, nature, and outdoor recreation is by taking a hike at Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park. Choose one of several trails through woodlots, open meadows, and over rolling terrain. Our park rangers can help direct you to nearby points of interest and key spots on the battlefield.

🚶‍♂️‍➡️ The Morning Attack Trails cover ground hotly contested during the Confederate surprise attack on the morning of October 19, 1864. Along the trails you'll discover the 8th Vermont Monument. Surviving soldiers returned to the battlefield in 1885 to commemorate their sacrificial stand.

🚶‍♂️‍➡️ The 19th Corps Trails follows a line of US trenches through the woods and fields near Belle Grove Plantation. Opportunities may exist to see wildlife, such as deer, coyotes, turtles, and many birds.

More information can be found at: https://www.nps.gov/cebe/planyourvisit/outdooractivities.htm

Photo: NPS. View of Massanutten Mountain from the Morning Attack Trails.

06/06/2026

It's going to be a great day!

06/06/2026

Be sure to stop by the Museum Shop for a great selection of gardening books, flower presses, goat soap from Divine Acres Farm, locally grown canned items from Twin Ripple Farm, apple butter from Richard's Fruit Market, Belle Grove honey, natural cleaners and sourdough starter from Little R Microfarm, gifts from Udderly Natural Goat Milk Soaps and so much more!

05/31/2026

GARDENFEST is Saturday, June 6, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at Belle Grove (336 Belle Grove Road, Town of Middletown VA)

🙂Free admission and free parking.

🏡The Belle Grove Manor House will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. for with reduced admission of $5 for those 12 and older.

🪴Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners Plant Sale
(no wagons provided; please bring your own wagon, box, or tote for plants) ➡️🌱see comments for plant list🌱⬅️
🌹 Second Hand Rose Sale of Gently Used Items
👨‍🌾Gardening Advice
🌼Belle Grove Garden Tours
👩‍👧‍👦Children's Activities
✂️Garden Tool Sharpening
🍔Food Trucks
🛍️Specialty Vendors

📝There will also be six mini-workshops including:

“Preserving your Harvest” by Amanda Johnson, Food, Nutrition and Health Associate Extension Agent, Frederick County
“Garden Tool Sharpening and Care” by Jenn Barron, Extension Master Gardener
“Best Pruning Practices” by Ron Perlik, Front Royal Tree Steward
“Arranging your Flowers” – by Tammi Loving, Extension Master Gardener
“Boxwood moths” – Cindy Stauff, Extension Master Gardener
“Planting Vegetables” – Dave Rushton, Extension Master Gardener

GardenFest is hosted by Virginia Cooperative Extension and Belle Grove Historic Plantation with support from the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners.

National Trust for Historic Preservation Virginia Cooperative Extension - Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia

05/21/2026

Two great (and free of charge!) programs this weekend.

In spring of 1862, Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson fought and defeated several Federal commanders up and down the Shenandoah Valley. This campaign greatly impacted other military operations in Virginia, including a massive advance against the Confederate capital at Richmond.

Want to learn more about these battles and their strategic influence? Attend a pair of ranger-led programs this weekend!

Saturday, May 23 - 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Join a park ranger at Kernstown Battlefield, site of the campaign's first battle, to hear an overview of the campaign from start to finish. Kernstown Battlefield Association, a nonprofit group, operates the historic battlefield. It is part of Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District. (12 p.m., meet on the front lawn of the historic Pritchard House, 610 Battle Park Drive, Wi******er, Virginia, 22601)

Sunday, May 24 - A Twinge of Regret. War came to Middletown for the first time on May 24, 1862. How did the soldiers and civilians react? Join a park ranger to visit several key sites associated with a lesser known battle during the 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign. (11 a.m., meet at the NPS Visitor Center, 7712 Main Street, Middletown, Virginia, 22645)

Learn more about ranger-led tour and talks at: https://www.nps.gov/cebe/planyourvisit/calendar.htm

Photo: Ashby's Charge at Middletown illustration from "History of the Laurel Brigade."