cold harbor battlefield park - garthright house

I had been trying to schedule a visit to this park for several years, as my ggg-grandfather was killed here in battle on June 1, 1864. When I realized that the 150th anniversary of that battle was coming up, I made my airline reservations, figuring that they would have some sort of commemoration.What a weekend! The Park Service did a wonderful job of scheduling tours & talks, demonstrations of artillery and camp life. I got a personal tour from a volunteer guide of the approximate location where my ancestor actually fell. A very moving moment!The park itself is lovely. Normally, you can do either a driving or walking tour; if walking there are extended trails to explore. The extent of the 150 year old earthworks is amazing (but look from afar - please do not walk over the trenches!!)I will be back.

If you had to pick one Civil War battlefield to visit as the other reviewers indicate, this is the place to come to. By car, one can drive the battle ground following signs and visualizing both army positions. It is a shady, slow, imaginative journey. But if one has the time, beginning with a very nice visitor center, one can walk the grounds on trails and really experience the contours of the terrain.Visiting the Garthright House you go past a small period cemetery. I drove. The House itself is a quick visit, rich with history. History folks with minimum time can enjoy these grounds.

If you do not have time to hit all of the Civil War battlefields around Richmond, this one is a good choice. It is compact yet big enough to give you a good sense of the battle defenses and attacks. The small visitor center just off Cold Harbor Road has an electric map so you can follow the movements of the two armies (Grant and Lee) from May 31 to June 12 (part of the 1864 Overland Campaign). There is a one mile trail through the adjacent fields. I did not take all of it but if you follow the line and cross the road there is a nice view of an old farm house and you get some perspective. The 1 3/4 mile touring road takes you by some of the best preserved trenches of the War with turnouts at both Union and Confederate lines.It then takes you to the main road and the Cold Harbor Cemetery, a small but well cared for plot surrounded by a brick wall. Across the road from there is the Garthwright House (not open inside) which was behind the Union lines and served as a field hospital.

nice paved trail loop through moderate wooded area with excellent signage to bring the battle to light for even novices of the horrible toll of the conflict, like my walking partner for the day- provided her with ample basis to ask deeper questions... added attraction, it was nearing dusk during spring peeper season so we were serenaded throughout