Newport News Park | battlefield, place with historical importance, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, American Civil War 1861-1865

 park, battlefield, place with historical importance, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, American Civil War 1861-1865

www.nnparks.com/parks_nn.php

One of the largest municipal parks in the country, this magnificent 8,000 acre-oasis is home to an incredible variety of native wildlife – deer, foxes, otter, raccoon and beaver, to name a few – all found in a natural setting of lush woodlands, flowering meadows and shimmering lakes. Its unique natural beauty makes Newport News Park a favorite destination for campers who love the great outdoors – and the convenience of being just moments away from the multitude of activities and attractions the surrounding area provides.

Historically, it is the location of one of Magruder's lines of defense during the Civil War. By digging canals and constructing earthworks, the Confederates effectively delayed McClellan's advance to Richmond. The park is on the site of the "real line of defense positions," also known as the second defense, which ran from Fort Crawford on Mulberry Island (later Fort Eustis), up the Warwick River to Lee's Mill, and on to Yorktown. The creeks, canals, and mill ponds eventually became the Newport News Reservoir, and the earthworks can still be seen in the park. This region of the park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as "Dam No. 1 Battlefield Site".

There are multiple bike and hiking trails; boating, fishing, and canoeing; as well as a large campsite. This is also the site of the annual Celebration in Lights, one of the largest holiday light shows in the Southeast.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dam_No._One_Battlefield_Site#Dam_...