Free Admission at Virginia's National Parks This Weekend

WASHINGTON, DC — America's national parks unlock the gates this weekend with free admission to some of the country's most unique natural treasures. This family-friendly freebie is in honor of National Park Week.

Billed as America's largest celebration of national heritage, your entire family can enjoy any national park free of charge on Saturday April 22 and Sunday April 23. Many people took advantage of the free admission last weekend, including Prince William Forest Park in Dumfries and Great Falls Park on the George Washington Parkway in McLean

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Virginia's National Parks include:

Appomattox Court House

Appomattox, VA

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 end of the nation's largest war. Two important questions about its future were answered. Could the nation survive a civil war intact, and would that nation exist without slavery? The answer to both was yes and a new nation was born.

Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial

Arlington, VA

The Robert E. Lee Memorial honors Lee's military and public leadership in pre- and post-Civil War America. Congress designated the memorial to recognize that "the desire and hope of Robert E. Lee for peace and unity within our Nation has come to pass." From the portico you can contemplate our nation's fate as you gaze across the river that once divided us.

Booker T Washington National Monument

Hardy, VA

On April 5, 1856, Booker T. Washington was born a slave on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later as an adviser, author and orator, his past would influence his philosophies as the most influential African American of his era. Come explore his birthplace.

Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park

Middletown and Strasburg, VA

The Shenandoah Valley invites you to learn about its rich heritage, from Native Americans who first shaped the land, to pioneers of this frontier; this fertile area became one of the most important wheat producing regions of the entire South. The Valley also witnessed some of the most dramatic events of the Civil War,including the Battle of Cedar Creek, a decisive October 19, 1864 Union victory.

Colonial National Historical Park

Jamestown and Yorktown, VA

On May 13, 1607, Jamestown was established as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Three cultures came together – European, Virginia Indian and African–to create a new society that would eventually seek independence from Great Britain. On October 19, 1781, American and French troops defeated the British at Yorktown in the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War.

Fort Monroe National Monument

Fort Monroe, VA

Fort Monroe National Monument spans the American story through the 21st century: American Indian presence, Captain John Smith's journeys, a safe haven for freedom seekers during the Civil War, home of the US Army Artillery School, and a bastion of defense for the Chesapeake Bay. Visit this young national park with a centuries-old tradition and see on-going preservation work in action.

Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park

Fredericksburg, VA

Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania--this is America's battleground, where the Civil War roared to its bloody climax. No place more vividly reflects the War's tragic cost in all its forms. A town bombarded and looted. Farms large and small ruined. Refugees by the thousands forced into the countryside. More than 85,000 men wounded; 15,000 killed--most in graves unknown.

George Washington Birthplace

Westmoreland County, VA

In the heart of the Northern Neck of Virginia stands a tribute to America’s founding father, George Washington. Although only here a short time, the ideas that Washington learned here, helped shape the man he would become and forever alter the destiny of the United States of America.

George Washington Memorial Parkway

DC, MD, VA

The George Washington Memorial Parkway was designed for recreational driving. It links sites that commemorate important episodes in American history and preserve habitat for local wildlife. The parkway and its associated trails provide a scenic place to play and rest in the busy Washington, DC metropolitan area.

Maggie L Walker Historic Site

Richmond, VA

Maggie Lena Walker devoted her life to civil rights advancement, economic empowerment, and educational opportunities for Jim Crow-era African Americans and women. As a bank president, newspaper editor, and fraternal leader, Walker served as an inspiration of pride and progress. Today, Walker’s home is preserved as a tribute to her enduring legacy of vision, courage, and determination.

Manassas Battlefield

Manassas, VA

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.

Petersburg Battlefield

Petersburg, VA

Nine and a half months, 70,000 casualties, the suffering of civilians, thousands of U. S. Colored Troops fighting for the freedom of their race, and the decline of Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of No. Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. It was here Gen. Ulysses S. Grant cut off all of Petersburg's supply lines ensuring the fall of Richmond on April 3, 1865. Six days later, Lee surrendered.

Richmond Battlefield Park

Richmond, VA

Richmond's story is not just the tale of one large Civil War battle, nor even one important campaign. Instead, the park's resources include a naval battle, a key industrial complex, the Confederacy's largest hospital, dozens of miles of elaborate original fortifications, and the evocative spots where determined soldiers stood paces apart and fought with rifles, reaping a staggering human cost.

Shenandoah National Park

the Blue Ridge Mountains near Luray, VA

Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is your escape to recreation and re-creation. Cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, quiet wooded hollows—take a hike, meander along Skyline Drive, or picnic with the family. 200,000 acres of protected lands are haven to deer, songbirds, and the night sky.

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts

Vienna, VA

No matter what your age or taste in shows, you'll find something you like onstage at Wolf Trap. From May through September, multiple amphitheaters in the park present performances such as musicals, dance, opera, jazz, and popular and country music. A good time to explore the beauty and history of the park without the crowds is October - April.

Or if you want to stay close to the area, check out the aforementioned Prince William Forest Park or Great Falls Park.

Out of the 417 national parks in the U.S., 59 sites include “National Park” as part of their proper name such as Acadia, Everglades, Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone.

You can find a complete searchable listing of national parks based on state, region or park name.

Here are some highlights of National Park Week:

• Saturday is Earth Day. You can join a volunteer project or simply enjoy the natural wonders and wildlife preserved in national parks.
• Sunday is Park Rx Day. You'll find ranger-led programs or you can simply enjoy a healthy activity with family and friends.

Meanwhile, here's a comprehensive look at the state of U.S. forests.

Patch reporter Paul Scicchitano contributed to this story.

Image of Shenandoah Park from the National Park Service