Our area wineries are constantly upping their game to give you even more reasons to visit — beyond their fine wines. You’ll find games like cornhole and axe throwing, entertainment like bands and comedy nights, fire pits, a plethora of dining options, and now…museums! In this column, we’ll highlight two Northern Virginia winery/museums located inside The Winery at Bull Run and next door to Vint Hill Craft Winery.
Witness the history of the Civil War Museum at The Winery at Bull Run
The Winery at Bull Run added a new attraction to its popular tours in March 2022: the Witness to History Civil War Museum. Explore the collection of more than 200,000 artifacts and witness history for yourself through the relics and stories of real Civil War soldiers. A knowledgeable tour guide takes guests on an hour-long adventure through the exhibits, along with four coordinated wine and cider tastings.
The museum, located on the ground floor of the main tasting room, houses one of the largest museums of Civil War artifacts open to the public in a beautifully curated display. It includes the extensive collection of DP Newton, former curator of the White Oak Civil War Museum, who died in 2019, as well as relics acquired by winery owner Jon Hickox and others.
Hickox wanted to use a non-political approach to show people what life was like for soldiers in the Civil War. You will see relics from both the Union and Confederate forces, including African-American troops, along with descriptions of the items and where and how some of them were found.
Don’t miss the pyramid of 60,000 bullets (more than 120,000 in the collection); a flag made by the wives of the 4th Virginia Cavalry soldiers who flew at the Battle of Bull Run; a chest belonging to Captain W.C. Hearn, 1st Mississippi Chaplain; and the replica of a camp cabin with its Sibley stove and a mural depicting a winter quarters scene. The museum also houses a unique collection of 30 identification cards and dog tags, as well as photographs of these individuals.
You’ll learn what life was like in the camps and on the battlefield. “The soldiers experienced 99% boredom and 1% pure fear,” said Hickox. His favorite part of the exhibit? The boom room!
History of Manassas National Battlefield
The museum is particularly poignant because it sits on the edge of Manassas National Battlefield Park, where two major battles of the Civil War were fought: the First and Second Battles of Bull Run, also known as the Battles of Manassas. It was also here that Confederate General Thomas J. Jackson earned his nickname “Stonewall.” The park was established in 1936 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. It receives more than 700,000 visitors annually.
Cold War Museum, next to Vint Hill Craft Winery
The Cold War Museum was founded by Francis Gary Powers Jr., the son of the CIA U-2 pilot shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960, and John C. Welch to preserve Cold War history, honor Cold War veterans and educate people about the era. The museum occupies a two-story building adjacent to Vint Hill Craft Winery, where guests can enjoy a wine tasting and a meal at the nearby Covert Café during their visit. It is not affiliated with the winery.
As you enter the museum, you will be approached by one of the many volunteers who will be happy to explain the many exhibits. Notice the Tom Hanks movie poster for “Bridge of Spies.” See what you can recognize in the SR-71 film of Washington DC, taken from a NASA SR-71 Blackbird. Learn about Lockheed’s Skunk Works®. View maps used by the Civil War Balloon Corps and watch a video showing atomic bomb testing at the Nevada Proving Grounds.
On the upper floor, you will notice the many communist flags that decorate the ceiling. Touch a piece of the Berlin Wall and marvel at the numerous German and Russian military uniforms.
Curator John DePerro pointed out a key exhibit on the Cuban Missile Crisis. He explained how we were minutes away from World War III and how the U.S. detected and stopped a Soviet submarine with a nuclear torpedo by feigning an attack with hand grenades, making the submarine captain think he was under attack.
You can find many more stories on the museum’s website at coldwar.org. The museum also offers a lecture series with renowned speakers who talk about their experiences with and during the Cold War.
History of Vint Hill Farms Station
The site itself has a significant history. Vint Hill Farm’s owner, Mitchell Harrison, was an amateur radio operator and in 1939 he realised that the area’s unique topography would allow him to receive transmissions from as far away as Europe.
In 1942, the U.S. Department of Defense purchased the farm as a secret Signal Intelligence Service post, along with a cryptographic school where personnel learned to encrypt, decrypt and translate messages. It was named “Monitoring Station No. 1.” The upper section of the smaller cow barn (now the Vint Hill Craft Winery) was one of the areas where surveillance took place. The lower barn was still a cow barn.
In November 1943, a message from the Japanese ambassador in Berlin was intercepted and decoded. It contained a detailed description of the German defenses on the Atlantic Wall, troop strength and contingency plans. The “Oshima Intercept” message was a crucial contribution to the planning of D-Day.
Go out and enjoy some of Virginia’s fine wines while experiencing a little local history at these museums.
Pictured above:
Photo credit: Drew Hickox
The winery at Bull Run Tours
$36.50 per person/including tastings
Tours take place Friday-Sunday or by appointment
15950 Lee Hwy
Centerville, VA 20120
Book online at:
wineryatbullrun.com/tours
- Tour through the Witness Museum of History
- Historical tour from the past to the present
- Grape production tour
Vint Hill Craft Winery
Wednesday – Sunday
12:00 – 18:00
7150 Lineweaver Rd
Warrenton, VA 20187
www.vinthillcraftwinery.com
Cold War Museum
Free admission
Open Saturdays and Sundays
or by arrangement
7172 Lineweaver Rd.
Warrenton, VA 20187
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