Manassas in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Peace Jubilee

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 11, 2026

1. Peace Jubilee Marker

Inscription.

Peace Jubilee. . , In July 1911, Manassas hosted an amazing event; the Manassas National Jubilee ofPeace, which brought together Union and Confederate veterans 50 years after the first major battle of the Civil War. Veterans of both sides came together for the first time on the same ground in a ceremony of peace and reconciliation., The Peace Jubilee, a week-long celebration of national healing and reunion, took place July 16-22. The festivities culminated on July 21, the battle's anniversary. The Union and Confederate veterans organized into separate lines on Henry House Hill, where 50 years before they had clased in mortal combat. On a signal, the two sides approached each other and clasped hands as they met to symbolize friendship and reconciliation. After a picnic on the battlefield, the crowd returned to the Prince William County Courthouse to listen to a speech by President William Howard Taft., Civil War veterans later held reunions on other great Civil war battlefields, but just as Manassas had been the site of the first major engagement of the war, it was also the site of the first reunion of these former adversaries., [Captions:] , President William Howard Taft addresses the crowd at the Prince William County Courthouse on July 21, 1911. , Courtesy Library of Congress, Governor Mann and staff between veterans of the Blue and Grey lined up for handshake ceremony. , Courtesy Library of Congress, Peace Jubilee Headquarters at Manassas Battlefield. On the right is George Carr Round, Chairman of the Jubilee and on the left, Lt. Colonel Edmund Berkeley. Round served in the Union forces in the Signal Corps and Berkeley was commander of the 8th Virginia Vol. Infantry, CSA., Civil War veterans and visitors packed the grounds of the old Prince William County courthouse on July 21, 1911, to hear President Taft deliver a speech commemorating the First Battle of Manassas. The courthouse was in use from 1893 until 1982, and still stands at the intersection of Grant and Lee Streets. , Courtesy Manassas Museum

In July 1911, Manassas hosted an amazing event; the Manassas National Jubilee ofPeace, which brought together Union and Confederate veterans 50 years after the first major battle of the Civil War. Veterans of both sides came together for the first time on the same ground in a ceremony of peace and reconciliation.

The Peace Jubilee, a week-long celebration of national healing and reunion, took place July 16-22. The festivities culminated on July 21, the battle's anniversary. The Union and Confederate veterans organized into separate lines on Henry House Hill, where 50 years before they had clased in mortal combat. On a signal, the two sides approached each other and clasped hands as they met to symbolize friendship and reconciliation. After a picnic on the battlefield, the crowd returned to the Prince William County Courthouse to listen to a speech by President William Howard Taft.

Civil War veterans later held reunions on other great Civil war battlefields, but just as Manassas had been the site of the first major engagement of the war, it was also the site of the first reunion of these former adversaries.

[Captions:]
President William Howard Taft addresses the crowd at the Prince William County Courthouse on July 21, 1911.
Courtesy Library of Congress

Governor Mann and staff between veterans of the Blue and Grey lined up for handshake ceremony.
Courtesy Library of Congress

Peace Jubilee Headquarters at Manassas Battlefield. On the right is George Carr Round, Chairman of the Jubilee and on the left, Lt. Colonel Edmund Berkeley. Round served in the Union forces in the Signal Corps and Berkeley was commander of the 8th Virginia Vol. Infantry, CSA.

Civil War veterans and visitors packed the grounds of the old Prince William County courthouse on July 21, 1911, to hear President Taft deliver a speech commemorating the First Battle of Manassas. The courthouse was in use from 1893 until 1982, and still stands at the intersection of Grant and Lee Streets.
Courtesy Manassas Museum

Erected by Virginia

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Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Peace • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #27 William Howard Taft, and the Virginia Civil War Trails series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1911.

Location. 38° 45.129′ N, 77° 28.542′ W. Marker is in Manassas, Virginia, in Prince William County. It is at the intersection of Lee Avenue and Grant Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Lee Avenue. The marker stands on an exclave of Prince William County that is surrounded by the independent City of Manassas. This exclave houses the county courthouse and county government offices. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9253 Lee Ave, Manassas VA 20110, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area,

in Northern Virginia,

and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 11, 2026

2. Peace Jubilee Marker

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Answering the Call to Service (here, next to this marker); In Commemoration of the Manassas National Jubilee of Peace (a few steps from this marker); Fifth Prince William County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Prince William County World War I Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); First Baptist Church (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); African American Entrepreneurs (about 700 feet away); Old Bennett School (about 700 feet away); Wartime Manassas (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manassas.

Other markers no longer nearby. Answering the Call to Service (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Peace Jubilee (has been

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replaced with this marker); Manassas 1900 (was about 700 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.