Manassas, Va. - Manassas Museum's Basement to Attic Tours of Liberia Plantation are set for March 13.
The tours, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., will offer a rare glimpse into the historic 1825 house, where both Confederate and Union forces set up headquarters during the Civil War.
Visitors can also learn about recent restoration efforts on the property.
The home, built by William Weir, served as the headquarters for Confederate Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard and his officers before the Battle of First Manassas.
Beauregard abandoned the home in the winter of 1861 but it quickly became the headquarters for Union Gen. Irvin McDowell prior to the Battle of Second Manassas. President Abraham Lincoln is reported to have visited with McDowell at the site.
When the Civil War ended, Liberia was the only major building left on the burned and decimated plains of Manassas. Some of the Weir family members who built the house returned to Liberia but were not able to restore the plantation to its former glory.
In later years, the Weirs sold the property to prominent Manassas businessman Robert Portner, who developed Liberia into a successful dairy farm. The Breeden family, who bought Liberia in 1947, lived in it for a while and then donated the property to the Manassas Museum system in 1986. It is open only for special events and tours.
Visitors can also hear about Civil War graffiti that was discovered during recent restoration ef-forts.
Tickets are $15 each, $10 for those younger than 16, and should be purchased in advance. Di-rections to Liberia will be provided and tours will be conducted rain or shine. Tickets can be pur-chased by visiting www.manassasmuseum.org or by calling 703-368-1873.
-- Bennie Scarton Jr.
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