My role as a park volunteer is to walk the trails at the battlefield portion of the park, assist visitors with directions or answer questions, report incidents or issues, etc. I also help out with photography at the park.
Since October 1, the visitor center has been closed and all events cancelled or relocated. This included an encampment weekend coinciding with the second battle of October 7. Also cancelled was the fall lecture series which brings in speakers on topics of relevance to the park. I was most looking forward to a presentation detailing the lives of enslaved African (American) laborers at the time by Dr. Shanleigh Corrallo.
All interpretive staff, among others, have been without work or pay for the past six weeks.
The park, however, was not closed. The gate at the entrance to the tour road remained closed to vehicles but cyclists were still able to ride the ten mile route. Horses were able to utilize the horse trail. The road was kept clear of leaves, etc. by a bare bones maintenance detail. The trails remained open for hiking and on some weekends the parking lot was full.
I spent 22 hours at the park over this time and have shared images from those visits. Here are some photos from what may be my final two visits during the "shutdown" as our thoughts turn to the multitudes of people who will now struggle with obtaining, maintaining and/or paying for health care as existing federal subsidies end on January 1st.
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| 11/4/25 RF 24-105mm f/4L at 105mm, f/11, 1/350 sec., ISO 100 |
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| 11/4/25 RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/22, 1/500 sec., ISO 800 |
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| 11/4/25 RF 24-105mm f/4L at 24mm, f/22, 1/180 sec., ISO 800 |
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| 11/4/25 RF 24-105mm f/4L at 35mm, f/11, 1/250 sec., ISO 200 |
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| 11/6/25 RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/2, 1/4000 sec., ISO 100 |
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| 11/6/25 RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/8, 1/125 sec., ISO 400 |
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| 11/6/25 RF 50mm f/1.4L, f/11, 1/500 sec., ISO 200 |
