Chinn Ridge Cultural Landscape Report

Quinn Evans Architects

The Chinn Ridge cultural landscape is a former plantation located within the Manassas National Battlefield Park in Manassas, Virginia. It is situated approximately 25 miles west of Washington, DC, in Prince William County, Virginia, five miles north of the city of Manassas. The Chinn Ridge cultural landscape is significant in three distinct areas of history. First, it is associated with 18th century Piedmont agricultural traditions. Second, it is significant as the battlefield for two major engagements during the US Civil War. Third, the landscape is important for commemorative features and activities between 1905 and 1940. The landscape relates to traditional Piedmont agricultural practices of tobacco cultivation and diversified farming in northern Virginia during the 18th century. These early agricultural practices contributed to the formation of the landscape that served as the battlefield during the Civil War and the interpretive landscape that exists today. The Chinn Ridge landscape is nationally significant for its association with the First and Second Battles of Manassas, July 21, 1861 and August 28-30, 1862, respectively. The rolling ridges and valleys of this agricultural landscape provided key terrain for observation, open fields of fire, and cover and concealment that were utilized in the military strategy for both the Union and Confederacy during these battles (see Figure 1-4). In both the First and Second Battles of Manassas, Union lines were formed on Chinn Ridge to take advantage of the critical vantage point from the high ground; however in both instances, they were pushed from the ridge by Confederate flanking movements. Following both battles, the Chinn House was used as a field hospital. The New York Monuments area was the scene of determined resistance by New York units to the Confederate attack at Second Manassas. Following the Civil War, several memorials were placed on the landscape to commemorate individuals and regiments who fought bravely in both battles. The cultural landscape is significant for these commemorative actions, which took place in the period from 1905 to 1940. Commemorative features within the study area include the monuments dedicated to the 5th New York, 10th New York, and 14th Brooklyn regiments, the decorative iron gate honoring the 5th New York regiment, and the Col. Fletcher Webster Monument. Further development of the landscape as a recreational and commemorative landscape occurred during the 1930s with the addition of the Chinn Farm to the Bull Run Recreational Demonstration Area. The period ends with the formation of Manassas National Battlefield Park in 1940. A monument honoring Texans who fought at Second Manassas was added to the parcel in 2012, outside of this period of significance.

Chinn Ridge Cultural Landscape Report

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