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Civil War anniversary means big bucks for county
During an armed conflict, “war profiteer” is a dirty name. Waiting 150 years, however, brings a certain respectability to the occupation.
So it is in Prince William, where businesses, historians, media outlets and government officials are already counting the profits to be made on the 150th anniversary of America's bloodiest conflict.
“It has already begun,” Ann Marie Maher, director of the Prince William County - Greater Manassas Convention and Visitors Bureau, said on Tuesday. She noted that Manassas National Battlefield Park and other local historic sites have already seen an upswing in visitors as national interest grows in the “sesquicentennial,” or 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
More than 80 events have been planned around the county for this year and more will be planned as the four-year commemoration continues. In Prince William, however, the big to-do is this summer, when 10,000 re-enactors and 30,000 visitors are expected to descend on the county in July to re-create the Battle of First Manassas.
The re-enactment is a “huge endeavor,” Maher said, and is expected to generate huge amounts of tourism dollars.
Projections show that each of the 40,000 visitors will spend about $374 during their several-day stay in the area. That will pan out to $11.2 million in profit for hotels, restaurants, stores and local organizations, including the county government, which put up $500,000 and is expected to get back their investment plus $253,000 in profit.
Part of the draw is that Prince William has a huge advantage over other famous battlefields. Many Civil War battlefields, such as Manassas National Battlefield Park and Fort Sumter, are now owned by the National Park Service, which keeps a very tight reign over what types of re-enactments are allowed. While living history exhibits may feature drills or even artillery demonstrations, actual re-creations of battles aren't allowed.
What re-enactors and history buffs want is to relive the battle as close as possible to the actual site, which is tough if the National Park Service owns all the land. So a locality could score a big tourism coup if it could find a big piece of land close to the actual battle site to hold a battle re-enactment of its own.
And that's what Prince William has done.
Pageland Farm is a 200-acre farm located next to Manassas National Battlefield Park. As luck would have it, the farm is owned by Page Snyder, daughter of “Stonewall” Annie Snyder, who died in 2002. In 1988, Snyder became nationally known for fighting -- and winning -- the so-called Third Battle of Manassas by leading the charge to save the battlefield area from developers.
In memory of her mother, Page Snyder is letting the county use the farm rent-free for the re-enactment. The county will pay to return the property to its original condition after 10,000 Civil War soldiers and horses trample it for two days, but the Snyders will not profit from the arrangement.
At least not monetarily; Page Snyder's only condition was that her mother be mentioned and honored as officials spread the word about the re-enactment on the farm.
All told, the county will pay about $1.525 million on everything from supplies (ice, water, hay for horses, porta-johns, etc.),to transportation, insurance and extra police and medical support.
Recouping those costs is expected to be easy, however. The re-enactors will each pay $20 up front and spectators will pay another $25 on average. Sutlers (Civil War-era vendors and merchants) will pay $300 each and modern vendors selling t-shirts or other gear will pay $500 each.
In all, the county is expecting $1.779 million in gross profits. Once the expenses are paid, that leaves about $253,000 net.
Of course that doesn't count the $11.2 million the visitors are expected to drop in privately-owned businesses while they're here. Maher said studies show that every $1 spent on tourism generates about $5 for the local economy.
The First Manassas re-enactment is slated for July 22-24. Tickets and other details are online at www.manassasbullrun.com.
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