Liberia's 200th Anniversary

Be part of history at Liberia's 200th Anniversary Celebration this Saturday, October 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at 8601 Portner Avenue in Manassas.

Join us as we commemorate 200 years of Liberia House, one of Manassas' most storied landmarks. Over two centuries, Liberia has been many things to many people: a plantation, a Civil War hospital, a dairy farm, a family home, and now a public park owned by the City of Manassas that tells the story of an evolving community.

Built in 1825 for William James Weir, and his wife, Harriett Bladen Mitchell Weir, the house was constructed largely by enslaved laborers using bricks fired on site. During the Civil War, Liberia served as headquarters for both Confederate and Union forces – visited by Confederate President Jefferson Davis after the First Battle of Manassas in July 1861, and later, by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in March 1862. Faded graffiti from Union soldiers still marks its interior walls, reminders of its turbulent past.

Spend the day participating in family activities that uncover Liberia's diverse history and tell the stories of the people who lived and worked here.

• Explore basement-to-attic tours and grounds with a guided tour
• Join a scavenger hunt of the house and grounds
• Hear Historian Marion Ransell Dobbins share the African American experience at Liberia and her knowledge of foodways
• Play 19th century games such as hoop rolling, dominoes, checkers
• Listen to live music by Joe Baione, spoken-word poetry by Dennis Spence, and more
• Learn the ancient art of quilling with local artist Stephanie McGee

Please park at the City's Public Works Facility (8500 Public Works Drive), Didlake (8641 Breeden Avenue), or the Manassas Museum (9101 Prince William Street), and catch a shuttle to Liberia.

This 18-acre Liberia property is open on select hours on Saturdays from June through August, available for tours by appointment, and during special City events like this 200th Anniversary Celebration.