| 12 February 2010 | ||
| 12:00 pm |
On February 12, 2010 at noon, the Friends of the Pamplin Library will sponsor a talk given by historian Chris Calkins at the Pamplin Depot on Main Street in Pamplin, Virginia. Mr. Calkins will give a sense of reality to the history that has taken place in the Appomattox area of Virginia.
Chris Calkins has been with the National Park Service for 34 years and has served at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, and as historian and Chief of Interpretation at Petersburg National Battlefield since 1981. In 2008 he accepted the position of first full-time Park Manager of Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park. He retired from Petersburg National Battlefield last July with 35 years and 10 months in the National Park Service and began his work permanently with the state.
He has authored twelve publications, numerous articles, and has spoken nationally to many Civil War and preservation groups. He is the author of the highly acclaimed “Lee’s Retreat” driving tour (featured in LIFE and SOUTHERN LIVING magazines) which is now being used as a successful example of Heritage Tourism in the Commonwealth and nationwide.
Active in battlefield preservation efforts, he served on the board of directors for eight years with the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites, Inc. (now merged with the Civil War Preservation Trust) and helped broker the preservation of seven sites around Petersburg and Appomattox. These include: Five Forks, White Oak Road, Hatchers Run, Reams Station, The Sixth Corps Breakthrough (now Pamplin Park), Sailor’s Creek, Lee’s rearguard at Appomattox and Appomattox Station.
He has been interviewed on the History Channel, A & E, Discovery Channel, and HGTV. Calkins is a native of Detroit, Michigan, graduated from Longwood College (now University) in Farmville and is married to the former Sarah Brown from Appomattox. They live in a restored National Register listed 18th century mansion in Petersburg’s Old Town Historic District.
All are welcome to attend. Refreshments will follow the presentation.
