Editing Manassas, Virginia (section)

==History==

In July 1861, the [[First Battle of Bull Run]]—also known as the Battle of First Manassas —was fought nearby, the first major land battle of the [[American Civil War]]. Manassas commemorated its 150th anniversary on July 21–24, 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.manassascivilwar.org/home.aspx |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20110505035551/http://www.manassascivilwar.org/home.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-05-05 |work=Historic Manassa, Inc. |title=Manassas Civil War Commemorative Event, July 21–24, 2011 }}</ref>

The [[Second Battle of Bull Run]] (or the Battle of Second Manassas) was fought near Manassas on August 28–30, 1862. At that time, Manassas Junction was little more than a railroad crossing, but a strategic one, with rails leading to [[Richmond, Virginia]], [[Washington, D.C.]], and the [[Shenandoah Valley]]. Despite these two [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] victories, Manassas Junction was in [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] hands for most of the war.

Following the war, the crossroads grew into the town of Manassas, which was incorporated in 1873. In 1894, Manassas was designated the county seat of Prince William County, replacing [[Brentsville, Virginia|Brentsville]].

Between July 16 and July 22, 1911, veterans from both sides of the war reunited in Manassas for a [[Manassas Peace Jubilee|Peace Jubilee]] marking 50 years since the [[First Battle of Bull Run]].  On July 21, after meeting and shaking hands at [[Henry House Hill]], they picnicked together on the former battlefield before re-uniting again at the then-fairly new [[Prince William County Courthouse]] to hear a speech by President [[William Howard Taft]], commemorating the event.<ref>{{cite web |title=Peace Jubilee, Friendship and Reconciliation |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=2469 |website=the Historical Marker Database |access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>

In 1975, Manassas was incorporated as an independent city, and as per Virginia law, was separated from Prince William County.

Manassas is home to [[Annaburg (Manassas, Virginia)|Annaburg]], built in 1892 by [[Robert Portner]] as a summer home. It is believed to be one of the first homes in the United States to have mechanical air conditioning.<ref>{{cite web |title=Manassas 1892, Annaburg, Grand Summer Home |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=28356 |website=The Historical Marker Database |access-date=25 July 2021}}</ref>  Annaburg was purchased by the City of Manassas in July 2019 to be restored and preserved as a public park.<ref name="Annaburg">{{cite web |title=Annaburg |url=https://www.manassasva.gov/parks_culture_and_recreation/annaburg_park.php |website=manassasva.gov |access-date=25 July 2021}}</ref>

The [[Old Town Manassas|Manassas Historic District]]; [[Liberia (Manassas, Virginia)|Liberia]], a plantation house; the [[Manassas Water Tower]]; the [[Cannon Branch Fort]]; the [[Mayfield Fortification]]; the [[Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth]]; and [[Annaburg (Manassas, Virginia)|Annaburg]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>