2026 National Conference

“Harpers Ferry & Shepherdstown”

Hampton Inn, Martinsburg, WV
April 9-11, 2026

The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District's 2026 National Civil War Conference will focus on

The conference will include talks, special events, and battlefield tours, all featuring the finest historians in the nation, including Dennis Frye, Kevin Pawlak, Dana Shoaf, and more!

A block of rooms has been reserved; if you would like to stay at the Hampton Inn, let them know you’ll be with us.

Schedule

Thursday (April 9, 2026)

7:00am: Conference check-in opens. Breakfast on your own.

9:00am-5:00pm: Bus Tour - (Where we goin?) (Guides: Dennis Frye and Kevin Pawlak) Lunch included.

6:00pm: Dinner on your own and a free evening to explore Martinsburg and the surrounding area.

7:30pm-9:30pm: Members Only Reception at the Hampton Inn

Friday (April 10, 2026)

8:00am: Conference check-in opens. Breakfast on your own.

9:00am - 4:30pm: Speaker Programs

Dennis Frye – Grimes Davis and Union Cavalry Escape from Harpers Ferry

Jared Frederick – Embattled Borderland – Harpers Ferry and the Crisis of Civil War

Jon-Erik Gilot – General William Loring’s Kanawha Valley Offensive, Fall 1862

Kevin Pawlak – Battle of Shepherdstown – Background and Overview

Dana Shoaf – Shepherdstown as a Military Hospital in the Maryland Campaign of 1862

Last speaker TBD

12:00pm - 1:30pm: Lunch

5:30pm: Social Hour

6:30pm: Awards Banquet Dinner with Host Keven Walker

Saturday (April 11, 2026)

8:00am: Conference check-in opens. Breakfast on your own.

9:00am - 5:00pm: Bus Tour - (Where we goin?) (Guides: Dennis Frye and Kevin Pawlak) Lunch included.

No refunds after March 13th, 2026, but your registration may be converted into a tax-deductible gift.

REGISTRATION

Registration is not complete until payment has been arranged. To fully register, fill out the below form and click Submit. A confirmation paragraph will appear - click the link provided to arrange payment, whether check or credit card. Please do not send checks until you have filled out the below form and clicked Submit, AND reached out to our offices to let us know payment is on the way (call 540-740-4545 or email Tammy at tpresgraves@svbf.net.)