Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum

03/20/2020

The Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum will be closed until further notice due to the on going situation with the Coronavirus. This will ensure the safety of the general public and the communities along with our staff.

02/06/2020

McCormick Civil War Institute at Shenandoah University

Our director, Prof. Noyalas, always utilizes the vast amount of Civil War era sites in the Valley to teach his students about the Civil War era’s complexities. This afternoon Noyalas took students from his Interpreting Civil War Sites class to the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum (formerly the Old Courthouse). Thanks to our friends at the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation for hosting us.

10/04/2019

The museum will be closed today (10/4/19) from 12:00pm - 3:30pm for a private event.

01/25/2019

Reminder, the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum is operating by it's winter hours. The museum is closed Monday - Thursday but is open for it's usual hours Friday - Sunday. The museum is open today and tomorrow from 10-5 and Sunday from 1-5.

01/13/2019

The museum will be closed today 1/13/19 due to inclement weather.

01/12/2019

The museum will be closed today 1/12/19 due to inclement weather.

11/15/2018

The museum will be closed today 11/15/18 due to inclement weather.

11/15/2018

Stop by the museum and check out our used book sale! We have a variety of Civil War and World War II books for $5 and below! The museum is open Monday-Saturday from 10AM to 5PM, and Sunday from 1PM to 5PM.

11/02/2018

Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum's cover photo

11/02/2018

Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum

10/26/2018

Saturday, November 10, 2018, Bell Grove Plantation will honor its African American history with demonstrations, interpretive programs, and talks. Admission to the event is free, 10am-6pm.

Join Belle Grove Plantation, The Slave Dwelling Project, Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project, Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park, and others on November 10, 2018 as Belle Grove commemorates the African American history of Belle Grove and the Shenandoah Valley. Programming takes place from 10 am to 6 pm and admission is free of charge.

10/23/2018

We will be giving out candy this Saturday during this year's Spooktacular. Come visit us!

Come to Old Town to join in the Halloween fun! The annual Spooktacular returns to the Loudoun Street Mall on Saturday, October 27 with loads of fun for the whole family. Businesses along the mall participate in this popular free community event by handing out candy or small trinkets.

The festivities begin with a pet costume parade at 11 a.m. organized by Posh Pets Boutique. The trick-or-treating begins at 2 p.m. and wraps up at 4 p.m.

The event is free and all are welcome!

10/09/2018

Son's of Confederate Veterans, Turner Ashby Camp #1567, will meet in the historic courtroom from 7-8pm tonight.

Guest speaker Alexander Rossino will discuss the famous image of Confederate soldiers passing through Frederick Maryland and the--of late--debate as to what year this image was taken. Rossino is the author of 'Six Days in September: A novel of Lee's Army in Maryland, 1862.'

Meeting is free and open to the public.

turnerashbycamp.org/Meetings_and_Activities/temp_meeting/temp_meeting.html

10/07/2018

Wonderful mention of our recent magazine by Civil War Trails, Inc. this morning. Ask our museum staff where you can find a copy!

While most scholars mark the end of the Gettysburg Campaign with Robert E. Lee's crossing of the Potomac River on July 14th, we aren't most scholars. Nor is our friend Matt Wendling who penned this great article in the Fall issue of 'Shenandoah at War.' Fought on July 23rd, 1863 outside of the Town of Front Royal, Virginia the Battle of Wapping Heights "deserves to be much better remembered" said Wendling. The tenacious Confederate defense by Georgians under Ambrose Wright and Alabamians under Col. O'Neal held off repeated Union attacks for several hours. As night fell Lee's Army continued their retreat up the Valley and another opportunity had eluded the Union Army.

Want to check it out? Just outside of town on Dismal Hollow Road you'll find a Civil War Trails sign. However, since it's Sunday we are curious to know what you are reading today.

10/05/2018

LFCC students will have opportunity to participate in overnight Slave Dwelling Project | Lord Fairfax Community College

LFCC students will have opportunity to participate in overnight Slave Dwelling Project | Lord Fairfax Community College

LFCC students are being offered the opportunity to participate in a unique experience – sleeping on the lower-level floor of Belle Grove Plantation in Middletown as part of the Slave Dwelling Project on Nov. 10. Founded by Joe McGill, the Slave Dwelling Project's mission is to identify dwellings o...

10/04/2018

Our bimonthly roundtable will meet this evening from 7-8pm. Guest speaker Logan Metesh will discuss the life and work of "the Most Influential Man in the (Gun) World" James Henry Burton. facebook.com/events/2187147511533455/

09/30/2018

Well that's a wrap folks. Thank you to everyone who came out today! We are looking forward to the final product.

09/30/2018

Museum will be closed today for the filming of the John Brown trial.

09/30/2018

Original portrait of judge Richard Parker, who presided over the trial of abolitionist leader John Brown, on display at the museum.

09/28/2018

We are preparing for the John Brown Virtual Reality Project with Shenandoah University this Sunday. Come see the courthouse as it would have been in 1859!

09/19/2018

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District

154 Years Ago Today... The Third Battle of Winchester

The Third Battle of Winchester was the largest and costliest battle ever fought in the Shenandoah Valley. More than 54,000 men fought and over 8,600 became casualties in a ferocious see-saw struggle that saw the Confederates gradually forced back until a final decisive attack by Federal infantry and cavalry struck the Confederate left flank, breeching the defenders’ lines and sending the Confederates “whirling through Winchester.”

09/13/2018

Though he’s little-known today, James Henry Burton’s impact on the arms industry in the 19th century rivals that of his well-known contemporaries. He helped design the Minie ball used during the Civil War, worked for both the Springfield and Harpers Ferry Armories. Join us October 4th to learn more about the "The Most Influential Man in the (Gun) World: James Henry Burton." facebook.com/events/2187147511533455/

09/11/2018

Casting Call for John Brown Virtual Reality Project

Casting Call for #JohnBrown #VirtualReality Project https://conta.cc/2O04tR2

09/04/2018

Casting Call – John Brown Project – Shenandoah at War

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (SVBF) and Shenandoah University's Center for Immersive Learning (SCIL) are holding a casting call Saturday, September 15, 2018, for a Virtual Reality Film Project on John Brown’s historic trial. shenandoahatwar.org/casting-call-john-brown-project/

The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (SVBF) and Shenandoah University’s Shenandoah Center for Immersive Learning (SCIL) are holding a casting call on Saturday, September 15, 2018, for a Virtual Reality Film Project on John Brown’s historic trial. The casting call is for 25 primary roles...

08/23/2018

McCormick Civil War Institute at Shenandoah University

The final guided tour of Cool Spring for the season with director Jonathan Noyalas will take place this Saturday, August 25. The tour, FREE and open to the public, will begin on the front porch of The Lodge at 10:30 a.m. The tour will last approximately 75 minutes.

08/23/2018

History Things with Pat

08/21/2018

Civil War Photo Sleuth

Civil War Photo Sleuth rediscovers the lost identities of thousands of Civil War soldiers using facial recognition technology and clues hidden within their portraits. Unlike other online research platforms, it's completely free to use. civilwarphotosleuth.com

08/14/2018

Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum

Thank you for helping us reach 300 page likes!

Opened in 1840 the Old Court House acted as the center of civic life in Frederick Co. for over a hundred years. Now the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum.

08/02/2018

Brandy Station & Cedar Mountain State Park Alliance

Brandy Station & Cedar Mountain State Park Alliance

Please join the Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain State Park Alliance on Saturday, August 11, for a special summertime social hosted by the Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield as part of Cedar Mountain’s 156th Anniversary Living History Weekend.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to meet and mingle with some of the dedicated men and women behind Culpeper’s battlefield friends groups — and to find out more about the ongoing effort to transform the storied Civil War battlefields at Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain into Virginia’s next state park.

Click below for more details — and to RSVP today!

08/02/2018

Home

Author John Fox will be our featured speaker for this months SVBF Civil War Roundtable​.John’s topic will be “Stuart's Finest Hour: The Ride Around McClellan.” John will speak about Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart’s famous around ride the Federal troops besieging Richmond in the summer of 1862. For more on Fox's work visit his website: johnfoxbooks.com/

(...)

07/31/2018

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District

"Remembering the Civil War: Reunion and the Limits of Reconciliation" Competing Memories of the Civil War with Author Caroline Janney. c-span.org/video/?448679-6/competing-memories-civil-war #CivilWarMemory

Saturday's presentation by the Shenandoah Valley's own Caroline Janney on "The Competing Memories of the Civil War".

07/30/2018

History of Confederate Monuments

"After the Civil War: The Heroes, Villains, Soldiers, and Civilians Who Changed America." The History of Confederate Monuments with Historian James I. Robertson Jr.

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation hosts a Civil War conference on the history and future of Confederate icons such as monuments and the battle flag.

07/27/2018

Brandy Station & Cedar Mountain State Park Alliance

Brandy Station & Cedar Mountain State Park Alliance

"The historic courthouse (20 N. Loudoun Street) on the pedestrian mall in downtown Winchester, Virginia, has been nicely restored and is open as a Civil War museum. It commemorates the soldiers from local communities and the many battles that were fought up and down the Valley."

Continue reading the article to see more pictures of objects on display.

07/25/2018

This Saturday, American History TV will be LIVE with the Confederate Icons: A Civil War Conference. Watch starting at 10am ET on C-Span 3.

This Saturday, American History TV will be LIVE with the Confederate Icons Conference. Watch starting at 10am ET on C-SPAN 3. Schedule here: https://cs.pn/2LEIpNS
Hosted by Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District

07/23/2018

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District

155 Years Ago Today... The Battle of Manassas Gap (Wapping Heights)

After recrossing the Potomac River at Williamsport during his retreat from Gettysburg, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s army withdrew up the Shenandoah Valley. Union Gen. George Meade crossed the Potomac River east of the Blue Ridge and followed Lee into Virginia. On July 23, Meade ordered the III Corps, under Gen. William. H. French to cut off the retreating Confederate columns at Front Royal by forcing passage through Manassas Gap.

07/19/2018

This Saturday, 10am-12pm,155th anniversary program and tour on the Battle of Wapping Heights led by Matt Wending. (Fought on July 23, 1863, the action is also known as the Battle of Manassas Gap) The event will begin with a short talk at the Warren Heritage Society (101 Chester Street, Front Royal) followed by a car caravan tour of battlefield sites. Sponsored by the Warren Heritage Society, the Warren Rifles Confederate Museum, and the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. The event is free but pre-registration is recommended.

07/17/2018

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District

Anniversary programs for the Battle of Wapping Heights and Second Kernstown are coming up starting this weekend! For more information on the upcoming programs, visit the link below.

Kernstown Battlefield Association

07/17/2018

The Mosby Heritage Area Association

Support the Kernstown Battlefield Association!

Come out and support the Kernstown Battlefield Association over the next couple of weeks to commemorate July 24, 1864, Second Battle of Kernstown. See below for more details:

The Kernstown Battlefield Association will commemorate the 154rd anniversary of the Second Battle of Kernstown with a series of events on July 21st, 24th and 28th, 2018. All events are free, and open to the public.

On Saturday, July 21st, and Saturday, July 28th, we will be giving special walking tours of the Second Battle of Kernstown at 11 am and 1 pm. Please dress accordingly, and meet at the Visitors’ Center. We do have a golf cart for those needing a ride.

On Tuesday, July 24th, the actual date of the Second Battle of Kernstown, the Battlefield will be open from 10 am to 4 pm.

The Kernstown Battlefield Association is totally rebuilding the front porch to the 1854 Pritchard House. Please come and watch as the rebuilding progresses. We also have incorporated new exhibits into our Museum, especially in the Artillery Annex. Stop by for a look.

The Kernstown Battlefield Association is an all-volunteer, non-profit preservation organization. Most of its almost 400 acres are located at 610 Battle Park Dr., Winchester, VA 22602. The Battlefield is open from the beginning of May until the end of October on Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm, and Sundays from 9:30 am to 4 pm, unless otherwise noted. The KBA is partnering with Jala Yoga in offering yoga at the Battlefield, Sundays at 10am. Classes are open to the public. There is an $8 drop in fee. The Battlefield also is open on Federal holidays and on the actual dates of the First and Second Battles of Kernstown and the Second Battle of Winchester. Tours can be arranged throughout the year by contacting the KBA at (202) 302-9129.

KBA docents give tours of the Battlefield, the 1854 Pritchard House, the Museum and the Artillery Annex collections. The Visitors’ Center has a Gift Shop with diverse items for purchase. The KBA does take checks and credit cards. For those in need, the KBA has a golf cart to drive visitors around the Battlefield. All of the KBA’s programs are by donation, unless otherwise noted. For more information, go to www.kernstownbattle.org or to the KBA page: www.Facebook.com/Kernstown Battlefield Association.

07/10/2018

The McCormick Civil War Institute at Shenandoah University will commemorate the 154th anniversary of the Battle of Cool Spring this Saturday, July 14th. Programs will include living history and artillery demonstrations, with a tour of the battlefield. facebook.com/events/177281236248579/

07/06/2018

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District

There was good news for the Valley's battlefields yesterday. The American Battlefield Protection Program, NPS grants were announced and we will be receiving over $1 million toward the preservation of land at the New Market and Third Winchester Battlefield. Thank you to all of our members and everyone who has donated to the projects at these battlefields to help make this happen!

07/05/2018

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District

Help our friends at the Cedar Creek Battlefields Foundation continue their noble work for another year!

Today, we learned of the cancellation of the annual Cedar Creek reenactment, which is the largest Civil War event in the Shenandoah Valley each year. The event is hosted by our partners at the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation and generates the needed revenue for their operations and preservation projects at the Cedar Creek Battlefield. Though the event has been cancelled, you can still help them achieve their mission by donating via their website at the link below.

07/04/2018

The Civil War Monitor: Vol. 8, No. 2 (Summer 2018)

An Unlikely Battleground: Fourth of July observations during the Civil War reflected the country's thorniest questions, including which Americans could claim the holiday as their own. Read more The Civil War Monitor civilwarmonitor.com/table-of-contents/i28

The Decision Why did Robert E. Lee turn down command of the Union army and join the Confederacy in 1861? It's complicated.By Allen C. GuelzoAn Unlikely Battleground Fourth of July observations during the Civil War reflected the country's thorniest questions—including which Americans could claim th...

07/03/2018

Civil War News in the Shenandoah Valley - July 2018

July is going to be another busy month here in the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District! There are numerous talks, tours, conferences and kids programs planned. For a complete list of upcoming events follow the link. http://conta.cc/2KCiBhE

07/01/2018

Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum's cover photo

07/01/2018

Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum's cover photo