Whenever we are exploring a new area I always look for historical places to visit. I love learning about our countries history and how the place we are visiting came to be. Virginia is filled with rich history lessons all around you. So much of my 8th-grade history class seems to come alive when I look at places to visit in Virginia. If you have the chance to visit Winchester, Virginia here are a few historic places you’ll want to stop and take in.
George Washington’s Office
How cool is this?! You can visit the office of our very first President! This is the office that George Washington used from September 1755 to December of 1756 as his military office while Fort Loudoun was being constructed. This is the office where George Washington planned Fort Loudoun. This is the place to visit to learn about the early years of George Washington’s political and military career.
You can visit Geroge Washington’s Office from April 1st to October 31st. This is a seasonal museum so please remember to check the website for updated hours before visiting.
Kernstown Battlefield
Take a walking tour through the Kernstown Battlefield. There were 2 major battles during the Civil War that took place on this land. The first was in March 23, 1862, Stonewall Jackson’s 3,000-strong Confederate army marched into the artillery fire of Nathan Kimball’s 8,000-strong Union force. When darkness ended the battle, casualties totaled over 1300. Kernstown was the first battle fought in the Valley, and it launched the great campaign still studied today, Gen. Jackson’s famous Valley Campaign of 1862.
The second battle took place July 24, 1864, 28,000 combatants once again swarmed over the fields and hills of the Pritchard farm in an agonizing battle ending in a decisive Confederate victory which was to be their last in the Valley. Gen. Jubal Early’s Confederates inflicted 1185 casualties on Gen. George Crook’s Union Army. Nine months after Early’s victory at Kernstown the war ended at Appomattox.
Hours:
Open from the beginning of May through October
Open weekends Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 11am-4pm
A golf cart is available to help those with mobility issues.
Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley anchors a regional history museum complex that includes the Glen Burnie Historic House and six acres of spectacular gardens. Designed by architect Michael Graves, the 50,000-square-foot museum boasts four galleries and a museum store. The museum is open year-round, and the house and gardens are open April-November.
Hours:
January through March: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
April through December: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Extended Wednesday summer hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day (Wednesdays only).
There are so many places to visit around Winchester but here are a few of the places I would visit if I was in town.
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