Staunton, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Montgomery Hall Park

Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 11, 2017

1. Montgomery Hall Park Marker

Inscription. Montgomery Hall Park, a municipal park for African Americans during the segregation era, opened on 4 July 1947. The Rev. T. J. Jemison of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, an African American community leader, persuaded Staunton City Council to purchase about 150 acres for the project. The land had been part of John Howe Peyton’s Montgomery Hall plantation, established early in the 19th century. A committee of African American citizens appointed by City Council managed the park, which featured a swimming pool, bowling alley, and picnic facilities and drew crowds from throughout central Virginia. Staunton’s park system was desegregated late in the 1960s.

Erected 2015 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number I-32.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Entertainment • Notable Places. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 4, 1947.

Location. 38° 8.747′ N, 79° 5.381′ W. Marker is in Staunton, Virginia. It is on Montgomery Avenue south of Peck

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and Stuart Streets. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 Montgomery Avenue, Staunton VA 24401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Digging Into The Past (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Montgomery Hall Park Today (about 600 feet away); A Bowling Alley and a Swimming Pool (about 600 feet away); A Beacon of Light Across Virginia (about 600 feet away); The Montgomery Hall Park Recreation Committee (about 600 feet away); An African American Haven Becomes Reality (about 700 feet away); Shining Light on Their Humanity (about 700 feet away); Held in Bondage

Montgomery Hall Park Marker at Park Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 11, 2017

2. Montgomery Hall Park Marker at Park Entrance

(about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Staunton.

Also see . . . City of Staunton Parks & Recreation - Montgomery Hall Park. This page has a number of photos of the park. (Submitted on September 2, 2017.)

Montgomery Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, July 21, 2025

3. Montgomery Hall

Montgomery Hall Park Pool image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, July 21, 2025

4. Montgomery Hall Park Pool

Montgomery Hall Park Playground image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, July 21, 2025

5. Montgomery Hall Park Playground

Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 783 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 2, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 6, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.