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

The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind

Founded 1839

Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 24, 2008

1. The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind Marker

Inscription. A state residential school created by an act of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia on March 31, 1838 for the purpose of educating the deaf and the blind children of the state.

Erected 1961 by Virginia State Library. (Marker Number I-16.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1854.

Location. 38° 8.922′ N, 79° 3.69′ W. Marker is in Staunton, Virginia. It is on Commerce Road (Bypass U.S. 11) south of Statler Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Emily Smith Reception House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Woodrow Wilson Birthplace (approx. 0.4 miles away); Birthplace of Woodrow Wilson (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lewis Creek Watershed (approx. half a mile away); Dr. William Fleming (approx. half a mile away); In Memory of Our Dead Heroes (approx. half a mile away); Staunton Military Alumni Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Augusta County (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Staunton.

Also see . . . School’s Official Website. “One of the oldest schools in Virginia and the second of its kind in the world...” (Submitted on September 26, 2008.)

Additional commentary.
1. VSDB in the Civil War
These buildings were taken for use as a Confederate hospital in 1861.

In August 1861, the 52nd Virginia Infantry made camp here and trained before heading off to war.

Within that same month, the buildings here housed as many as 500 sick soldiers. The hospital saw a significant

Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 24, 2008

2. The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind Marker

The school campus is to the right behind a line of trees. It is not accessible from this highway.

number of wounded in the wake of the Battle of Gettysburg. One local, Col. William D. Stuart of the 56th Virginia Infantry, was wounded in Pickett's charge and died here on July 30, 1863.

— Submitted March 17, 2009, by Robert H. Moore, II of Winchester, Virginia.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2008, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,533 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 26, 2008, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photos of the school • Can you help?