Strasburg in Shenandoah County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Bowman Family

Photographed by Craig Swain

1. Bowman Family Marker

Inscription. To the east is Fort Bowman, built ca. 1771 for the family of George and Mary (Hite) Bowman. This house exemplifies the merging of German and English architectural styles in the Shenandoah Valley. The Bowmans, with others of German and Scots-Irish origin, had moved to this area from Pennsylvania in the 1730s and had become slave-owners. Their son Maj. Joseph Bowman was second in command in Lt. Col. George Rogers Clark's Vincennes Campaign during the Revolutionary War. Second- and third-generation family houses preserved nearby include Isaac and Mary Bowman's Mount Pleasant (1812), Col. George and Elizabeth Bowman's Long Meadow (1848), and Charles and Rebecca Hite's farmhouse (1850s).

Erected 2020 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number A55.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1771.

Location. 39° 0.386′ N, 78° 20.156′ W. Marker is in Strasburg, Virginia, in Shenandoah County.

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It is at the intersection of Fort Bowman Road and Old Valley Pike (U.S. 11), on the left when traveling east on Fort Bowman Road. Located at a service parking area just past a service station, along the road back to Fort Bowman (private property). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Strasburg VA 22657, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

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: Samuel Kercheval (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hupp's "Little Gem" (approx. 0.8 miles away); Crystal Caverns Mine (approx. 0.8 miles away); Lower Cave (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Shenandoah Valley / Battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864

Photographed by Craig Swain

2. Bowman Family Marker

(approx. 0.8 miles away); Field Fortifications (approx. 0.8 miles away); Hupp’s Hill (approx. 0.8 miles away); Trail Head (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Strasburg.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Trenches On Hupp’s Hill (was approx. 0.7 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Older marker on the same subject.

Also see . . .
1. Fort Bowman entry in HABS. Historic American Buildings Survey with more photos, drawings, and documentation. (Submitted on April 4, 2021, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

2. Fort Bowman National Register of Historic Places. Virginia Department of Historical Resources entry for Fort Bowman, including a PDF of the registry nomination form. (Submitted on April 4, 2021, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

from Historic American Buildings Survey files

3. Bowman Family Marker

Front of Fort Bowman (south facing side). From Historic American Building Survey. Call number: HABS VA,86-STRASB.V,1--5. See links for the full set of photos and illustrations with this survey.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 18, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 3, 2021, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,182 times since then and 107 times this year. Last updated on April 16, 2021, by Linda Walcroft of Woodstock, Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on April 3, 2021, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2, 3. submitted on April 4, 2021, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.