Near Culpeper in Culpeper County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Mitchells Presbyterian Church

Photographed by Paul Crumlish, October 4, 2009

1. Mitchells Presbyterian Church Marker

Inscription. Built in 1879, this Gothic Revival church stands two miles south of this location. It contains an elaborate example of trompe-l’oeil fresco painting done in 1888. Joseph Dominick Phillip Oddenino, an Italian immigrant artist, painted to deceive the eye into believing that his plaster murals of Gothic arches, Renaissance-styled cornices, and embellished Corinthian columns were three dimensional. The ceiling is decorated with geometric designs.

Erected 1985 by Department of Conservation and Historic Resources. (Marker Number F-25A.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1879.

Location. 38° 24.584′ N, 78° 0.568′ W. Marker is near Culpeper, Virginia, in Culpeper County. It is at the intersection of Zachary Taylor Highway (U.S. 522) and Winston Road (Virginia Route 617) on Zachary Taylor Highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Culpeper VA 22701,

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United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Mitchells Presbyterian Church (approx. 2.2 miles away); Lee and Pope (approx. 2.2 miles away); Mount Pony Signal Station (approx. 2.4 miles away); Culpeper's Revolutionary War Patriots of Color (approx. 2.8 miles away); 27th Indiana Infantry (approx. 2.9 miles away); 28th Reg't New York State (approx. 2.9 miles away); 46th Pennsylvania Infantry (approx. 2.9 miles away); Tenth Maine (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all

Wide-angle view of the Mitchells Presbyterian Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul Crumlish, October 4, 2009

2. Wide-angle view of the Mitchells Presbyterian Church Marker

markers in Culpeper.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Battle of Cedar Mountain (was approx. 2.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Mitchells Presbyterian Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by John Kilday, November 23, 2019

3. Mitchells Presbyterian Church

Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2009, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,655 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 11, 2009, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. 2. submitted on October 16, 2009, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. 3. submitted on September 10, 2023, by John Kilday of Warrenton, Virginia. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Pictures of the trompe-l’oeil fresco paintings inside the church. • Can you help?