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

Culpeper's Original Courthouses, The Stamp Act, and The Culpeper Resolves

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, October 25, 2025

1. Culpeper's Original Courthouses, The Stamp Act, and The Culpeper Resolves Marker

Inscription. This is the site of the first (1750-1808) and second (1809-1870) courthouses of Culpeper County, thought to be laid out by Culpeper County's first surveyor, George Washington in 1749. At the first courthouse, two important events occurred. On October 31, 1765, a protest of the Stamp Act by the Culpeper Court Justices, challenged English actions. The most important protest on July 7, 1774 produced the Culpeper Resolves. A committee of Culpeper County freeholders drafted the Culpeper Resolves in response to Parliament's recently passed Coercive Acts and Governor Dunmore's closure of Virginia's House of Burgesses. The Culpeper Resolves repudiated the actions of Parliament and Dunmore and pledged "at all times, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, oppose any Act imposing such taxes or duties, unless we are legally represented." Culpeper was one of Virginia's earliest counties to publish resolves in 1774.

Erected 2024 by The Museum of Culpeper History.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Patriots & Patriotism. A significant historical date for this entry is July 7, 1774.

Location. 38° 28.41′ N, 77° 59.757′ W. Marker is in Culpeper, Virginia, in Culpeper County. It is at the intersection of North Main Street (Business

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U.S. 15) and East Davis Street, on the right when traveling north on North Main Street. Marker is mounted on the wall just north of the door. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 105 North Main Street, Culpeper VA 22701, 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 walking distance of this marker: George Washington (within shouting distance of this marker); The Gallant Pelham (within shouting distance of this marker); “Gallant” Pelham’s Last Days (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Confederate Memorial (about 400 feet away); Eppa Rixey Boyhood Home (about 400 feet away); William "Extra Billy" Smith (about 500 feet away); Vietnam War Memorial (about 500 feet away); The Blair Property and Sugar Bottom (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Culpeper.

Another marker is no longer nearby. A.P. Hill's Boyhood Home (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, October 25, 2025

2. Culpeper's Original Courthouses, The Stamp Act, and The Culpeper Resolves Marker

Culpeper Courthouse (1807-1870) 1862 View image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Timothy H. O'Sullivan, circa 1862

3. Culpeper Courthouse (1807-1870) 1862 View

This well-known image from the Library of Congress (LOC Ctrl # 2018666217) shows Culpeper in 1862, looking east from W Davis St. The photograph shows how the A.P. Hill Boyhood Home (today a towering Italianate Villa on the corner of W. Davis & N. Main, thanks to renovations in the late 19th century) stood across Main Street from the courthouse - the marker described on this page marks this old courthouse location. An overlay of the 1911 Confederate Monument is included at left to orient the viewer, since the third courthouse (built 1870-4 on a lot out of view to the left to replace the one visible in this photo) was constructed in a different location and does not represent the historic courthouse site. The yellow arrow points up Main Street to the north towards the modern location of this marker on what is today the boutique store "Pepperberries." The old courthouse was dismantled in 1871.

Courthouse Remains image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, October 25, 2025

4. Courthouse Remains

Ex-Confederate Major Charles Waite purchased bricks from the second (1807-1870) courthouse for $500 when the building was dismantled. Those bricks were then used to build his home at 502 S. East Street in 1871 - that home, and the bricks from that dismantled historic courthouse, is visible to passing pedestrians and cars from the street and sidewalk (the house itself is private property and a residence).

Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 28, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 80 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 28, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.