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

Grave of Gov. James Lawson Kemper

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 15, 2025

1. Grave of Gov. James Lawson Kemper Marker

Inscription. A mile west is the grave of Jamess L. Kemper (1823-1895). Born into a prosperous slaveholding family in Madison County. Kemper practiced law and was elected to five terms in the Virginia House of Delegates, where he was speaker from 1861-1862. As a Confederate brigadier general, he was badly wounded during Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg in July 1863. Kemper was a founder of Virginia's Conservative Party, formed in 1867 to oppose Radical Republicans' policies for Reconstruction. He served as governor from 1874-1878 during a growing financial crisis precipitated by Virginia's massive antebellum state debt. He moved to nearby Walnut Hills ca. 1882 and is buried in the family cemetery here.

Erected 2023 by Virginia Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number F-17.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Government & Politics • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1863.

Location. 38° 16.767′ N, 78° 8.312′ W. Marker is in Orange, Virginia, in Orange County. It is on South James Madison Highway (U.S. 15) 0.1 miles west of Little Skyline

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Drive, on the right when traveling south. The marker stands just south of the driveway for the address provided. The driveway private property and is not a parking area for the marker.. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9164 South James Madison Highway, Orange VA 22960, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Virginia

and in the Piedmont.

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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Orange County / Madison County (within shouting distance of this marker); Knights of the Golden Horseshoe (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Knights of the Golden Horseshoe (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fry's/Barnett's Ford Road

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(approx. 1.3 miles away); Woodberry Forest School (approx. 1.4 miles away); Peyton's Ford Road / Woodberry Perimeter Trail (approx. 2.2 miles away); World War II Memorial (approx. 2.8 miles away); Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Orange.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Kemper's Grave (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Regarding Grave of Gov. James Lawson Kemper. Walnut Hills is on private property and is not accessible to the public. The Orange Historical Society and Sons of Confederate Veterans coordinate an annual re-dedication on Gov. Kemper's Birthday that provides conditional access to the gravesite for interested visitors.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 13, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 52 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on January 13, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker in context. • Can you help?