Near Culpeper in Culpeper County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Mount Pony Signal Station
Photographed by Craig Swain, December 22, 2007
1. Mount Pony Signal Station Marker
In Aug. 1862, during the Civil War, Union Maj. Gen. John Pope established a signal station on Mount Pony, just northeast of here. On the summit of the mountain, a high scaffold was constructed out of trees for an observation post and a communication center. Because of the good visibility, "powerful glasses" were used to watch troop movements from this vantage point. Both the Federal and Confederate Signal Corps used this site during the war. Other signal stations were built by the Union army on Stony Mountain, Cedar Mountain, Thoroughfare Mountain, and Clark's Mountain.
Erected 2000 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number F-34.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1862.
Location. 38° 26.665′ N, 78° 0.617′ W. Marker is near Culpeper, Virginia, in Culpeper County. It is at the intersection of James Madison Highway (U.S. 15) and Lovers Lane, on the right when traveling north on James Madison Highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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 2 miles of this marker, measured
this page online
Another marker is no longer nearby. Battle of Cedar Mountain (was approx. 0.6 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
More about this marker. This marker replaced an older marker numbered F-15 with the title "Signal Station" which read "The lone peak to the northeast, Mount Pony, was used by Pope as a signal station, 1862." The same number was duplicated for another marker titled "Stonewall Jackson's Mother" located in Loudoun County also along James Madison Highway (U.S. Highway 15).
Regarding Mount Pony Signal Station. This is one of several markers interpreting the Battle of Cedar Mountain. See the Battle of Cedar Mountain Virtual Tour by Markers linked below.
Also see . . .
1. Bunker Holds a Mountain of Movies. Wired website entry:
The National Audiovisual Conservation Center: The secret hideaway at Mount Pony, designed to protect
Photographed by Craig Swain, December 22, 2007
2. Mount Pony Signal Station Marker
2. Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio-Visual Conservation. State of the art archival facility where once a wooden signal tower stood. (Submitted on December 30, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
3. Battle of Cedar Mountain Virtual Tour by Markers. A set markers that document the Battle of Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862, and the early phases of the Second Manassas Campaign. (Submitted on January 1, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed by Craig Swain, December 22, 2007
3. Mount Pony
Seen from the marker location, Mount Pony is one of several high points along the Rapidan River, which include Cedar, Clark's and Buzzard Mountains. The old bunker complex, now the Audio-Visual Archive facility, can be seen in the open ground below the crest of the mountain.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,574 times since then and 121 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 30, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
