On MIddle River Road (County Route 736) north of Union Church Road (County Route 732), on the left when traveling north.
George Moffett (1735–1811), a prominent regional military and civic leader, had joined the Augusta County militia by 1758. He participated in the French and Indian War (1756–1763), led a militia company at the Battle of Point Pleasant in . . . — — Map (db m30460) HM
On Churchville Avenue (U.S. 250) just west of Buffalo Gap Highway (State Route 42), on the left when traveling west.
Born near Churchville on 25 Feb. 1843, Hanger joined the Churchville Cavalry at Phillipi, W.Va., on 2 June 1861, where the next morning he was wounded. The resulting amputation of his leg was probably the first of the Civil War. He convalesced at . . . — — Map (db m15905) HM
On Churchville Road (U.S. 250) just west of Eagle Rock Lane (County Route 721), on the left when traveling west.
Near this spot in 1764, Shawnee Indians killed John Tremble (Trimble) in the last such event in Augusta County. During the preceding decade, a series of conflicts between Native Americans and European settlers occurred along the western frontier of . . . — — Map (db m30461) HM
On Middle River Road (County Route 736) north of Union Church Road, on the left when traveling north.
Mount Pleasant, a venerable stone dwelling exemplifying traditional Shenandoah Valley domestic architecture, was erected on the 1740 land grant to John Moffett from King George II. Originally known as Moffetts Bottom, early probate records reflect a . . . — — Map (db m30448) HM
Brown’s Gap, ¾ of a mile north, was one of the strategic mountain passes used in the spring of 1862 by Stonewall Jackson near the beginning and end of his whirlwind offensive. His secret military strategy took full advantage of the complex . . . — — Map (db m61327) HM
On East Side Highway (U.S. 340), on the left when traveling north.
Five miles east, formerly known as Woods’ Gap. Michael Woods, his three sons and three Wallace sons-in-law (Andrew, Peter, William), coming from Pennsylvania via Shenandoah Valley, crossed through this pass into Albemarle County in 1734 – . . . — — Map (db m16644) HM
On Tinkling Spring Road (County Route 805), on the right when traveling north.
This was first the Southern Branch of the “Triple Forks of Shenandoah” Congregation, which called John Craig as pastor in 1741. A church was completed here about 1748; two other buildings have succeeded it. Beginning with 1777, James . . . — — Map (db m122178) HM
On Hornet Road north of Woodrow Wilson Avenue, on the left when traveling north.
The U.S. Army, needing stateside medical facilities during World War II, broke ground for Woodrow Wilson General Hospital here in June 1942. Named for the former U.S. president born in nearby Staunton, the hospital consisted of about 135 . . . — — Map (db m106826) HM
On John Lewis Road north of Woodrow Wilson Avenue, on the right when traveling north.
Groundbreaking for the Woodrow Wilson General Hospital was June 26, 1942. The hospital was named after Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States and a native of the neighboring city of Staunton. The federal government acquired 652 . . . — — Map (db m106827) HM WM
On Jefferson Highway (U.S. 250) at Woodrow Wilson Avenue (Virginia Route 358), on the left when traveling east on Jefferson Highway.
In 1947 the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center became the first
state comprehensive rehabilitation
center in the United States. Operated
by the Virginia Department of
Rehabilitative Services, this residential facility offers various . . . — — Map (db m50617) HM
On Lee Highway (U.S. 11) south of Fort Defiance Road (County Route 616), on the right when traveling south.
Soon after the Civil War ended in 1865, Confederate veteran Charles S. Roller began teaching at the Old Stone Church nearby at Ft. Defiance. By 1874 he had founded Augusta Male Academy and incorporated military discipline into its classical . . . — — Map (db m11900) HM
On Old Stone Church Lane just west of Lee Highway (U.S. 11), on the right when traveling south.
This, the oldest Presbyterian house of worship in Virginia, is an eloquent memorial to the liberty-loving, god-fearing Scotch-Irish folk who first settled this part of the valley.
Through their arduous labors the building was completed in 1747 . . . — — Map (db m89111) HM
On Lee Highway (U.S. 11) just south of County Route 616, on the right when traveling south.
The Augusta Stone Church, Virginia's oldest Presbyterian church in continuous use west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, opened on 22 Jan. 1749. It replaced a log meetinghouse built shortly after the congregation's founding in 1740. At the outbreak of . . . — — Map (db m155473) HM
On Lee Highway (U.S. 11) just south of County Route 616, on the left when traveling south.
John Craig, born in County Antrim, Ireland, and educated in Edinburgh, Scotland, immigrated to America in 1734. Ordained pastor in 1740 of the two churches known as Augusta Stone and Tinkling Spring, Craig was Virginia's first settled Presbyterian . . . — — Map (db m155472) HM
On Circle Lane (County Route 668) at Weyers Cave Road (Virginia Route 254), on the right when traveling north on Circle Lane.
George Caleb Bingham, a renowned American genre painter of the 19th century, was born in a frame house just north of here on 20 March 1811. Bingham moved to Missouri in 1819, where he began painting portraits in the 1830s and later specialized in . . . — — Map (db m13620) HM
Near Blue Ridge Parkway (at milepost 6), 6 miles south of Howardsville Turnpike (Virginia Route 610), on the right when traveling south.
Unwanted pests and wildlife threatened crops. The scarecrow, or hay-man, was developed to deter animals from disturbing gardens. Lime and other materials were used to keep worms and insects at bay. Edge plantings helped keep rodents from eating . . . — — Map (db m146206) HM
Near Blue Ridge Parkway (at milepost 6), 6 miles south of Howardsville Turnpike (Virginia Route 610), on the right when traveling south.
The challenge of growing sufficient crops created hard work for farmers, who kept a wary eye out for late frosts, droughts, and excessive rain. Any of these weather conditions could prevent them from raising an adequate supply of food and threaten . . . — — Map (db m146203) HM
Near Blue Ridge Parkway (at milepost 6), 6 miles south of Howardsville Turnpike (Virginia Route 610), on the right when traveling south.
When fertile bottom farm land was not available or too expensive for 19th century homesteaders, mountain land provided a difficult but usually viable alternative. A mountain plot could yield a variety of crops that made it possible to sustain a . . . — — Map (db m146202) HM
Near Blue Ridge Parkway (at milepost 6), 6 miles south of Howardsville Turnpike (Virginia Route 610), on the right when traveling south.
Imagine what it was like to farm here? Fertile land was scarce and had to be carefully used to provide food and income for families. The rocky, thin soil on the sloping small plots made the work difficult. The limited growing season, population . . . — — Map (db m146204) HM
Near Blue Ridge Parkway (at milepost 6), 6 miles south of Howardsville Turnpike (Virginia Route 610), on the right when traveling south.
After the American Revolution, prosperous farms filled the fertile Shenandoah Valley, growing food for Eastern cities. On nearby mountains like this one, descendants of Scots-Irish Protestants and other dispossessed people scraped together savings . . . — — Map (db m146205) HM
On Middlebrook Village Road (Virginia Route 252) at Cherry Brove Road (County Route 670), on the left when traveling south on Middlebrook Village Road.
Nestled here in the countryside south of Staunton,
along historic Middlebrook Road, is one of the
oldest villages in the region. William and Nancy
Scott sold the first 27 lots in April 1799 to
Scots-Irish and German settlers. In 1851, . . . — — Map (db m50388) HM
On Mt. Tabor Road (County Route 694) 0.1 miles north of Middlebrook Road (Virginia Route 252), on the left when traveling north.
Shenandoah Valley circuit-riding preacher Paul
Henkel formed Mount Tabor Lutheran Church
about 1785, several miles to the east. It shared a
log building with St. John’s, a Lutheran and
Reformed union congregation. Under the direction
of David . . . — — Map (db m50578) HM
On Mt. Tabor Road (County Route 694) 0.9 miles north of Middlebrook Road (Virginia Route 252), on the left when traveling north.
Near this spot stood the frame dwelling of David Frederick Bittle, pastor of Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church, in which he began in the Fall of 1842, with the assistance of Christopher C. Baughman, also a Lutheran minister, a school for young men called . . . — — Map (db m50575) HM
On Lee-Jackson Highway (U.S. 11) at the Avenue of Trees, on the left when traveling south on Lee-Jackson Highway.
This Avenue of Trees, sponsored by Clemmer-McGuffin Post 13, American Legion and Auxiliary, was given in loving memory by the people of Staunton and Augusta County in memoriam 1917-1918. — — Map (db m50605) HM
On Iron Works Road (County Route 809) at Virginia Route 42, on the right on Iron Works Road.
Colonists first settled Mossy Creek in the 1740s. Mossy Creek Iron Works was founded by 1775, when partners Henry Miller and Mark Bird began operating an iron furnace, forge, and mills here. The ironworks became an important industrial enterprise . . . — — Map (db m1841) HM
On North River Road (County Route 730) just east of Stokesville Road and Old C&W Railroad Road (County Route 718/763), on the left when traveling east.
The village of Stokesville, established by 1901,
became a boomtown after the Chesapeake Western
Railway was extended here in 1902. Tram lines
into the mountains brought timber to the rail
head. Lumber mills, bark tanneries, a stave and
heading . . . — — Map (db m98139) HM
On Salem Church Road (County Route 804) at Burke’s Mill Road, on the right when traveling north on Salem Church Road.
Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church traces its existence to 1789 when Shenandoah Valley circuit preacher Paul Henkel held services for the German community in a schoolhouse nearby at Seawright Springs. By 1805, the congregation had built a frame . . . — — Map (db m30445) HM
On Battlefield Road (County Route 608) just south of Piedmont Road, on the right when traveling south.
On 5 June 1864, Confederate Brig. Gen. William E.
“Grumble” Jones deployed his 5,600-man force to
stop Union Maj. Gen. David Hunter’s advance on
Staunton. The main battle line formed just south of
here. Jones repulsed two assaults by . . . — — Map (db m155468) HM
On Battlefield Road (County Route 608), on the left when traveling south.
The Battle of Piedmont, fought on June 5, 1864 between Union Gen. David Hunter and Confederate Gen. William E. "Grumble" Jones, ended here. It began more than a mile northeast when the 12,000-man strong Federal army, whose mission was to scour the . . . — — Map (db m155471) HM
On Battlefield Road (Virginia Route 608), on the left when traveling south.
Here on June 5, 1864, was fought the Battle of Piedmont for the possession of Staunton.
Union Forces under Gen. David Hunter 12,015 men and suffered a loss of 130 killed and 650 wounded. Confederate forces numbering 5,600 men under Gen. W.E.Jones . . . — — Map (db m80297) HM
On Lee Jackson Highway (U.S. 11) at Tye River Turnpike (Virginia Route 56), on the right when traveling north on Lee Jackson Highway.
This church, seven and a half miles west, was organized by John Blair in 1746. Five successive church buildings have been erected. The first pastor was John Brown. Samuel Brown, second pastor, had as wife Mary Moore, captured in youth by Indians and . . . — — Map (db m122187) HM
On Lee Jackson Hwy (U.S. 11) at Spottswood Road (County Route 620), on the right when traveling south on Lee Jackson Hwy.
Two and a half miles northwest. As early as 1748 a log meeting house stood there. In 1793 a stone church (still standing) was built. In 1859 it was succeeded by a brick church, which gave way to the present building in 1918. In the graveyard rest . . . — — Map (db m23759) HM
On Cedar Green Road 0.2 miles from Parkersburg Turnpike (Virginia Route 254), on the right when traveling west.
A rural African-American school stood here by 1874. In 1927 a two-room elementary school serving Cedar Green and Smokey Row communities was built. The Augusta County Training School (Cedar Green School), the county’s first black consolidated school, . . . — — Map (db m59711) HM
On Lee Jackson Highway (U.S. 11) at Howardsville Road (Virginia Route 701), on the right when traveling south on Lee Jackson Highway.
Two miles west. The first church was built by Colonel Robert Doak in 1779. Captain James Tate, an elder, led in the battles of Cowpens and Guilford Courthouse (1781) a company drawn mainly from this church. In the churchyard 23 Revolutionary . . . — — Map (db m32104) HM
On Frontier Drive (Virginia Route 644) 0.2 miles south of US Route 250 (U.S. 250), on the left when traveling south.
The most heavily traveled road in Colonial America passed through here, linking areas from the Great Lakes to Augusta, GA. Laid on ancient animal and Native American Trading/Warrior Paths. Indian treaties among the Governors of NY, PA, & VA and the . . . — — Map (db m48469) HM
On Lee Jackson Highway (U.S. 11) at Howardsville Road (Virginia Route 701), on the right when traveling south on Lee Jackson Highway.
Five miles west is the birthplace of Virginia Institute, founded in 1842 by David F. Bittle, assisted by Christopher C. Baughman. Chartered on January 30, 1845, as Virginia Collegiate Institute, the school was moved to Salem, Virginia, in 1847, and . . . — — Map (db m32079) HM
On Tinkling Spring Road (Virginia Route 608) at Stuarts Draft Highway (U.S. 340), on the right when traveling south on Tinkling Spring Road.
John Colter, born in Stuart's Draft about 1775, was a member of the northwest expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark (1804-1806). During his subsequent, solitary explorations of the West, Colter traversed the area now comprising . . . — — Map (db m46393) HM
On Glebe School Road (Virginia Route 876) south of Baylor Mill Road, on the right when traveling south.
The vestry of Augusta Parish purchased 200 acres here in 1749 to serve as a glebe, farmland set aside to support the minister. Just to the southwest, on a portion of this property, the parish established the first public cemetery in the vicinity. . . . — — Map (db m159738) HM
On Parkersburg Turnpike (Route 254), on the right when traveling west.
In 1862, West View was a village of about 15 buildings including a flour mill, post office, store, wagon shop and saw mills. About 3,000 soldiers camped in the surrounding fields from April 20 to May 6. Confederates under Gen. Edward . . . — — Map (db m15788) HM
On Mill Place Parkway (County Route 1943) south of Laurel Hill Road (County Route 612).
Newlyweds Anna Mary Robertson Moses (later
knows as Grandma Moses) and her husband
Thomas arrived in Augusta County from New
York in 1887. Renting several farms before purchasing Mt. Airy, a large brick Federal style
house built in 1880. The . . . — — Map (db m77511) HM
On Lee Highway (U.S. 11) south of Willow Spout Road (County Route 742), on the right when traveling south.
Here stood, from the early 19th century until the mid-1900s, the tavern and stagecoach stop first owned by Peter Hanger. In 1848 its second proprietor, Samuel Harnsbarger, planted a willow tree in a spring here, across the newly-constructed Valley . . . — — Map (db m11811) HM
On Rockfish Gap Turnpike (U.S. 250) at Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway, on the right when traveling east on Rockfish Gap Turnpike.
Nelson County. Nelson County was named for Thomas Nelson, Governor of Virginia from June to November, 1871. It was formed in 1807 from Amherst County. Oak Ridge, birthplace of William Cabell Rives and later the residence of Thomas Fortune . . . — — Map (db m21701) HM
On April 20, 1862, the Confederate garrison left Fort Johnson to protect Staunton, and to avoid being cut off from the rear by another advancing Union Army. Lt. Pryor describes the retreat from the mountain.
Camp at Westview, 7 mil N, Of Staunton . . . — — Map (db m16783) HM
February 23, 1862
My Dear Penelope,
I write a few lines this morning to let you know that I am well & doing as well as I have since Iv been in the service. Well, Dear, wee had an alarm Friday knight about two oclock, and the way wee got . . . — — Map (db m16776) HM
Union forces now occupied Fort Johnson and were moving to capture Staunton. “Stonewall” Jackson, moving with speed and secrecy, had arrived at the foot of Shenandoah Mountain and moved west to defeat Union Generals John C. Fremont and . . . — — Map (db m16784) HM
Camp Shenandoah April 9th, 1862 My Dear Penelope, I take the opportunity this morning to write you a few lines to let you know that I am yet in the land of the living and enjoying good health. I thought last week that it was done snowing up here, . . . — — Map (db m16777) HM
Camp Shenandoah April 18th, 1862 My Dear Penelope, I take the opportunity this evening to write you a few lines to let you know that I am yet in the land of the living &, thank God, enjoying good health. Wee are now looking out for a fight here; . . . — — Map (db m16781) HM
On Shenandoah Mountain Drive (Route 250), on the right when traveling west.
Confederate troops, the remnant of the Army of the Northwest commanded by Brig. Gen. Edward “Allegheny” Johnson, constructed this fortification about 1 Apr. 1862 to protect the Shenandoah Valley, the “Breadbasket of the . . . — — Map (db m15791) HM
After surviving the Battle of McDowell, in which he lost many comrades, Lt. “Shep” Pryor was later wounded in battle near Culpepper, Virginia. He survived the war, returned to his beloved Penelope, and became Sheriff of Sumter County, . . . — — Map (db m16785) HM
Highland County. Formed in 1847 from Pendleton and Bath, and given its name because of its mountains. The Battle of McDowell, 1862, was fought in this county.
Augusta County. Formed in 1738 from Orange and named for Augusta, Princess of . . . — — Map (db m30389) HM
On Shenandoah Mountain Drive (U.S. 250) at Ramsey's Draft North, on the right when traveling west on Shenandoah Mountain Drive.
The Battle of McDowell began three miles to the southeast (near the intersection of Routes 629 and 716) when Confederates were fired upon by Union cavalry on May 7, 1862. After skirmishing, Federals rushed to the base camp here, sounding the alarm . . . — — Map (db m62920) HM
On Weyers Cave Road (Virginia Route 256) west of Airport Road (County Route 771), on the right when traveling west.
One mile west at Weyers Cave on April 30, 1927, twenty-eight students of vocational agriculture formed the Future Farmers of Virginia which became the Future Farmers of America in 1928 at Kansas City. The organization has grown to include all of the . . . — — Map (db m30414) HM
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