Winchester

Old Town Winchester

We visited Winchester and the surrounding area on October 31, 2020 which were the site of numerous battles during the American Civil War, as the Confederate and Union armies strove to control that portion of the Shenandoah Valley. Seven major battlefields are in the original Frederick County:

A vital marketplace for more than 250 years, Old Town Winchester cherishes its heritage as a Historic District and features a quaint pedestrian walking mall bursting with outdoor cafes, fun & specialty retail shops, historic attractions and family-oriented activities throughout the year.

Situated in the fertile Shenandoah Valley (often called “the Breadbasket of the Confederacy,”) Winchester was highly contested during the Civil War. Its strategic location as a hub for transportation made Winchester, an attractive prize for both the North and the South. Six major battles took place here, and the town changed hands approximately 72 times – more than any other town in the country.

The Old Court House Civil War Museum

The Old Court House was built in 1840 to serve the citizens of Winchester and Frederick County.

During the War Between the States the building served as a hospital and prison. The City of Winchester changed hands over 70 times during the War. The museum remembers these soldiers and tells their stories through the equipment they carried, photographs of the period, and the weapons and ammunition they used. Exhibits feature graffiti written by soldiers and over 3,000 artifacts of the war, ranging from buttons to cannonballs.

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