Bed and Breakfasts of the Historic Shenandoah Valley

Get away and experience the breathtaking beauty of Virginia when you stay at a Shenandoah Valley bed and breakfast.

The Bed & Breakfasts of the Historic Shenandoah Valley invite you to come and explore our beautiful Valley. Framed by the breathtaking Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway in the Blue Ridge Mountains to our east and the ageless Allegheny Mountains to our west, the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia is one of America’s most majestic places, steeped in history and awesome natural beauty. Our towns and farms are postcard-perfect, and history is around every corner: museums, historic attractions, and Civil War battle sites can be found throughout the Valley. Outdoor lovers will discover an abundance of adventures to enjoy in our mountains, rivers, caverns, and along our bucolic country roads. Our member inns are conveniently located in the Valley's most popular spots, and you can easily "inn-hop" up or down the Valley between Lexington at the south and Winchester at the north.
Our Virginia bed and breakfasts located in the Shenandoah Valley offer you the opportunity to relax and indulge in renowned Southern hospitality. You'll find friendly and experienced innkeepers dedicated to assuring your comfort and assisting you in planning your days of exploring. Sightseeing, specialty shopping, musical performances, theater, wine tasting, historical sites, local festivals, antiquing, parks, hiking, canoeing, golfing, fishing, biking, and much more are close at hand. At every inn, an exceptional breakfast will be prepared just for you each morning.

Our Innkeepers are ready to help you discover your own special magic in our Valley. Begin your journey by using the map of the Shenandoah Valley or the listing of the Bed & Breakfasts of the Historic Shenandoah Valley.

The Shenandoah Valley is home to many great attractions for any individual or group interest. Please visit our Area Attractions page to see a list of things to do in our area, including lists of Top Ten Attractions created by some of our innkeepers. You may also visit our Attractions Map page to see some of these attractions on a map that also shows each of our member's locations, to help you determine the best place for you to stay near your chosen activities. Please feel free to call our innkeepers for more information about their area or nearby attractions.

We have provided our brochure in a printable format so that you may have to take on your trip or pass to friend. The brochure is in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

Click Here to Download the Brochure

PDF - 803 KB

The Bed & Breakfasts of the Historic Shenandoah Valley offer a variety of Virginia inns for guests to choose from, offering something for every guest and every occasion.

A charming alternative to Shenandoah Valley hotels, our B&Bs usher guests in with a warm welcome, as though you are coming home. For those who wish to travel with their favorite four-legged companion, many of our inns offer pet friendly Shenandoah Valley, VA lodging.

Belle Hearth
320 South Wayne Avenue
Waynesboro, VA 22980
(866) 710-2256
info@bellehearth.com

While relaxing in gracious Victorian comfort, you will experience the warmth of our personalized hospitality. Our B&B provides a peaceful stop on your journey to anywhere. We are located in the historic district of Waynesboro, a small town just three miles from Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive entrances and scenic Afton Mountain. We are just minutes away from numerous wineries, antique shops, museums, and recreational opportunities. At breakfast, you will discover a candlelit dining table set with silver and English china. Guests voted Belle Hearth one of the ten best breakfasts in the country in 2010.

Brierley Hill
985 Borden Road
Lexington, VA 24450
(800) 422-4925
relax@brierleyhill.com

Visit our exquisite bed & breakfast with magnificent views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley. Located on eight acres of quiet countryside, yet only five minutes from the heart of historic Lexington.

Six accommodations (three bedrooms and three 2-room suites) all with private bathrooms, TV/DVD, 350+ thread count linens, fireplace/stove, and Pati Bannister prints. The suites additionally contain compact refrigerators, whirlpool tubs, sleeper sofas, and separate sitting rooms.

For the guests' comfort and convenience, Brierley Hill has central heat/air conditioning and free high-speed Internet. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Travelers' Checks are accepted. Gift Certificates are available.

By the Side of the Road
491 Garbers Church Road
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
(866) 274-4887
stay@bythesideoftheroad.com

As Harrisonburg's first official B&B in Virginia's Historic Shenandoah Valley, By the Side of the Road has become a favorite lodging destination. We are located just a mile-and-a-half from downtown, minutes from JMU, EMU, and many other attractions in Harrisonburg. Guests return time and again to experience the comfort and intimacy of our well-appointed Main House Suites and private Cottages. We are an ideal location for romantic getaways with amenities including whirlpool spa tubs for two, featherbeds, gourmet breakfast, Wi-Fi, locally roasted coffee, and more. Be sure to check out our packages built with you in mind.

Fox Hill
4383 Borden Grant Trail
Fairfield, VA 24435
(800) 369-8005
stay@foxhillbb.com

Unwind and delight in the quiet, comfortable elegance of our 38-acre country retreat with awesome mountain views, wide-open spaces, peace, quiet, fresh air, and lots of privacy. Relax in your spacious private suite, or curl up on the porch and watch the clouds float over the mountains. When you are ready for more activity, explore our walking trails or romp in the meadows with your favorite companions -- dogs are welcomed!

Fox Hill is the perfect base to explore the historic, cultural, and natural wonders of the Shenandoah Valley. Come...stay with us...experience the tranquility and beauty here in our Valley.

Iris Inn
191 Chinquapin Drive
Waynesboro, VA 22980
(888) 585-9018
innkeeper@irisinn.com

Relax, refresh, and renew yourself in a modern, 1991, purpose-built retreat overlooking the Shenandoah Valley from a 12-acre Blue Ridge mountaintop. Enjoy wine tasting at 27 vineyards within 30 minutes of the Iris Inn. Visit 4 Presidents' homes. Only 3 miles to Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway! Ski Wintergreen. In-room massage and Wi-Fi available.

Killahevlin
1401 North Royal Avenue
Front Royal, VA 22630
(800) 847-6132
kllhvln@comcast.net

Your hosts, Tom and Kathy Conkey, invite you to visit Killahevlin B&B Inn to experience Irish-style warmth and charm in their historic Front Royal, Virginia hilltop Edwardian Mansion. Our bed & breakfast offers an "Emerald Isle" for travelers to the Shenandoah Valley, reminiscent of turn-of-the-century hospitality.

Prepare to be pampered by caring innkeepers who have taken every detail into account to make your stay as relaxing, comfortable, and enjoyable as possible. Curl up with a good book in a quiet spot, or relax and mingle with fellow guests in the private Irish Pub. Enjoy one of our sumptuous, full breakfasts, you won't need lunch!

The mansion, listed on the National Historic Register, is situated so that from the rooms, veranda, porches, gazebos, and grounds there are wonderful outlooks to the property's magnificent tree line with the Blue Ridge Mountains and the George Washington National Forest as a distant backdrop.

Lackawanna
236 Riverside Drive
Front Royal, VA 22630
(877) 222-7495
stay@lackawannabb.com

Lackawanna, built in 1869 and fully restored in 1988, is nestled on two acres of land between the North and South Fork of the Shenandoah River. We are located four miles from the entrance to Skyline Drive and only one mile from Exit 6 off Interstate 66.

Our inn is a pristine example of Italianate architecture, which was popular during the late 1800s. The rooms are spacious and elegant with eleven-foot ceilings and woodwork and stairway of native walnut and chestnut.

There are many attractions for you to enjoy during your stay. A historic downtown and fine dining, Skyline Caverns, Confederate Museum, and wineries to name a few.

A B&B at Llewellyn Lodge
603 South Main Street
Lexington, VA 24450
(800) 882-1145
lll@rockbridge.net

A B&B at Llewellyn Lodge in Lexington has a great in-town location, within walking distance to all restaurants, shops, museums, Washington & Lee University, VMI, Lee Chapel, Stonewall Jackson House & Cemetery and the VMI Museum. Lexington is a must-see stop for Civil War buffs. Our General's Package is a great way to soak in all of the local history. Host John is a lifetime Lexington resident. Your accommodations include blue-ribbon breakfasts from a menu, afternoon & evening beverages, and Kingsdown beds. We offer the best hiking and outdoor advice around, an in-town hiking trail, guided fly-fishing trips, Natural Bridge, canoeing, tubing, golf, horseback riding, tennis, vineyards, working mill, and antique malls close by. The Lodge has been featured in Southern Living magazine and on the Discovery Channel. Walk-ins are welcomed, hosting weary Shenandoah travelers for over 27 years.

Long Hill
547 Apple Pie Ridge Road
Winchester, VA 22603
(866) 450-0341
rkriz@visuallink.com

An ideal destination or anchor for your visit to Virginia's Shenandoah Valley and the Washington, DC area. This unique, owner-designed, 10,000 square-foot stone house on 20 acres provides comfort and privacy. Enjoy award-winning breakfasts! Relax while you work a jigsaw puzzle in the well-stocked library. Play pinball or shoot pool in the large recreation room. Enjoy our large solar-heated swimming pool in season. Watch numerous species of birds from the large patio or small park. The inviting grounds and fishpond are certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat. Good food - Good rest - Feel like family when you leave!

Rosendale Inn
17917 Farmhouse Lane
New Market, VA 22844
(540) 740-4281
armmsiru@yahoo.com

Celebrating 200 years of hospitality, historic Rosendale has graciously hosted presidents and world celebrities. Nestled at the base of Massanutten Mountain and a seven-minute walk to Endless Caverns, Rosendale Inn promises nature, serenity, comfort, and history in abundance. "It is a green and smiling swell, A spot for happiness to dwell; It seems that Nature shapes a plan, And molds a dwelling spot for man." the poet Joseph Salyards wrote about Rosendale in 1874. We invite you to step back in time to a bygone era when life was genteel and experience the tradition of true, warm Virginia hospitality. Overnight horse boarding and single and family suites are available.

South Court Inn
160 South Court Street
Luray, VA 22835
(888) 749-8055
inn@southcourtinn.com

Only 90 miles from the Washington, DC metro area, South Court Inn caters to couples seeking elegant accommodations, gourmet fare, and romantic settings for a relaxing time together. All of our rooms feature king or queen canopy beds with luxurious, soft-as-silk microfiber linen and memory foam mattresses, in-room fridges with serve-yourself soft drinks, bottled water, fresh fruit, and chocolates, electric fireplaces, cable TVs, video players, and access to our 200+ DVD library. Many of our value-priced packages include one or two of our famous Memories robes that will remind you for years of your fantastic getaway at South Court Inn.

Widow Kip's
355 Orchard Drive
Mount Jackson, VA 22842
(800) 478-8714
widokips@shentel.net

This 1830, lovingly restored gem rests on 7 rural acres in the Shenandoah Valley, with views of the Massanutten Mountains. The Widow Kip's is a serene and friendly home offering nostalgia and hospitality in five antique-filled bedrooms of the main house, all with original FIREPLACES and private baths. Locally-crafted quilts grace the four-poster, sleigh and hand-carved Victorian beds.

Children and pets are welcome in our two restored cottages that create a charming Williamsburg-style courtyard by the house. Wireless Internet is available. Breakfast is a friendly, family-style gathering in the Dining Room, and the Common Room welcomes you with backgammon and checkers.

There is so much to do and see when you stay at a Blue Ridge Mountains bed and breakfast. As you plan your Blue Ridge Parkway bed and breakfast getaway, the information below will help point you toward some of the area's must-see spots, but this is just the beginning of what this area has to offer.

LURAY: South Court Inn

The Town of Luray lies at the intersection of US RT 340 and US RT 211, between the Blue Ridge and Massanutten Mountains, only 90 miles from Washington, DC. The town gained fame in the mid-1800s as the home of Luray Caverns and became a destination for vacations and chartered train tourists coming to see "one of the natural wonders of the world." Today, Luray continues to serve visitors to the Caverns and those looking to enjoy the natural beauty of the area, quiet pastoral countryside, and outdoor activities such as hiking, bicycling, water sports, fishing, and hunting. Only 9 miles from the Thornton Gap, Skyline Drive, and the Shenandoah River, Luray is centrally located for access to activities across the Valley. Major Attractions: Luray Caverns, Warehouse Art Gallery, BB&T Performing Arts Center, the Page (Movie) Theater, the Singing Tower, the Car Museum, Page Valley Museum, Luray Zoo, Garden Maze, Hawksbill Greenway Park, with 2 miles of walking trails, and Lake Arrowhead Park. Annual Festivals: Family Fun Fest Mother's Day weekend, Oak Leaf Bluegrass and Mountain Festival, Agricultural and Industrial Fair and Luray International Triathlon, all in August, and Page County Heritage Festival on Columbus Day weekend.

FRONT ROYAL: Killahevlin & Lackawanna

Front Royal, the Gateway to the Skyline Drive, is located near the intersection of Interstates 81 and 66, so it is easily accessible from most of the Mid-Atlantic area. Also known as "the Canoe Capital of Virginia," we sit at the junction of the South and North forks of the famed Shenandoah River. Area attractions include hiking along Skyline Drive and other local parks, canoeing and kayaking on the Shenandoah River, browsing local antique shops, golfing at some of Northern Virginia's finest (and most reasonably priced) courses, and tasting some of Virginia's finest wines at our local wineries. Foodies won't be disappointed with the unique and interesting restaurants downtown Front Royal has to offer. Historic downtown Front Royal epitomizes the friendly Southern small town with quaint shops and welcoming locals. Civil War enthusiasts will find history here at every turn where Custer's men skirmished with Mosby's Rangers. Check out the Visitors' Center or one of our local museums to learn more about the history of this two-hundred-plus-year-old town.

WINCHESTER: Long Hill

Winchester, the county seat of the County of Frederick, is the oldest English settlement west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is rich in history. The French and Indian, Revolutionary, and Civil Wars had great presence in this area. George Washington surveyed the area and was elected to the House of Burgesses from Frederick County. The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, George Washington and Stonewall Jackson Headquarters, and Abrams Delight and Belle Grove bring history to life. Winchester is also as modern as today! Shenandoah University offers a wide selection of degrees including many medical-related majors, and with its outstanding Conservatory of Music provides cultural entertainment year round. Old town Winchester has the distinction of being the oldest pedestrian mall in Virginia. It is lined and surrounded with excellent restaurants and specialty shops. Farmers Markets, antique shops, live community theatre, golfing, and three area parks offer the traveler many choices for activities. Frederick County offers hiking and camping for ecology and nature adventures.

HARRISONBURG: By the Side of the Road

Located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, our local culture of small, valley towns, historic places, and outdoor recreation offer many reasons to keep coming back to the Harrisonburg area. Whether you travel along Interstate-81 or in the Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive, Harrisonburg is minutes from many of Virginia's most beautiful places. Begin by visiting the Hardesty-Higgins House Visitors Center. The travel staff is available everyday 9am-5pm. A must see is the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum and Botanical Center, landscaped with native plants, botanical gardens, and a walking trail. Watch for Old-Order Mennonites in horse-drawn buggies near the historic Silver Lake Mill and Dayton Farmer's Market. Shop the Green Valley Bookfair-the mid-Atlantic's largest bookstore. Planning to get outdoors? With great services and local guides, visitors can road bike or mountain bike, canoe or kayak, climb and cave. Ride horseback along our mountain trails or take your exploration underground at Grand Caverns. Ranked by Backpacker Magazine as a top spot for families to "beat nature deficit disorder," Harrisonburg is the kind of place where outdoor recreation is a priority. Only two hours from the major metros - plan your visit now!

MT. JACKSON: Widow Kips

Mt. Jackson, located in the "Heart of the Shenandoah Valley," is a designated State and National Historic Town. Orkney Springs, circa 1771, is a historic resort west of Mt. Jackson. It is the home of the Shenandoah Valley Music Festivals May through September. The Union Church, circa 1825, has signatures on the walls of soldiers serving during the Civil War. Our Soldiers Cemetery and the Veterans Memorial Park are also on Route 11. Shenandoah Caverns, American Celebration on Parade, and the Route 11 Potato Chip Factory are on the path from the Meems Bottom Covered Bridge. Take a tour of the Route 11 Potato Chip Factory. In addition to our Apple/Blue Grass Festival, the second weekend of October every year, there are three wineries - Cave Ridge, Crooked Run, and Wolf Gap, also three golf courses - Bryce Resort, Shenvalee, and Parksaddle. Canoeing and fishing on the Shenandoah River - plus many hiking trails. The second weekend of August each year is the longest "Yard Crawl" (yard sale), stretching 40 miles from Stephens City to New Market on Route 11.

NEW MARKET: Rosendale

New Market, cradled by the Massanutten and Blue Ridge Mountains on the East and the Alleghany Mountains on the West, is the southern-most town in Shenandoah County. The town is filled with quaint shops and down home restaurants. Located close to three major caverns, Luray, Endless, and Shenandoah, and just minutes from great hiking trails in the George Washington National Forest, the area is a nature lovers dream. New Market Civil War Battlefield, with interpretive trails and a state-of-the-art visitor's center offers the Civil War buff a true connection with history. Historic New Market is both a focal point and a departure hub for visitors to the Shenandoah Valley. The town and its immediate surrounds are rich in shops, underground caverns, and the only working covered bridge in Virginia. Visitors can experience the May Civil War reenactment, festivals, a guided walking tour, golf, antique shops, underground Endless Caverns, or go from here to breathtaking Skyline Drive to the East, Jefferson's Monticello to the South, West Virginia to the West, and Virginia wine country to the North.

FAIRFIELD: Fox Hill

Nestled in the Southern part of the Shenandoah Valley, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Fairfield is a haven of tranquility, fresh air, meadows, rivers, waterfalls, country lanes, and awesome mountain views from just about every spot you stand. Outdoor adventures abound, including discovering special places along the Blue Ridge Parkway, hiking, fishing, swimming, canoeing, and horseback riding. Here you'll find some of the most spectacular country roads in Virginia to explore via motorcycle or bicycle. Nearby are both Rockbridge and Lexington Valley Vineyards for wine tasting and vineyard tours, Wade's Mill where they grind grains with a water-powered mill stone and have a fabulous kitchen shop, Orchardside Yarn Shop and Berry Farm, lots of places to uncover that perfect antique to add to your collection, Brownsburg Museum, and Goshen Pass -- a beautiful ride through a mountain pass surrounded with rocky cliffs and the cascading waters of the Maury River. It's the perfect place to get your "nature fix" but still be close to towns when you're ready for shopping, dining, theater, and other amusements. Just off Exit 200 on Interstate 81, Fairfield is easy to get to and convenient to both Lexington (13 miles south) and Staunton (20 miles north).

STAUNTON: 

Staunton is located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley with easy access from interstates 81 and 64. It is a charming college town with stately trees and beautiful heritage homes. Settled in 1732 by the Scots-Irish, Staunton is one of oldest cities west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Staunton has a vibrant downtown with nationally recognized performing arts venues and historic attractions such as the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace and Presidential Library. There are six historic districts. Other points of interest include Mary Baldwin College, Stuart Hall, Virginia Institute for the Deaf and Blind, Blackfriar's Playhouse, quaint boutiques, antique shops, and art galleries, Old Wharf district, Farmer's Market (seasonal), coffee shops and gourmet restaurants, Gypsy Hill Park, American Frontier Culture Museum, Old Western State Hospital, and the Staunton-Augusta Center for History and Art. Staunton is ideally located for quick and easy excursions to nearby areas that showcase the best of Virginia's natural resources and attractions, such as Monticello, the University of Virginia, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Shenandoah National Park. The national Trust for Historic preservation describes Staunton as having a "dynamic downtown, cultural diversity, attractive architecture, and strong commitment to historic preservation and revitalization."

LEXINGTON: Brierly Hill & A B & B at Llewellyn Lodge

Historic Lexington, settled in 1777, is home to Washington and Lee University (est. 1749) and The Virginia Military Institute (est. 1839). Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson are buried in town. Civil War Buffs will enjoy Lee Chapel Museum, Stonewall Jackson House and Cemetery, and the VMI Museum on Post. General George Marshall attended VMI, and there is an on-Post museum honoring him. The Lexington Visitor Center offers horse carriage rides April - October, free guided walking tours every Friday, and Ghost Walks May - October. Natural Bridge and Caverns and the Blue Ridge Parkway, with its spectacular seasonal floral and foliage displays, are 15 minutes from town. Motorcyclists always find plenty of back road exploring. Safari Park, with 1000 exotic animals, is fun for kids and adults. Explore 1700's Wades Mill after you stop for wine tasting at Rockbridge Vineyard. Take in a concert or play outdoors at Lime Kiln Theatre. Hull's Drive-in Theatre offers a throw-back experience as you catch a current flick from your car. Hikers will enjoy the Chessie Nature Trail and the Appalachian Trail. The area has lots of fishing streams, and guided trout fishing is also offered. The Virginia Horse Center, 5 minutes from Lexington, has events almost every week of the year.

WAYNESBORO: Belle Hearth & Iris Inn

Roll down the windows and savor the breeze as you enjoy a leisurely pace along the Skyline Drive or Blue Ridge Parkway. Enjoy the magnificent vistas from over 100 overlooks or spend some time on the 682 miles of hiking trails. Enter the Plumb House and step back in time to the Civil War era as you wander through one of Waynesboro's oldest dwellings. Satisfy your inner artist with a tour of the P. Buckley Moss Museum. Get caught up in the activity of one of the many yearly events or relax by the fireside or in a hot tub at a restful bed & breakfast. Centrally located in Virginia, easily accessible via Interstate 81, and providing access to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive. Close to the University of Virginia and James Madison University. Several of Virginia's finest vineyards are just a short scenic drive away. Visit Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello, outside Charlottesville, just minutes down I-64. If antiquing is your obsession, there are many shops and antique malls close by. Waynesboro is a charming destination as well as an ideal hub for day trips and excursions to surrounding areas.

"Our Streets Are Paved with Memories"

Get away with the help of the Bed & Breakfasts of the Historic Shenandoah Valley and experience exceptional Shenandoah Valley lodging along with Innkeepers who make an art of finding just the right activities and adventures for you.
Starting in the southern part of the Valley, chose the perfect bed in breakfast in Lexington, Virginia, or in the towns strung like jewels for 140 miles through the Valley all the way north to Winchester, Virginia. Warm Southern hospitality is everywhere: people greet you with a smile and offer to help out with directions.

There are so many ways to see and explore the Valley: soar above the treetops in a silent glider or hot air balloon, pedal or motor bucolic roads in the Valley and along the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountains, uncover mysteries hidden underground in a cavern, paddle one of our winding rivers, and explore mountain and valley trails by foot or on horseback.

Discover our historic treasures: Civil War buffs can spend weeks exploring battlegrounds and museums, and you can trace the steps of early settlers along the historic Valley Road, Route 11.

Theater and music lovers can attend a performance of one of Shakespeare's works one night, followed by a Broadway Musical revival the next. Music echoes everywhere in the Valley, from classical ensembles to down-home bluegrass and country music.

And then there are just plain fun things to do: feed animals at an open-air Safari Park, tour and taste the wines of award-winning vineyards, enjoy festivals and fairs, antiquing, dining, shopping...you'll want to come back again and again.

It's all here, your personal playground in one of the most spectacularly beautiful spots in the world, just waiting for you to discover!

Civil War History

Your Guide to Virginia's Shenandoah Valley Civil War Sites

Battlefields, Museums, Historic Homes, and More!!
The Bed and Breakfasts of the Historic Shenandoah Valley have provided you with this guide as a reminder of the importance of the Shenandoah Valley as not only a food provider during the Civil War but as an important strategic location for the Southern Armies of General Robert E. Lee as his link to the North. As you will discover, there were many Virginia Civil War battles and many heroes made and broken in the Shenandoah Valley.

Upon visiting "The Valley" and looking at the terrain that was traversed on a daily basis, you will begin to understand the tenacity of the soldiers that fought in this war.

You will discover that the original North-South road, Route 11, is still a very active highway running through and connecting many of the towns in the Shenandoah Valley, from the north of Winchester to south of Lexington. These towns and their residents are what make the Shenandoah Valley a wonderful place to visit. You will discover the hospitality of the people of this region that makes it what it is today.

The Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley

A Brief History

During the Civil War, the Shenandoah Valley was one of the most hotly contested areas in the north or the south. The Valley was Virginia's breadbasket, providing provisions for the large armies that operated there. It also was a key route to the Confederate capital of Richmond, forming a natural corridor through which Union armies could penetrate deep into Virginia and threaten the city from the rear. Military historians remember the Valley as the site of one of the greatest campaigns in the history of warfare, Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's spring campaign of 1862. The Shenandoah Valley was continually conquered and re-conquered during the war and is one of the few regions that can be said to have had a great impact on both sides for the duration of the hostilities.

On May 24, 1861, the day after Virginia's citizens voted in favor of secession from the Union, a Federal force occupied Alexandria, effectively controlling the whole of northern Virginia. Union soldiers would occupy the area for virtually the entire war. This bloodless loss for the Confederates ultimately meant that the Shenandoah Valley would be relied upon more and more to sustain the armies of the south and that its protection from invasion was of the utmost importance.

Although important from the beginning agriculturally, the Shenandoah Valley did not figure prominently in terms of engagements and campaigning until Jackson's daring marches, train rides, and pitched battles beginning in the early spring of 1862. At this point, General George McClellan's Army of the Potomac had traveled by boat up the James River and was sitting on the doorstep of Richmond, facing a Confederate force under Joseph Johnston that was severely outnumbered. McClellan, however, stopped in his tracks at the first hint of resistance and demanded that additional troops be provided to him. The men he requested were stationed in Fredericksburg, under the command of Irwin McDowell, and numbered over 40,000. Jackson's goal was to make Union commanders, most notably the cautious President Lincoln, believe that he could threaten Washington, D.C., thereby forcing them to keep McDowell at Fredericksburg where he could be easily relocated if the defense of Washington became necessary. This was a fairly lofty goal to be accomplished with Jackson's starting force of less than 3,000 men.

Jackson began his campaign by attacking a much larger Union force at Kernstown, just south of Winchester. The battle was never intended to be a tactical victory. The Confederate attack was easily repulsed, but Jackson had correctly assumed that Lincoln would overreact to his ploy, keeping McDowell in Fredericksburg and canceling plans to dispatch a detachment of Nathaniel Banks’ army, then at Harper's Ferry, to assist McClellan. Jackson also hoped to represent a stronger force than he actually commanded, and in this, too, he succeeded.

Jackson continued to build his forces, elude two Federal armies, pull out of the Valley entirely in order to further confuse his enemy, and win decisive victories at Winchester and Port Republic. His campaign was a stunning success, removing the threat to the Valley, occupying some 78,000 Union soldiers, and giving Confederate armies around Richmond the time they needed to adequately defend the capital, all with a force that, at its strongest, numbered no more than 17,000. It is not an embellishment to say that Jackson's actions in the Shenandoah Valley prolonged the War by almost three years.

During Robert E. Lee's Gettysburg campaign in the summer of 1863, the Valley was used as the main avenue of the southern advance into Maryland and Pennsylvania, using the Blue Ridge Mountains to screen his army's movements. Winchester, Strasburg, and New Market also provided countless new recruits for the drive north. Lee defeated a sizable Federal garrison at Winchester on June 15, clearing the path into Union territory, and allowing his Army of Northern Virginia to continue on to the fateful Battle of Gettysburg. After Lee was defeated at Gettysburg, he again used the Valley to march his troops back toward the Confederate capital.

The final major campaign in the Shenandoah Valley occurred from the spring through the fall of 1864 and was characterized by several fierce battles and the destruction of much of the agricultural value of the area by the cavalry of Philip Sheridan. The campaign began when Franz Sigel's Federal army was ordered to capture the Valley as far south as Harrisonburg in order to prevent the rebel forces there from becoming a nuisance as U.S. Grant led the Army of the Potomac in a final drive toward Richmond. Sigel was driven back at New Market and forced to vacate the Valley.

The Federals soon returned and were again beaten back by Jubal Early's Confederates, this time at Kernstown. However, Union reinforcements soon arrived, and Early's army was overpowered at the Third Battle of Winchester, forcing his retreat out of the Valley and leaving it at the mercy of Sheridan's newly-arrived cavalry forces. Sheridan was ordered to destroy the Valley's ability to sustain troops and demoralize its citizens, which he did promptly and violently, tearing up railroad tracks and setting fire to barns and mills.

The final battle of the Shenandoah Valley occurred at Cedar Creek on October 9, 1864, where Early's initially successful attacks were soon thrown back and the Confederate army was routed, giving the Federals free reign of the Valley. The Civil War ended several months later when Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox.

Civil War Memories - Stories and Songs

The articles and books below were written by soldiers and citizens who actually lived through the Civil War in Virginia. They provide an interesting perspective of what happened during the war and how life changed after the war.

The Valley Campaigns:

Being the Reminiscences of a Non-Combatant While Between the Lines in the Shenandoah Valley During the War of the States (This is about life in Front Royal, Virginia, an excellent read to get a real feel of life in the Northern Shenandoah Valley and events during the Civil War)

How a One-Legged Rebel Lives: Reminiscences of the Civil War

A Condensed Anti-Slavery Bible Argument; By a Citizen of Virginia

The Memoirs of Colonel John S. Mosby

A Soldier's Recollections: Leaves From The Diary of a Young Confederate

Robert E. Lee Papers at the Special Collections Department of the James Graham Leyburn Library at Washington and Lee University

Lieutenant General Jubal Anderson Early C.S.A. - Autobiographical Sketch and Narrative of the War Between the States

Sheridans "Early" Victory