staunton, virginia

Staunton has one architectural advantage over most of other small towns in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia: it escaped the Civil War unscathed. Many of its 18th and early 19th century homes and buildings still stand and are wonderfully preserved. Scottish-Irish immigrant John Lewis and his family built the area's first homestead in 1732, and most of Staunton's early settlers were Scots-Irish.

Staunton's early history reads like a catalog of small town America, from organizing its first volunteer fire department (with one female member) in 1790, to incorporating with a population of 800 in 1801, to the location of the Augusta Female Seminary, now Mary Baldwin College, in 1842. The arrival of the Virginia Central Railroad in 1854 made Staunton a transportation hub for all of western Virginia. Two years later, Woodrow Wilson arrived in Staunton, born to the local Presbyterian minister and his wife. Wilson's homecoming as president-elect in 1912 was the most elaborate celebration in Staunton's history.

Staunton's fine collection of historic preservation areas includes the Gospel Hill Historic District, so named in the late 1790s when religious meetings were held at its blacksmith shop. Its elegant homes include examples of Victorian, Greek Revival, and Federal styles. The Downtown Historic District is a compact 19th-century "Main Street," with buildings that date from Staunton's boom years between 1860 and 1920, and a fine concentrations of Victorian-era architecture. Its Wharf Historic District harks to the days when the railroad changed Staunton from a rural village to a center of commerce, with strong and sturdy warehouses. Since 1972 the Wharf Historic District has been on the National Register of Historic Places, and its depot and other preserved buildings house restaurants, antique shops and specialty boutiques.

staunton history

Located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, historic Staunton, Virginia is one of the oldest communities in Virginia that is west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In 1732, Scots-Irish settler John Lewis and his family became the first Europeans to settle in the area, and a Courthouse for Augusta County was built here in 1745. Augusta County at that time stretched westwards to the Mississippi River. The states of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, most of West Augusta County was once larger than many statesVirginia and a portion of western Pennsylvania (including what is now Pittsburgh) were carved out of Augusta County.

Lots and streets were laid out in 1747 for the town of Staunton (pronounced STAN-ton), named after Lady Rebecca Staunton, the wife of the popular Colonial Governor William Gooch (for whom Goochland County, Virginia is named). Before West Virginia split from Virginia to become independent, Staunton was geographically in the center of the state. Strategically located at the intersection of the Great Wagon Road (later known as the Valley Turnpike) and early roads to the west, Staunton developed as a major center for trade. This was greatly enhanced with the arrival in 1854 of the Virginia Central Railroad. This railroad would later play a key role during the Civil War when the Shenandoah Valley served as the "Breadbasket of the Confederacy." During the war years, Valley-produced goods (primarily wheat) were transported via this railroad to General Robert E. Lee's forces in the eastern part of the state.

Staunton has had a long association with education beginning in 1791 when The Staunton Academy was established as one of the first private boy's schools in the Shenandoah Valley. In 1828, Western State Lunatic Asylum (now known as Western State Hospital) was established in Staunton as one of the earliest institutions of its kind in the nation. The Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind (VSDB), which is also still operating in Staunton, was the first state-supported school of its kind in the United States. Stuart Hall and Mary Baldwin College are two schools that survive from the first half of the 19th century when many similar institutions began operating in Staunton. Mary Baldwin College was established in 1842 as Augusta Female Seminary and Stuart Hall was established in 1844 as Virginia Female Institute. Staunton Military Academy (SMA) opened in Staunton during the 1870's and continued to operate for nearly a century. The 1870's also saw the first schools for the African-American community and the birth of the Staunton Public School system. Staunton's educational heritage continues today with Shenandoah Shakespeare, an internationally recognized theatrical troupe that is currently constructing the first of two historically accurate Shakespearean theatres. The world's first reproduction of the Blackfriars Playhouse opened in 2001 and will be followed by a reproduction of the second Globe Theatre.

Physical evidence of Staunton's rich heritage can be found throughout the community. Staunton boasts five National Historic Districts that are packed with extraordinary architecture from the 18th, 19t and 20th centuries. The greatest concentration of historic architecture is from the boom period from the 1870's into the early part of the 20th century. Staunton's hilly landscape greatly adds to the visual feast of the city.

In 1890, a young architect, Thomas Jasper Collins, moved from Washington, DC to Staunton and over the course of the next twenty years, he designed or remodeled nearly 200 buildings in Staunton, most of which survive. His sons were also successful architects, and the firm T.J. Collins & Sons continues to operate in Staunton to this day. Many of the architectural drawings for buildings designed by the firm survive, and represents one of the most extraordinary collections of architectural documentation for any American community. These drawings have recently been given to the Historic Staunton Foundation, and they will eventually be on display at the R.R. Smith Center for Historic and Art, a project that is currently underway in downtown Staunton. The R.R. Smith Center for History and Art is a joint project of the Historic Staunton Foundation, the Augusta County Historical Society and the Staunton-Augusta Art Center. The new facility will be housed in the former Eakleton Hotel building, built during the 1890s to the designs of T.J. Collins.

In 1908, Staunton became the first city in the world to adopt the city manager form of government. President-elect Woodrow Wilson visited the city where he had been born in 1856 and he spent the night in the room in which he had been born.

In recent years, Staunton has become a center for the visual and performing arts, with an extraordinary arts community that supports many musical events and theatrical productions throughout the year. Staunton has a nationally recognized art school and nationally known playwrights' retreat, as well as to a growing collection of high quality art galleries. Staunton is home to many acclaimed artists who excel as painters, sculptors, potters, furniture makers, glassblowers, metalworkers, jewelers and artists who work with mixed media.

As it begins the 21st century, Staunton is experiencing a true Renaissance. One of the most exciting periods in Staunton's history is witnessing the restoration of many of its historic buildings in both residential and commercial neighborhoods. Downtown Staunton is thriving as one of the most viable downtown areas in Virginia, with new shops and restaurants added to an already healthy collection of places to dine, shop and stay. The Blackfriars Playhouse, the new R.R. Smith Center for History and Art and a new municipal parking garage, are all breathing new vitality into the heart of the city. The Staunton-Augusta Farmers' Market is one of the most successful farmers' markets in Virginia, averaging over 30 vendors per week. The Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport that serves Staunton has recently added new service to link with Dulles International Airport. The AMTRAK train "The Cardinal" still stops in Staunton on its run between Washington, DC and Chicago.

It is an exciting time to be in Staunton, "The Queen City of the Shenandoah Valley."