Preservation – Shenandoah at War

Preservation Success

More than Ten Years of Preservation Accomplishments

For more than ten years, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation has gathered together a variety of partners and resources to protect the region’s remarkable Civil War landscape and historic sites.

Techniques for Preserving the Valley’s Battlefields

Purchasing land from preservation-minded landowners may be the most visible tactic for protecting battlefields, but it is just one of many in a wide array of preservation techniques available to landowners and organizations working to conserve the Valley’s historic landscape.

Obstacles to battlefield preservation in the Valley

Despite significant preservation successes in recent years, the Valley’s battlefields continue to be threatened by development and modern intrusions.

Responsible Stewardship of the Valley’s Historic Lands

As the owner and steward of more than 4,500 battlefield acres, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation has a public trust responsibility to ensure that these landscapes are managed responsibly and in a way that ensures that they can be experienced by future generations of Americans.

A trail network to link the battlefield together - and the battlefield to the community.

In the coming years, the Valley Pike will add a new distinction to its long history by becoming part of a new trail system in northern Shenandoah County connecting the Fisher’s Hill battlefield with the town of Strasburg and the Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park.

Berryville Battlefield

VA118

Portions of landscape have been altered -- and the Va Route 7 bypass crosses through the battlefield -- but growing development pressure here indicates that meaningful preservation of the battlefield landscape will need to be accomplished before 2015.

Cedar Creek Battlefield

VA122

The Cedar Creek battlefield stretches over more than eight square miles at the junction of Interstates 81 and 66, which traverse the battlefield.

Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park

Cool Spring Battlefield

VA114

The battlefield lies along both sides of the Shenandoah River in rural Clarke County--just north of Va Route 7 and along the western base of the Blue Ridge. Portions of the landscape have been altered, but most essential features remain. Clarke County and the Holy Cross Abbey protect significant portions of the battlefield.

Cross Keys Battlefield

VA105

Most of the decisive action on the Cross Keys battlefield took place on the rolling fields of southern Rockingham County.

Civil War Orientation Center and Harrisonburg Tourism & Visitor Services 212 S Main St, Harrisonburg

Fisher's Hill Battlefield

VA120

The Battle of Fisher’s Hill was an excellent example of a surprise flanking movement against a defending force in a strong position. The battle opened the Shenandoah Valley to the destruction of its agricultural base.

Front Royal Battlefield

VA103

Brother fought against brother as Confederate 1st Maryland attacked Federal 1st Maryland.

Front Royal Visitor Center 414 E Main St, Front Royal

Guard Hill Battlefield

VA117

Much of the Guard Hill battlefield is now occupied by the Front Royal interchange on Interstate 81 and has been altered and fragmented.

Front Royal Visitor Center 414 E Main St, Front Royal

Kernstown I Battlefield

VA101

The First Kernstown battlefield occupies the open, relatively flat farmlands south and southwest of Winchester along with the southern portion of Old Town Winchester.

Civil War Orientation Center & Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center 1400 S. Pleasant Valley Road Winchester, VA 22601

Kernstown II Battlefield

VA116

Second Kernstown was the last major Confederate victory in the Shenandoah Valley and temporarily removed Federal control of Winchester and the northern Shenandoah Valley.

Civil War Orientation Center & Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center 1400 S. Pleasant Valley Road Winchester, VA 22601

Manassas Gap Battlefield

VA108

The battlefield area lies along Va Route 55 east of Front Royal and through the Manassas Gap in the Blue Ridge.

Front Royal Visitor Center 414 E Main St, Front Royal

McDowell Battlefield

VA102

McDowell is nearly pristine, partially protected, and has low threats. It presents one of the best opportunities in Virginia for the preservation of an entire battlefield landscape.

Highland County Museum and Civil War Orientation Center 161 Mansion House Rd, McDowell

New Market Battlefield

VA110

The Battle of New Market took place along the Valley Pike (modern US Route 11) around the town of New Market in southern Shenandoah County.

Virginia Museum of the Civil War New Market Battlefield State Historical Park 8895 George Collins Parkway, New Market, Virginia 22844

Piedmont Battlefield

VA111

The battlefield lies in the fertile farmland of eastern Augusta County, with the Blue Ridge as its backdrop.

Port Republic Battlefield

VA106

The village of Port Republic, at the confluence of the North River and the South River, saw early action in the Battle of Port Republic.

Civil War Orientation Center and Harrisonburg Tourism & Visitor Services 212 S Main St, Harrisonburg

Rutherford's Farm Battlefield

VA115

For most of the 150 years since the Civil War, much of this battlefield northeast of Winchester remained in agricultural use, with minor intrusions along US Route 11, which runs along the battlefield's spine.

Civil War Orientation Center & Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center 1400 S. Pleasant Valley Road Winchester, VA 22601

Tom's Brook Battlefield

VA121

Tom’s Brook, one of the smaller battlefields, occupies rolling hills around the Shenandoah County town of Toms Brook and to the west.

Waynesboro Battlefield

VA125

One of the Valley's few urban battlefields, the landscape and terrain have been altered beyond recognition since the period of significance.

Waynesboro Heritage Museum 420 W Main St, Waynesboro

Winchester I Battlefield

VA104

One of the Valley's few urban battlefields, the landscape and terrain have been altered beyond recognition since the period of significance.

Civil War Orientation Center & Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center 1400 S. Pleasant Valley Road Winchester, VA 22601

Winchester II Battlefield

VA107

Second Winchester battlefield encompasses most of the city of Winchester along with some outlying streambeds and road corridors found largely to the west of Old Town Winchester.

Civil War Orientation Center & Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center 1400 S. Pleasant Valley Road Winchester, VA 22601

Winchester III Battlefield

VA119

Because of its size, intensity, and result, many historians consider Third Winchester the most important conflict of the Shenandoah Valley.

Civil War Orientation Center & Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center 1400 S. Pleasant Valley Road Winchester, VA 22601

Help Us Save a Battlefield

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Preservation Success

More than Ten Years of Preservation Accomplishments

How We Do It

Techniques for Preserving the Valley’s Battlefields

Preservation Challenges

Obstacles to battlefield preservation in the Valley

Resource Management

Responsible Stewardship of the Valley’s Historic Lands

Valley Pike & Fisher’s Hill

A trail network to link the battlefield together - and the battlefield to the community.