Located in the heart of Old Town Winchester on the walking mall, the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum occupies the historic Frederick County Courthouse. Built on the site where George Washington was first elected to public office, the courthouse, built in 1840, was used as a hospital, a prison, and a barracks during the Civil War. Many prisoners left their names and other graffiti on the walls, much of which is still visible today including the remarkable "Curse to Jeff Davis"

The “One Story… A Thousand Voices” exhibit covers major battles fought throughout the Shenandoah Valley as well as the everyday lives of the soldiers and civilians who struggled to survive the four long years of war. The exhibit will carry visitors from the road to war through the tumultuous years of combat and destruction, the post-war era, and the efforts to preserve that history today.

Open Monday - Saturday 10AM to 5PM

Sunday 1PM to 5PM

Members - FREE

Adults - $12

Children 17 and under - FREE

Winchester / Frederick County Residents - FREE

20 N. Loudoun Street

Winchester, VA 22601

540-667-2754

Civil War soldiers would commonly leave graffiti – signatures, inscriptions, and drawings – wherever they went, but this was especially true when men were prisoners. During the war this courthouse was frequently used to temporarily hold prisoners. The evidence of repeated imprisonments covers the walls. Often, these men left not only their names but also their regiment and in some cases the date and place of their capture. Some may have hoped that, by leaving some trace, friends and family might be able to discover what happened to them – in case they did not make it home. Other times men were simply drawing on the wall to pass the time, or even writing to express deep frustration. Much like letters and journals, graffiti like what you see here offers us a direct window into the lives of these soldiers. Until the year 2000, when the courthouse was first renovated for museum use, the graffiti had been hidden behind paneling and its rich stories were unknown.