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historic culpeper
Soon after the county was formed in 1749, a frame courthouse was constructed on the northeast corner of Main and Davis streets. In 1808, this unsafe building was demolished, and
a two-story brick building was erected on the same site.
During the Civil War, this building was utilized for many purposes while the town changed hands several times. The clerk, Fayette Mauzy, became incensed when Union soldiers tore the pages
out of the record books to start their camp fires. In the dark of the night, he crept into the courthouse, retrieved the priceless books, loaded them on his wagon, and took them out in the county
to the home of a tanner, Henry Hitt, where they remained buried under the tanbark until the end of the war.
The dilapidated building was auctioned off in 1870, and the current courthouse was begun. Court was first held in the new building in July of 1873. The beautifully restored circuit courtroom
with a hand-painted classical border is a source of pride for the community.
On the left and the right sides of the Culpeper County Courthouse, you will find two memorials commemorating those who fought and perished in Vietnam and the Civil War.
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The Culpeper County Courthouse is in use today with working courtrooms and County government offices. All visitors must pass through a security checkpoint upon entering
at the rear of the building.
Location: 135 W. Cameron Street,
Culpeper, VA 22701
Hours: Visitors can use resources at the Circuit Court Office on the 2nd Floor of the Courthouse
to conduct genealogical research, Monday through Friday 8:30am-4:30pm
Contact Us: (540)727-3438 |
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Begin your trip to Culpeper at the Visitors Center, housed in the historic train Depot. In 1852, the Orange and Alexandria Railroad built two depots at this location, one on the east side of the tracks for freight and one on the west side of the tracks for passengers.  Although these buildings survived the Civil War, including the Battle of Culpeper Courthouse on September 13, 1863, the occupation and fighting took their toll. In 1874, a new Culpeper town depot was built, which later burned in 1903. A year later, the present building was completed to replace it. Years of use and subsequent decline led Norfolk and Southern Railroad to request permission in 1985 to demolish a portion of the Depot. A committee formed to save and renovate the building, a project that was completed in 2003. Today, the beautifully restored Depot houses the Visitor's Center, the Chamber of Commerce, the Department of Tourism, and space for meetings and conferences.
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The Culpeper Visitors Center is located in the Train Depot.
Location:109 Commerce Street, Culpeper
Hours: Weekdays 8.30am-5pm, Sat 10am-3pm, Sun 1-4pm.
Contact Us: (540) 825-8628 or 1-888-CULPEPER |
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Originally known as Fairfax, the Town of Culpeper was founded in 1759. Roughly bounded by Edmonson Street, Stevens Street, West Street and the railroad in Culpeper, most of the commercial buildings are vernacular, Italianate, and neo-classical-style brick structures.The quiet, tree-shaded residential streets hold a rich variety of domestic architecture. The district's focal point is the Culpeper County Court House, completed in 1874 by Samuel Proctor who crowned it with a fanciful cupola. Commercial history is linked with its early roads, stagecoach routes, and the railroad. Military history is represented by the homes of Revolutionary War General Edward Stevens and Confederate Lieutenant General Ambrose Powell (A.P.) Hill. The town served as a staging area and hospital center for both Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War. Pick up a free copy of
"In & Around Culpeper", a guide featuring 30-60 minute walking and driving tours, including the central business district and adjacent residential neighborhoods. This unique guide, available at the Visitors Center or through this website, provides descriptions of Culpeper's historic homes and landmarks, as well a detailed Architectural Glossary.
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 Also known as Oak Shade Church, Little Fork Church is the oldest standing church building in Culpeper County, and the County's only Colonial church. It was ordered into existence in 1731 by Governor Spotswood as a "chapel of ease", to relieve the parish church and accommodate parishioners living at a distance. The present building was begun in 1773 at a cost of 30,000 pounds of tobacco. It is the third building at this location, two others having been destroyed by fire around 1750 and 1770. The monument placed here recognizes the Little Fork Rangers, the only Cavalry Unit from Culpeper in the Civil War. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Virginia Landmarks Register.
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Location: Junction of Rtes. 624 and 726, off Rte. 299 North, Rixeyville, VA
Hours: Please contact the church before visiting
Contact Us: (540) 937-4306 |
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Given "to the Masons of Culpeper County" under the will of American Revolutionary War hero General Edward Stevens in 1820, the original one-acre Stevens family burial site has grown to over seven acres. In addition to General Stevens' graves are those of many prominent Culpeper families such as Button, Waite, Kyle, Reams, Guinn, and Hudson to name just a few. |
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Location: Rte. 229 North, near intersection of Radio Lane, Culpeper, VA
Hours: Open to the public during daylight hours
Contact Us: fairfaxlodge43@yahoo.com |
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Built in 1879 under the leadership of the Reverend John P. Strider, this simple Carpenter's Gothic church contains the most elaborate example of late 19th century, folk-style trompe l'oeil frescoes in the Commonwealth. The Italian immigrant painter Joseph Dominick Phillip Oddenino, born in 1831 in Chieri, Turin, Italy, executed the frescoes between 1892 and 1899. Oddenino painted the ceiling to resemble beams framing rosettes. The artwork is a shining example of the ancient art of fresco and is a curious transplant in the rural Virginia countryside. The church, along with the frescoes, underwent complete restoration beginning in 1979. Several other examples of Oddenino's work remain in the region - Mitchells Church is one of the finest and most complete.
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Location: Off Rte. 652 in the village of Mitchells, VA
Hours: Contact church before visiting
Contact Us: (540)825-1079
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From the mid 1800's until the late 1900's, every train had a caboose hooked up at the end. While the engineer would operate the train from the front, the conductor, signalman, and brake man would operate the train from the caboose. There used to be thousands of cabooses in the country, but most of them were scrapped for the metal value. 
Today, Amtrak's Cardinal and Crescent lines make daily stops at the Depot, shuttling passengers up and down the east coast and west to Chicago. And Caboose X543 is on display, though no longer in service. After
an extensive renovation in 2001, the Red Caboose is covered in a shiny
layer of red paint on the outside, and retains many of the original
interior fixtures as well. Although she belongs to the past, the Caboose still brings joy to locals and visitors alike who are fascinated by trains and transportation history. Stop by the Depot to admire the little red Caboose and watch the trains roll by.
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Location: The Caboose is located at The Depot/Culpeper Visitors Center.
Hours: Call for hours of operation
Contact Us: 1-888-CULPEPER
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