Exchange Hotel (Gordonsville, Virginia) facts for kids
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Exchange Hotel
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Exchange Hotel, August 2008
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | S. Main St., Gordonsville, Virginia |
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| Built | 1860 |
| Architect | Benjamin F. Faulconer |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73002046 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 14, 1973 |
The Exchange Hotel in Gordonsville, Virginia, was built in 1860. It was a welcoming place for tired travelers on the Virginia Central Railroad, located right next to an important train crossing.
A Hospital During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, the Exchange Hotel became very important. In March 1862, because of its great location near train lines, it was turned into the Gordonsville Receiving Hospital.
This hospital helped many soldiers. In less than a year, over 23,000 sick and wounded soldiers were brought here by train. They came from big battles like Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville, and the Wilderness.
Even though it was mainly a hospital for the Confederate side, it treated wounded soldiers from both the Confederate and Union armies. Twenty-six Union soldiers sadly died here. By the end of the war, more than 70,000 men had been cared for at this hospital. About 700 soldiers were buried in the land around it. The building itself survived all the fighting.
A New Start After the War
After the Civil War ended, the United States began to heal. During this time, called the Reconstruction period, this hospital helped newly freed slaves. It became a Freedman's Bureau Hospital, providing care to those who needed it most.
As the country recovered and train travel became popular again, this beautiful building went back to being a hotel. It was very well-known and respected until the 1940s, when it started to decline.
The Exchange Hotel Museum
In 1971, a group called Historic Gordonsville, Inc. bought the property. They worked hard to fix it up and bring it back to life. Today, the Exchange Hotel is a museum.
The museum has many interesting items from the Civil War era. You can see medical tools, old uniforms, and even firearms from that time. There is also a bookstore inside. The museum is located in the Gordonsville Historic District.
