Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters Museum facts for kids
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Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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(2007)
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 415 N. Braddock Street Winchester, Virginia |
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| Built | 1861 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Part of | Winchester Historic District (ID80004318) |
| NRHP reference No. | 67000027 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 28, 1967 |
| Designated NHL | May 28, 1967 |
| Designated CP | March 4, 1980 |
The Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters Museum is a special historic house. It is located at 415 North Braddock Street in the Historic District of Winchester, Virginia. This museum lets visitors explore where a famous Civil War general once lived and worked.
Contents
The House's Story
Building a Home
This house was built in 1854. It has a unique look called Gothic Revival style. This means it was designed to look like older, grand European buildings. A local dentist, William McP. Fuller, built it. He named it "Alta Vista" because it had a beautiful view over the hills.
In 1856, Fuller sold the house. The new owner was Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Tilghman Moore. He was a commander in the local Virginia Militia.
General Jackson's Winter Home
Later, Colonel Moore offered his home to Major General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Jackson was a very important leader in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War.
General Jackson moved into the house in November 1861. He had just taken charge of the Valley District of the Department of Northern Virginia. His wife, Mary Anna, joined him in December 1861.
From this house, Jackson made many important plans. He planned how to defend the Shenandoah Valley. He also planned his military campaigns, starting with the Romney Expedition. The Jacksons lived here until March 1862. Then, the general left Winchester to begin his famous Valley Campaign.
Life in Winchester
While living in Winchester, the Jacksons grew to love the town. They called it their "winter home." They even hoped to live there permanently after the Civil War ended.
Jackson wrote a letter to his wife, Anna, soon after he arrived. He described the house and how comfortable he felt:
The situation is beautiful, the building is of a cottage style and contains six rooms. I have two rooms, one above the other. The lower room, or office, has a matting on the floor, a large fine table, six chairs, and a piano. The walls are papered with elegant gilt paper. I don't remember to have ever seen a more beautiful papering, and there are five paintings hanging on the walls. … The upper room is neat, but not a full story and … remarkable for being heated in a peculiar manner, by a flue from the office below. Through the blessing of our ever-kind Heavenly Father, I am quite comfortable. – Letter from Jackson to his wife Anna, November 16, 1861
Becoming a Museum
In the 1960s, the house was bought and turned into a museum. It now displays many items that belonged to General Jackson.
Interestingly, a descendant of Colonel Moore helped with the museum. This was the famous actress Mary Tyler Moore. She helped pay for the house's restoration. This included putting up new wallpaper that looked just like the original paper Jackson wrote about.
The house was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1967. This means it is a very important historical place in the United States.
See also
- Stonewall Jackson House, in Lexington, Virginia
- Winchester in the Civil War
- Valley District
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Virginia
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Winchester, Virginia
