Appomattox County: History at Specific Sites

Appomattox County brings its history to life through specific sites: a living history village, museums, and Appomattox Court House National Historical Park offer different perspectives. The focus is on both individual Civil War events and local and family history. Hiking trails and a self-guided app tour add to the historical topics. This lets you plan your trip around whether you want to explore exhibits, historic sites, or trails most of all.

Places with a History of Their Own

Clover Hill Village is a six-acre living history village. The Appomattox County Historical Society began developing it in 1991 and continued the work over several years. The village is also home to Wesley Chapel: built in 1828, it was moved to Clover Hill Village in April 1991. The construction date and relocation mark two distinct periods in the chapel’s history.

The Old Jail Museum and Library includes a genealogy library and a local history library. Both focus on the people of Appomattox County. This makes the study of family and local history a complement to the events associated with the military sites.

The Carver-Price Legacy Museum is dedicated to Carver-Price High School, a historic American Rosenwald site. The American Civil War Museum in Appomattox has a different focus: it covers the history of the government of the Confederate States, the military, and civilians, as well as enslaved and free African Americans. Its interactive Wall of Faces turns the spotlight on the lives of soldiers, civilians, and African Americans during and after the Civil War.

Events at Appomattox Station

At the Battle of Appomattox Station, Union cavalry faced Confederate artillery; neither side had infantry involved. Custer’s cavalry captured 25 cannons, nearly 1,000 prisoners, five battle flags, and more than 200 wagons. These specific figures convey the scale of the captured equipment and prisoners.

The events at the South Side Railroad are also part of the history of Appomattox Station. At around 4 p.m., 3,000 of General George Armstrong Custer’s cavalrymen arrived there and quickly captured three of the four trains. The historical topics thus range from the composition of the opposing forces to the fight for the railroad trains.

Finding Your Way Around the National Historical Park

The visitor center at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park is located in the reconstructed courthouse. There, you can get information and recommendations for your visit. A free National Park Service app tour focuses on the Civil War and Reconstruction and lets you explore the park on your own.

The Appomattox Court House Driving Tour begins at the visitor parking lot and follows heavily traveled State Highway 24. Check road conditions and access to places to stop before driving. For hiking, the park offers eleven trails ranging from 0.3 to 2.4 miles; this range can help you take your planned trail length into account when organizing your day.

One hiking trail follows the historic Lynchburg-Richmond Stage Road from the Confederate Cemetery to the Appomattox River and through the historic village. There is also an interpretive loop trail that introduces the wildlife habitat types found in the park. This places historical trail connections alongside the park’s nature themes, without giving every trail the same purpose.

Plan Visiting Hours and Your Hotel Search

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On December 24, it is open from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; the park is closed on December 25, January 1, and Thanksgiving. Check the hours again before you drive.

Discover more destinations: Appomattox, Augusta County, Rockingham County, Giles County, Clarke County, Page, Fairfax County, Henrico.

For the broader travel overview: Virginia.