Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum
Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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Attractions
59 within 10 kms
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
207 reviews
Excellent
100
Very good
82
Average
15
Poor
7
Terrible
3
Michael T
Spokane, WA2 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
Don't waste your money...they charge $15.00 for admission and the "Museum" space is all of 1,000 square feet . The Museum should be called the 'Confederacy Museum.' I walked out of this experience wondering if there was an agenda set in place!
Written 15 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aroundtheworld_FC
Winchester, VA24 contributions
Sept 2020
This museum felt half baked. They have some wonderful artifacts and an amazing building but the artifacts are displayed in such an amateur manner it took away from the experience. Look to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley for how to display a collection.
Written 1 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Climber309332
1 contribution
May 2021 • Couples
This is an exceptional Civil War museum with a nationally recognized collection of over 3,000 CW artifacts on the 2nd floor. The graffiti is fascinating, and you can ring the courthouse bell. Well worth the admission price. Volunteer docents explain the history and uses of this Georgian style courthouse. This museum is ADA compliant with ramp access to the entrance and an elevator to the 2nd floor. There is a small gift shop with souvenirs and books for all ages. Located on the mall in Historic Winchester, there are many shops and restaurants within walking distance.
Definitely a must see!
Definitely a must see!
Written 3 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul G
Tucson, AZ3,742 contributions
Apr 2022
Located in the very middle of Old Town, this museum is in the former County Courthouse.
All of the exhibits are on the second floor ( elevator is available ) and while on the small side offers a very extensive look at Winchester and it;s role in The Civil war.
the main floor is the old courtroom and is also avilable to view.
There is a small gift shop located where you purchase your tickets.
Truly a worthwhile place to visit.
All of the exhibits are on the second floor ( elevator is available ) and while on the small side offers a very extensive look at Winchester and it;s role in The Civil war.
the main floor is the old courtroom and is also avilable to view.
There is a small gift shop located where you purchase your tickets.
Truly a worthwhile place to visit.
Written 17 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter O
Buffalo, NY92 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
Realistally, rather small tribute to CW memorabilia. For what was there, and price $12, thought overcharged but figured after was more of a contribution than a museum. I expected more, but part of this is because I've been to Gettysburg in which their museums are spectacular. This is NOT a MUST SEE but a quick small museum.
Written 4 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greenvilledan
Greenville, TX1,640 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
The bottom of this former Courthouse is restored to reflect an old court room. The second floor is mostly displays of cases of old buttons, insignia, bullets, shells, some swords and rifles. There are old plaster walls which had graffiti from the time the second floor was used as a prison for Union and Confederate troops.
Written 22 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bli1220
Eustis, FL312 contributions
Jun 2020
If you are civil war buff this is great little place to go. It is the old courthouse during war that was often used as hospital and jail. The display and articles are great. There is guns, ammo, uniform relics, etc. The floor creeks but makes it more authentic. Great little find.
Written 30 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cju1979
Nashville, TN57 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
Great museum for novices and CW buffs alike. Very unique attractions like original graffiti, uniforms, weapons, etc. A female staff member was so sweet and welcoming and even offered us a quick 5 minute personal intro to the tour. Highly recommended when touring Old Town
Written 8 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
esprouls47
Wadesville, IN293 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
We visited on a rainy day. Beautiful building which is well preserved. Bottom floor is old courtroom. Upper floor is the museum. It does a good of covering the war in the valley and has many dug and non-dug civil war artifacts. We were there about 45 minutes. Cost is reasonable at $10/person.
Written 1 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CynthiafromOhio2011
Cleveland, OH337 contributions
Jul 2011 • Friends
Although not a large museum, it is one of the better Civil War museums -- both in the quality of the material and the information provided in the displays. Sometimes when I visit museums, I feel overwhelmed just by the amount of material and it seems like sensory overload. Here the displays were well organized and followed a logical order, telling the story of the Civil War on a more personal, intimate level.
The building itself is part of the story -- from the first floor courthouse which still looks like it did during the period. This courthouse was regularly used by the Judge in the John Brown (Harper's Ferry trial), albeit the trial did not occur here. On the second floor of the museum are a variety of displays of weapons, but more interestingly, the every day items of the soldiers. The inside of the building displays considerable graffiti left by union soldiers held prisoner here during the war. The museum highlights the graffiti and then tells the story of the soldier (if known).
The museum is not crowded; the one person staff (director, guide, ticket taker, and gift shop operator is one person) is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic to talk to. Make certain to see the "Curse" of Robert E. Lee carved into the wall of the building.
Worth spending time at the museum and also touring the "Old Towne" of Winchester. This is a gem and not overrun with tourists. Also, visit the Stonewall Jackson HQ Museum while in the area (see my separate review of that site).
The building itself is part of the story -- from the first floor courthouse which still looks like it did during the period. This courthouse was regularly used by the Judge in the John Brown (Harper's Ferry trial), albeit the trial did not occur here. On the second floor of the museum are a variety of displays of weapons, but more interestingly, the every day items of the soldiers. The inside of the building displays considerable graffiti left by union soldiers held prisoner here during the war. The museum highlights the graffiti and then tells the story of the soldier (if known).
The museum is not crowded; the one person staff (director, guide, ticket taker, and gift shop operator is one person) is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic to talk to. Make certain to see the "Curse" of Robert E. Lee carved into the wall of the building.
Worth spending time at the museum and also touring the "Old Towne" of Winchester. This is a gem and not overrun with tourists. Also, visit the Stonewall Jackson HQ Museum while in the area (see my separate review of that site).
Written 3 August 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Where is the best place to park? An aerial view shows a parking lot off E. Boscawen Street, could a visitor park here?
Written 12 June 2018
Here's a suggestion for Old Town Winchester, tells of the parking. There is a lot of parking around Old Town as well as a ramp, and it's so enjoyable to walk through. I'm not sure of the specific lot you speak of, but there is a page called old town winchester va - push the words together with the traditional ending-it has a great map for all the parking!
Written 15 June 2018
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