Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters Museum Explained

Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters
Nrhp Type:nhl
Designated Other1:Virginia Landmarks Register
Designated Other1 Date:September 9, 1969[1]
Designated Other1 Number:138-0033
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom
Location:415 N. Braddock Street
Winchester, Virginia
Coordinates:39.1897°N -78.1661°W
Built:1861
Architecture:Gothic Revival
Designated Nrhp Type:May 28, 1967[2]
Added:May 28, 1967
Refnum:67000027
Nrhp Type2:cp
Nocat:yes
Designated Nrhp Type2:March 4, 1980
Partof:Winchester Historic District
Partof Refnum:80004318

The Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters Museum is a historic house located at 415 North Braddock Street in the Historic District of Winchester, Virginia.

History

The Gothic Revival style house was built in 1854 by local dentist William McP. Fuller, who named it "Alta Vista" for its scenic view over open hillsides facing east across Winchester. In 1856, Fuller sold it to Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Tilghman Moore, commander of the 31st Virginia Militia. Later, while commanding the 4th Virginia Infantry in the Confederate States Army, Moore offered his home to serve as headquarters for Major General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Jackson moved into the house in November 1861, shortly after taking command of the Valley District of the Department of Northern Virginia.[3] [4] [5] Jackson was joined by his wife, Mary Anna, in December 1861. From this house, Jackson planned his Shenandoah Valley defenses and campaigns, starting with the Romney Expedition. The Jacksons lived in the house until March 1862, when the General Jackson left Winchester to begin his Valley Campaign.

While living here, the Jacksons became very fond of the people and culture of Winchester, and referred to it as their "winter home", hoping to settle here after the Civil War. In a letter to Anna shortly after he arrived, Jackson commented:

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[3] [5]

In the 1960s, the home was purchased and converted into a museum, and includes many possessions and artifacts belonging to Jackson. One of Colonel Moore's descendants was the actress Mary Tyler Moore, who helped to pay for the restorations of the home to become a museum  - including replica wallpaper matching the original to which Jackson referred above.[6]

The house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1967.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Virginia Landmarks Register. Virginia Department of Historic Resources. 19 March 2013.
  2. Web site: Stonewall Jackson Headquarters . 2008-04-17. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service.
  3. Noyalas, p. 25.
  4. Delauter, p. 13.
  5. Delauter, p. 15.
  6. News: Actress Mary Tyler Moore had family ties to Winchester history . 17 June 2019 . The Winchester Star . 26 January 2017.