Movin' On Up

During renovations to the historic Lee-Jackson building, Terry Heder, director of interpretations of field programs, and Amy Proctor discuss design and layout plans for the location purchased by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. (Photo by Aimee George)

During renovations to the historic Lee-Jackson building, Terry Heder, director of interpretations of field programs, and Amy Proctor discuss design and layout plans for the location purchased by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. (Photo by Aimee George)

The Shenandoah Battlefields Foundation has found a new home in New Market, at the intersection of Congress Street and Old Cross Road.

The new location will allow for an expansion in space and in what the center can offer to visitors. After 13 years of protecting and interpreting Civil War battlefields in the eight-county Historic District, the foundation finally found a more fitting, larger home.

“We need more space,” says Terry Heder, Director of Interpretations and Field Programs. “We want this new location to have a visitors center atmosphere where it will feature more than just the Civil War.”

Heder says that the new location will be more accessible to visitors and will be more than just an education center. The new location will have a small store, food service and a coffee bar. Heder hopes the new location will not only attract more visitors, but also bring in a different variety of tourism.

The larger center will allow for a more detailed account on the Civil War be able to house more resources. Heder explains that the center will be able to support, promote and benefit local economics.

Denman Zirkle, executive director of the Battlefields Foundation, said the foundation has been negotiating with United Bank for the property.

“The foundation is fortunate to have acquired such a valuable, historic and commercially viable building that is integral to our Valley’s Civil War experience,” said Zirkle. “Having our own home will present opportunities for community engagement, cooperation and commercial operations that were not possible during the first years of our operation.”

The foundation will move to the new location by March 1, and a formal opening is planned for later in the year. Frazier and Associates of Staunton is working with the foundation to provide appropriate exterior treatments, signage, as well as improvements to the parking area at the rear of the building.

Heder said that the new center is important to youth programs and membership programs and hopes it will encourage more involvement. He hopes that the new location will allow for more passersby to visit.

For more information, visit ShenandoahAtWar.org.
 

Contact Aimee George at (540) 574-6292 or ageorge@dnronline.com.