I knew of Appomattox only from the history books. And I’d forgotten most of that history. My wife and I chose to learn a little more with a planned side-trip in Virginia on our way north from North Carolina to Pennsylvania. We allocated 3 hours for the side-trip.
So, while cruising through the colorful Virginia countryside on a cool, fall morning, we left the highway and approached the historic town(s). First we passed a large historical marker notifying us of the upcoming courthouse, and then we passed the courthouse square on the “edge” of town. This is where things get interesting, or confusing, depending on your angle. I’ll challenge the reader to follow the lineage of the local town names and courthouses…it is not as simple as a solitary “Appomattox Courthouse.” But therein lies the motivation for exploration, surely enough to fill a 3 hour side-trip.
Simply put, we started in the Town of Appomattox (where you can get a bite to eat and do other town things), then we drove a couple miles to the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (where Lee surrendered to Grant, and where you can now walk the same grounds they walked). Here are some of the details, starting with the town.
The Town of Appomattox has a Main Street, bordering the railroad tracks, complete with a sturdy depot housing the visitor center. Parking was on either side of the two-block, one-way street. We walked along the store-front sidewalk opposite the depot as we waited for places to open up at 9 am on this Saturday. The door to Baines Books and Coffee was open. I don’t do coffee, but I liked the ambience of this large, yet cozy meeting place/market space. On request, the owner advised us of a couple local breakfast spots. We chose “The Corner Grill” and walked the block and-a-half around the corner. In the company of local families and a few camouflaged hunters, we enjoyed affordable food, and friendly service. Back at the Train Depot we toured the visitor center and watched a short presentation on the town’s history and significance. Antique shops, a shaded park, tea room, and county museum represent other touring options. The locals also have access to a large library, perfect for reading about all the local history. We chose to see the history in person.
Down the road and over a century back in time, we spent another 2 hours walking the grounds and buildings of the National Historical Park. This was the village where Lee and Grant talked surrender in the parlor of the McLean Home. There is a small fee, and if you like history and pastoral views, it is well worth it. Hopefully you will get as nice a day as we enjoyed. Our camera captured a well-stocked general store, a fortified jailhouse, the split-rail-fence-lined stage coach road, and the vibrant fall backdrop to it all. If you are passing through, see these places for yourself! – Jayson Delisle of Smallwander.com.
Tags: small town, Small Towns, small towns USA, Tourism, Travel, VA, Virginia
