Visiting Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
We drove southeast from Natural Bridge through the mountains to Appomattox Court House . This once bustling little village is now maintained by the federal government as a National Historical Park.
This is the place where in 1865, Robert E. Lee formally surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant bringing an end to the American Civil War . The surrender happened at the McLean House, the home of a Virginia Grocer who made a small fortune selling sugar to the Confederate Army during the war. Wimer McLean moved to Appomattox Court House in 1863 after fighting broke out at the first battle of Bull Run (which was practically in his back yard at his farm in Northern Virginia). He moved to Appomattox Court House to keep his wife and children safe and away from the war. Little did he know that in two years’ time the parlor in his home would be at the center point of the battle which led to surrender.
The name of the town, Appomattox Court House, was given due to this being the county seat. Virginia has a long history of using the words “Court House” in the name of the county seat. The rangers made sure we knew that when this term is two words, it refers to a town/village but when only one word (“courthouse”) it refers to a building.
The village is very walkable and most of it is restored or rebuilt. We took a ranger led tour to hear some of this history of the village and buildings.
