Spend an Afternoon at the White Oak Museum

The White Oak Museum

985 White Oak Road

in Stafford

Open 10am-5pm

Wednesday through Sunday

  

If you've never visited the White Oak museum, you're missing out on a real gem! Native Stafford resident DP Newton has spent a lifetime amassing a collection of personal artifacts left behind by encamped Civil War soldiers that Historian John Hennessy of the National Park Service calls, "the greatest locally-oriented collection of Civil War artifacts in the country."

From the museum website:

Unlike many Virginia communities, Stafford County's Civil War history does not detail the treacherous scene of full-scale battle. Instead, its tales include unique accounts of ship-to-shore attacks, calvary skirmishes, "beanpoles and cornstalks" railroad bridges, and prisoner camps. But most notedly, over 140,000 soldiers camped in Stafford, Virginia in the winter 1862-63 — arguably the largest encampment during the Civil War. Here in the encampments, between battles and behind the front lines, many would die of wounds and disease.

For decades, the tens of thousands of artifacts left behind in these encampments and skirmishes have been gathered and guarded by locals wishing to honor the memories of these fallen, but not forgotten, soldiers. Displays include weapons, ammunition, bottles, plates, canteens, tools, coins, buttons and numerous personal artifacts. 

The museum is open 10am-5pm, Wednesday through Sunday, and is a visual treat with mountains of artifacts and life-size displays providing a glimpse of the enormous scope of an occupying army's camp life. The museum also hosts living history camps and other events throughout the year, so be sure to check their website for upcoming events or call 540-371-4234 for more information.

This post contributed by
Jenny Quinlan
Administrative Manager
Avery-Hess, Realtors
Visit Jenny's Blog