Visiting Staunton

BIG TIME CULTURE, SMALL TOWN COOL

The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum is located in one of five National Historic Districts in beautifully preserved downtown Staunton, Virginia. Recent investments in Staunton’s historic downtown now total more than $200 million. In 2002, Staunton received the Great American Main Street Award, recognizing it as one of the ten most unique small cities in America.

Today’s Staunton looks much the same and yet completely different as it did when Woodrow Wilson visited his hometown in 1912. Historic rehabilitation projects, adaptive reuse of old buildings, and brand-new businesses breathe new life into this vibrant town.

• The Blackfriars Playhouse, a replica of its Elizabethan namesake in London, opened in 2001 as the performance space for the American Shakespeare Center.

• In 2005, the City partnered with private firms to complete the restoration of Hotel 24 South, an historic hotel originally opened in 1924.

• The Blackburn Inn is a 49-room luxury boutique hotel in downtown Staunton with a storied past dating back to the 1800s. What was once Western State Hospital, The Blackburn Inn was envisioned and influenced by master builder and Thomas Jefferson protégé, Thomas R. Blackburn.

Visitors come to Staunton from all over the world, with an interest in Virginia’s many historic towns, battlefields, and museums. Less than three hours from Washington, D.C., and 35 minutes from Charlottesville, VA, Staunton sits conveniently at the intersection of I-81 and I-64.

For more information about events, shops, and hotels in the City of Staunton, please visit the following links:   

Things to Do

Upcoming Events

Eat & Drink

Lodging

Downtown Directory Listing