The School for Bookbinding Arts

What to Do Locally

The historic district of Old Town Winchester features notable architecture, cultural activities, restaurants, cafés, and the venerable George Washington Hotel. Beyond Old Town are additional restaurants and lodging options.

For history buffs, there is much here to explore. Winchester is the oldest city west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and was founded in 1744 by Colonel James Wood of England. George Washington’s Office Museum, Stonewall Jackson’s Headquarters Museum, and The Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum tell our story from before the United States became a country on through the strife of civil war. For those wishing to learn more about local involvement in the U.S. Civil War (during which Winchester changed hands over 70 times!), three local battlefields are in the area: Third Winchester Battlefield Park, Kernstown Battlefield, and Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park. Special mention must be made of the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley which features ample information about the area’s history plus hosts significant traveling exhibitions of fine art and cultural artifacts. The museum’s breathtaking gardens are beautiful in any season.

The surrounding countryside of Frederick County is home to numerous farms that boast award-winning fruits and vegetables along with baked goods, crafts, and activities throughout the growing cycle.

For music lovers, Winchester is also home to Shenandoah University’s Conservatory which offers many performances on campus and around Winchester. Their Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre produces popular Broadway musicals each summer. Winchester is notably the birthplace of country music icon Patsy Cline whose home still stands on Kent Street and is also the hometown of bassist and big band leader John Kirby.

Plan to begin your visit at the Winchester-Frederick County Visitors’ Center which is open seven days a week from 9 to 5 (1400 S. Pleasant Valley Road in Winchester). Our Visitors’ Center will get you on your way to having a truly memorable visit in Winchester and its environs.