Driving and Walking Tours

Culpeper Minutemen’s Revolutionary War Driving Tour
1775-1881

Estimated Time: 4 hours

This driving tour focuses on visiting the Culpeper County homes or homesites, while telling about the importance and contributions, of some of Culpeper’s most important political and military leaders. Culpeper’s Virginia Convention attendees Henry Pendleton Henry Field Jr. voted to create Minute Battalions in the Third Virginia Convention. Minutemen who were selected as officers in the Culpeper Minute Battalion include Field and Staff Officers – Lt. Colonel Edward Stevens, Quartermaster and Captain James Slaughter along with Company Officers – Captain John Jameson, Lieutenant Gabriel Long, and Ensign David Jameson. The tour will begin at the site of the Culpeper Courthouse and conclude at the 1775 muster field.

Washington & Lafayette in Culpeper walking and driving tour

Estimated Time: 4 hours

The most memorialized figures coming out of the Revolutionary War were George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette. There are more placenames (states, counties, towns, streets) named for Washington than any other American and likewise, Lafayette has more placenames named for him than any other foreigner. Both men have strong connections to Culpeper County, Virginia as Washington’s almost fifty years of public service first began in Culpeper as a seventeen-year old. Similarly, Lafayette first came to Culpeper County in June of 1781 while trying to keep Gen. Charles Cornwallis and British Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton from terrifying and conquering Virginia. Washington historical sites include the first courthouse site, Roger Dixon home, John Jameson homesite, Robert Coleman homesite, Culpeper Coleman tenant house site, and connections to Samuel Ball and Slaughter family. Lafayette historical sites while in Culpeper include both of his visits of 1781 and 1825

Washington Historic Sites in Culpeper and Culpeper County, Virginia

Local sites known to George Washington include:

A. The 1979 survey area by the Slaughter Property

B. The York area (Stevensburg) and Zimmerman Tavern

C. The location of the Courthouse was later described as a “High and Pleasant Situation.” Although no evidence survives, it is assu,ed that the First County Surveyor George Washington laid out the public buildings for the county in July 1749 as a normal activity.

D. Homesite of Robert Coleman, and later his son-in-law General Edward Stevens where first court convened.

E. Tradition claims that George Washington stayed in this tenet house of Robert Coleman while plating out the Courthouse.

F. Later location of the home of Robert Dixon, first Culpeper Clerk and cousin to George Washington.

G. Later location of the hoe of Colonel John Jameson, who while serving under George Washington exposed Benedict Arnold as a Traitor.

Washington and Lafayette in Culpeper County Driving Tour

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