Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

How to Get There

From Richmond (95 mi): Take US‑360 W to US‑460 W toward Lynchburg, then exit onto VA‑24 E and follow signs to the visitor center parking area.

Overview

The Appomattox Court House National Historical Park is a preserved 19th-century village in Appomattox County, Virginia. The village is famous for the site of the Battle of Appomattox Court House, and contains the house of Wilmer McLean, where the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Lee to Union commander Ulysses S. Grant took place on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the American Civil War. The McLean House was the site of the surrender conference, but the village itself is named for the presence nearby of what is now preserved as the Old Appomattox Court House.

The park was established in 1935. The village was made a national monument in 1940 and a national historical park in 1954. It is located about 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Appomattox, Virginia, the location of the Appomattox Station and the "new" Appomattox Court House. It is in the center of the state about 25 miles (40 km) east of Lynchburg, Virginia. The park has a couple of dozen restored buildings, a few ruins, and some cemeteries.

Things to Do

Visit the Site Where the Civil War Ended

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park preserves the village where General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865. This historic event effectively marked the beginning of the end of the American Civil War, making the park one of the nation's most significant historical sites.

Tour the McLean House

The restored McLean House is the centerpiece of the park and the location where Lee and Grant met to discuss surrender terms. Visitors can view furnished rooms and exhibits that help tell the story of one of the most important meetings in American history.

Explore the Restored Historic Village

The park contains numerous restored and reconstructed nineteenth-century buildings, including homes, taverns, law offices, and stores. Walking through the village provides visitors with a glimpse into daily life in rural Virginia during the Civil War era.

Visit the Museum and Visitor Center

The visitor center features exhibits, artifacts, films, and interpretive displays that explore the Civil War, the Appomattox Campaign, and the events leading to Lee's surrender. Visitors can gain a deeper understanding of the war's final days and its lasting impact on American history.

Enjoy Scenic Walking and Driving Tours

The park encompasses more than 1,700 acres of rolling farmland, woodlands, and historic landscapes. Visitors can explore both walking trails and a driving tour route that highlights troop positions, battlefields, and significant locations associated with the surrender campaign.

Top Trails

Appomattox History Trail

Length: Approximately 1.5 miles loop
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy

This self-guided trail connects many of the village's historic buildings and interpretive exhibits. It offers an excellent introduction to the events surrounding the surrender and the history of Appomattox Court House.

Headquarters Trail

Length: Approximately 2 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Minimal to Moderate
Difficulty: Easy

This trail follows portions of the route used by Union and Confederate forces during the final days of the Appomattox Campaign. Interpretive markers help explain troop movements and key moments leading up to the surrender.

Battlefield Walking Routes

Length: Variable distances available
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy

Several short walking routes throughout the park allow visitors to explore battlefield landscapes, artillery positions, and historic viewpoints while learning about the military actions that occurred around the village.

Historic Driving Tour

Length: Approximately 8 miles
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy

This driving route visits key locations associated with the Appomattox Campaign and surrender. Interpretive stops provide context about troop movements, engagements, and the events that culminated in the end of the Civil War.

Sources: National Park Service official Appomattox Court House National Historical Park information, including details on the McLean House, historic village, Civil War surrender history, visitor center exhibits, trails, driving tours, and educational programs. https://www.nps.gov/apco
Additional historical and visitor information verified through National Park Service resources covering the Appomattox Campaign, Lee's surrender, preserved landscapes, and park interpretive facilities. https://www.nps.gov/apco/planyourvisit

Antebellum history

The antebellum village started out as "Clover Hill" named after its oldest existing structure, the Clover Hill Tavern (c. 1819). The village was a stagecoach stop along the Richmond-Lynchburg stage road. The activity in Clover Hill centered around Clover Hill Tavern. The tavern provided lodging to travelers. Fresh horses for the stage line were also provided at the stop, which had been done since the tavern was built. It was also the site of organizational meetings, so when Appomattox County was established by an Act on February 8, 1845, Clover Hill village became the county seat. Appomattox County was formed from parts of Buckingham, Prince Edward, Charlotte, and Campbell counties. The jurisdiction took its name from the headwaters that emanate there, the Appomattox River. Early Virginians believed the name Appomattox came from an Indian tribe called Apumetec.

From about 1842, Hugh Raine owned most of the Clover Hill area. He obtained it from his brother John Raine who defaulted on his loans. Later, he sold the property to Colonel Samuel D. McDearmon. Since his acquisition, it became the county seat and he surveyed 30 acres (12 ha) of the hamlet. He designated 2 acres (0.81 ha) to be used by the new county to build a courthouse and other government buildings. The courthouse was to be built across the Stage Road from the Clover Hill Tavern. The jail was to be built behind the courthouse. McDearmon divided the remaining land surrounding the courthouse into 1-acre (0.40 ha) lots. He felt that with Clover Hill's new status as a county seat he would find professional people ready and willing to purchase the lots. His hopes were later dashed in 1854 as the train depot stopped three miles (5 km) west in Appomattox, Virginia. The American Civil War put the final nails in the coffin. The district once known as Clover Hill and later renamed to Appomattox Court House continued to decline as businesses moved to the area of the Appomattox Station.

Appomattox Court House village

The Battle of Appomattox Court House fought on the morning of April 9, 1865, was the final engagement of Confederate General in Chief, Robert E. Lee, and his Army of Northern Virginia before it surrendered to the Union Army of the Potomac under the Commanding General of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant. General George Armstrong Custer of Little Bighorn fame received a flag of truce at the village of Appomattox Court House that brought about the discontinuance of hostilities of the Confederate and the Union armies leading to the surrender meeting between General Lee and General Grant at the McLean House.

Park development history

The program for the development of the park calls for a partial restoration of Clover Hill and the hamlet of Appomattox Court House to its appearance in April 1865. Some structures in the village that were built after 1865 were taken down that did not represent a true picture of the end of the Civil War. In 1954, Virginia State Route 24 was relocated south of the Appomattox Court House Historical Park so the National Park Service could restore the Richmond-Lynchburg stage road to its 1865 appearance. Also this would allow the National Park Service to do archeological exploration at the original Appomattox Court House building. The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.

The park presently has a couple of dozen restored buildings. Some of the notable buildings are the Peers House, McLean House, New County Jail, Jones Law Office, Clover Hill Tavern, Woodson Law Office, Bocock-Isbell House, Mariah Wright House, Plunkett-Meeks Store, Sweeney-Conner Cabin, Charles Sweeney Cabin, Sweeney Prizery and the Old Appomattox Court House. There are also various ruins and cemeteries within the village. At the time of the Act of Congress that authorized the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park in 1935, the existing buildings were the Clover Hill Tavern, the Tavern guest house and kitchen, the Woodson Law office structure, the Plunkett-Meeks Store, the Bocock-Isbell House, and several residences outside the village limits. There are several markers throughout the field of the village that show points of interest within the park. Some of these are the sites of General Lee's and General Grant's headquarters; the site of the apple tree where General Lee waited for General Grant's reply on the morning of April 9, 1865; and the position of the last cannon fired by the Confederate artillery on the morning of April 9, 1865. There is also a monument and two tablets that were erected by the state of North Carolina describing the last engagement of the armies this same morning.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Appomattox Court House National Historical Park", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0