Mount Jackson, in its beginnings was
known as Mount Pleasant. On January 27, 1826, an act of the General Assembly
of Virginia
changed the name of the village in honor of General Andrew ("Old
Hickory") Jackson. Not only did Jackson have friends in the village
of Mount Pleasant with whom he visited on his travels to and from Washington,
D.C., but he also was the townspeople's kind of man even before he was
elected President in 1828.
The first inhabitants of the Mount Jackson area, endowed with rich
lands and abundant water supply, were the Shendo Indians, who were
massacred
by the Catawbas around the latter part of the 17th century. Large grave
mounds located near the Steenbergen-Rude Homestead south of Mount Jackson
attest to the fact that along the rich bottom lands of the North Fork
of the Shenandoah was the main habitation of the Shendos (another
form of
Shenandoah). It is particularly appropriate that the Valley and the
River where the Shendos had their residence bear their name.
New Market was originally
named Cross Roads due to its intersection with two major Indian trails.
The town
once
had a
racetrack
and is named after
New Market, England, well known for its racetrack for horses. General
John Sevier, Indian fighter, is considered the town’s founder.
The name change became official in 1796. May 15, 1864 was a significant
day for
the town as it became the site of a Civil War Battle. Union General
Franz Sigel was soundly defeated by ConfederateGeneral John Breckenridge.
Fighting
was fierce with the heroic charge of the Virginia Military Institute’s
Cadets from Lexington making the difference.The Hall
of Valor
pays tribute to this battle at Bushong Farm.
A renactment is held yearly during the second weekend of May.
Endless Caverns offers
some spectacular  underground explorations, over 5 miles of passages
have been recorded.
The Historic
Union Church in Mt. Jackson was built around 1825. The little
red brick church was used as a hospital and stable in the
Civil War.
Mt. Jackson
was a large designated hospital area at that time, large numbers of wounded
troops were sent there by railroad after major battles. Mount Jackson
has several antique
and curio shops. Meems Covered Bridge is close by as is Bryce Mountain
Resort.
The Shenandoah
Caverns is Virginia’s only cavern
with an elevator service and no stairs to climb. The Caverns opened in 1922,
you’ll find some of the world’s most beautiful crystal formations
waited to be enjoyed and photographed. American
Celebration on Parade is unlike anything you have ever seen before no matter what your age.
You’ll
experience pomp and pagentry of famous parade floats and their entertaining
animation. Props from important events in America’s entertainment
and political history.
Shenadoah Vineyards is known
for its rich heritage and fertile farmland in the Heart of the Shenandoah
Valley. The valley’s
temperate climate, coupled with 40 picturesque acres, has produced many
award winning wines
for this outstanding winery.
Orkney Springs, circa 1774, is located 14
miles west of Mt. Jackson and is the site of the Shenandoah Music
Festival. Enjoy
concerts, classicals and pops with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra
to the sounds of New
Orleans jazz. Bring your picnic basket. Other attractions in the
area include golf (three golf courses) hiking in the Shenandoah National
Park 20 minures
away, 40 antique shops along Route 11 and fishing in our well stocked
streams.
Back to The Shenandoah Valley
Guide
|
