Civil War Trails: Woodstock installs new marker for Civil War Trails program

Woodstock recently installed a new marker in its downtown this week that helps tell the story of historic Route 11. The sign is the first of two planned for the area and was done through the Civil War Trails (CWT) program as a collaboration between the Town of Woodstock, Shenandoah County Library, Shenandoah County Department of Tourism and Economic Development, and Civil War Trails, Inc.

The marker tells the story of the “Valley Turnpike,” which was influential in the movements of both sides during the Civil War, and the installation is designed to bring history-loving travelers to the community. The sign is located at 135 N. Main Street, adjacent to the parking lot for the municipal office.

“We are thrilled to be partnering on this effort to help tell more of the diversity of stories from this time in our history,” said Zach Hottel, archivist for the Shenandoah County Library’s Truban Archives. Hottel has been instrumental in guiding the group’s interpretive efforts, offering context for historic events and primary source records. He has been reviewing sign content along the way and been an advocate for expanding the opportunities for historical interpretation.

“We are fortunate to have so many attractive opportunities for visitors and such knowledgeable partners to help us showcase those qualities,” said Katie Mercer, director of marketing and events for the Town of Woodstock. “I’m grateful to Shenandoah County and Civil War Trails, Inc. for all their efforts through this process.”

Woodstock’s participation in the program puts them in good company with over 1,500 others across six states, each being actively marketed by state, regional, and local tourism offices. Currently, there are over 550 Civil War Trails sites in the Commonwealth and a dozen in Shenandoah County alone.

“While our audience is growing in size, they are also growing younger, and cute towns like Woodstock are what they are after,” said Drew Gruber, executive director of Civil War Trails, Inc. “Our visitors love to pair history with hiking, local eats, drinks, and shops in towns which retain their unique and authentic integrity.” According to the Civil War Trails team their audience tends to stay an average of 3-4 nights.

Visitors to the sign are encouraged to take a photo and post it with the hashtags #civilwartrails, #discoverwoodstockva, and #visitshencova.