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By Johanna Calfee

Sometimes, it’s the places close by that we take for granted the most. To many living in the Lynchburg area, Appomattox, Virginia, is one of those places. A small town gem rich with history, Appomattox lies just 30 minutes up the road from the City of Lynchburg, yet many who live in the Hill City have spent little time getting to know the “place where our country reunited.”

If you’ve never taken the short drive to spend a day or a weekend there, the fall is arguably the best time to embark on your first trip. With Ember Fest and the annual Historic Appomattox Railroad Festival both taking place in October, the changing of the leaves means a fresh opportunity to enjoy all this little town has to offer–from historic homes and sites to tucked away antique shops and even some of the local’s best kept secrets.

History Meets the Present Day

Any well-traveled person knows the best thing to do when visiting a new place is to ask one of the locals where to go, and Will Simmons, who also happens to be the Director of Tourism for the Town of Appomattox, has no shortage of ideas.

“Every trip to Appomattox should start at the Visitor Center in the restored railroad depot on Main Street. From there, visitors will see what downtown has to offer,” Simmons said.

Once there, consider your tour of the town officially started because the railroad depot that houses the modern day Visitor Center is also a vital part of the town’s history, according to Simmons.

“The Railroad Depot marks the spot where the resupply trains for General Robert E. Lee were captured by General George Custer, which ultimately led to the surrender at Appomattox. … If it hadn’t been for the trains being captured, the war may very well have continued indefinitely,” Simmons said.

Once they’ve perused the Visitor Center to map out a game plan, most visitors opt for the obvious start to the adventure–the Appomattox Court House National Historic Park. As the best-known attraction in town, the Park, located on Highway 24, marks the site of Generals Lee and Ulysses S. Grant’s meeting to negotiate the terms of surrender on April 8, 1865, which led to the end of the Civil War. It’s one of the nation’s most popular Civil War attractions, reinforced by the fact that it’s visited by people from all 50 states and numerous foreign countries every year.

“We are the best part of the Civil War–the end,” Simmons said.

While at the Court House, take the time to stop by the Appomattox County Historical Museum, which houses Civil War relics and memorabilia from around the area. Located inside the old Appomattox jail, the circa 1897 building also boasts unique architectural features.

Just up the road, Clover Hill Village also marks a “must stop” destination on any history buff’s agenda. This six-acre village offers visitors “a glimpse into daily life from 1840 to 1920,” according to www.tourappomattox.com, the town’s official tourism site.

“Clover Hill is about one mile from the National Park and the village includes a log cabin residence, chapel, school house, working blacksmith shop, general store, post office and winter quarters for soldiers,” Simmons explained.

Open from April through October, Clover Hill Village invites visitors to take self-guided tours, though an admission fee does apply.

Those wanting to learn more about the African American history of Appomattox County will want to make a stop at the Carver-Price Legacy Museum, which Simmons says, “commemorates the Civil Rights in education and the museum houses artifacts from the original school.”

For a true historical, non-Civil War related treat, lace up your best walking shoes and sign up for “A Turn of the Century Walking Tour,” which showcases 48 homes throughout town. This self-guided tour includes stops at several buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, and offers heritage tour markers to give visitors more information along the way.

The Downtown Historic District: “A Lesser Known Jewel”

While history certainly shines bright in Appomattox, sometimes its olden times allure overshadows the “lesser known jewel” that is the historic downtown district, according to Simmons.

“In a lot of ways the downtown historic district/Main Street shopping area is one of our best kept secrets. Many visitors never find their way downtown to Main Street,” Simmons said.

In his estimation, this is a shame, since the downtown district offers everything from a great coffee and book shop to antique galleries galore. The Appomattox Gallery on Church Street alone is worth a stop downtown for those who love antiques and “rivals anything in Lynchburg,” according to Simmons. The Appomattox Gallery has over 20,000 square feet with over 40 vendors selling their wares.

For other unique finds, visitors should stop by Jefferson Galleries, also on Main Street, which contains signed lithographs by Salvador Dali as well as an old bank vault containing NASA’s first space shuttle robotic arm.

“B&L Sales, Country Charm, Baines Books & Coffee, Back Street Antiques, Antiques & More, and the Arts & Crafts Center make for a delightful day of shopping in a safe, quaint small town environment,” Simmons recommended.

Appomattox Arts

Appomattox is also home to a growing music scene, made evident by the live weekend shows taking place at Baines Books and Coffee, Appomattox Cheerz, which is held every Friday from April to October, and the Evergreen Music Festival held each June, during which multiple bluegrass acts take the stage for a full day of musical performances.

“Music is key to the art scene in Appomattox,” Simmons explained.

Not to be outdone, the fine arts are also burgeoning in Appomattox, with the likes of Myrick Fine Arts, Cub Creek Pottery and the Appomattox Courthouse theatre at the forefront.

“Myrick Fine Arts contains an interesting art gallery specializing in Kunstler and Strain limited edition Civil War prints,” Simmons said. “Cub Creek Pottery is a unique residential, apprenticeship pottery studio where visitors can experience how pottery is created and fired. … The Appomattox Courthouse Theatre performs local productions by the Appomattox Courthouse players, offering varied dramatic productions including musicals, mysteries and comedies, as well as original productions relating to the historical events that took place in Appomattox.”

Though not exactly art, and not exactly in Appomattox, Simmons also points out what he calls one of the area’s best kept secrets–Steins Unlimited, near Pamplin City.

“[Steins] has one of the largest collections of antique steins in the world, dating from 1594 to the modern day steins. Steins are also available for purchase,” he said.

Tis the Season for Fall Festivals

A stein may be just the thing to bring along for those who plan to attend the Appomattox Ember Fest this year. Sponsored by the Appomattox County Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with L.E. Lichford/Budweiser, the fourth annual festival will be held on Saturday, October 2 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Courtland Field. A $5 admission fee grants guests full access to an evening filled with live music entertainment from The Worx band, a BBQ cook-off competition, concessions, beer and wine coolers, a 50/50 raffle and dancing. A kids’ corner, supervised by a local non-profit, will also feature inflatable bounces and face-painting, with proceeds benefiting their fundraising efforts.

Though Ember Fest typically draws quite a crowd, an even larger one will likely gather a week later for the Historic Appomattox Railroad Festival. Held on October 9 and 10, “this family-friendly festival commemorates the Norfolk & Western railroad’s donation of the Appomattox depot to the Town of Appomattox in 1973,” according to the festival’s website, www.appomattoxfestivals.com/railroad. Held on Main Street and the surrounding downtown area, the two-day festival features a parade, arts and craft vendors, live bands, train exhibits, fireworks and food, to name a few.

Stay and Play

If all of this information leads you to believe that Appomattox may be more than just a day trip, there are plenty of local Bed and Breakfasts to accommodate your stay, including the Babcock House, Longacre and Spring Grove Farm. In fact, to get the full “Appomattox experience,” Simmons recommends resting at one of these places for the night.

“To really take in the southern hospitality of Appomattox, the best places to stay are at one of the three Bed and Breakfasts,” he said.

An 1884 American Manor Home, the Babcock House boasts gracious accommodations and an on-site restaurant, which is open Tuesday through Friday and Sunday, with dinner by reservation only. Built in 1933, The Longacre Bed & Breakfast is a sprawling Tudor home that combines “grandeur, intricate detail, and inviting warmth,” according to Simmons. Finally, Spring Grove Farm Bed & Breakfast is a restored 1842 plantation house, located on 200 acres, offering 12 guest rooms and suites, each with private baths.

The Babcock House and Spring Grove Farm also often play host to weddings and special events.

Worth the (Short) Drive

Consider all the things you do each day that add up to 30 minutes–getting the kids ready for school, making dinner, sitting in meetings. Now consider that same half hour could lead you and your family, or a car full of friends, East on U.S. 460 to a weekend getaway.

“Appomattox is the perfect location for day-trippers from Lynchburg and can easily accommodate small groups,” Simmons said.

Drenched in history, ripe with antiques, alive with festivals and graced with numerous breathtaking homes and accommodations, Appomattox is right up the road and worth the scenic drive. So, what are you doing this weekend?