About the Museum

The courthouse was built in 1840 to serve the citizens of Winchester and Frederick County.  It was constructed on the site of the 1741 courthouse that was the first courthouse beyond the Blue Ridge mountains. 

It served primarily as a hospital and prison during the Civil War.  Winchester changed hands over 70 times during the Civil War. It served as a functioning courthouse until 1984.

When the Frederick-Winchester Judicial Center opened in 1984, all judicial functions moved out of the courthouse.  It was used for Frederick County meetings and offices until 1995.

In 1996 the Committee appointed by Frederick County strongly recommended placing a Civil War Museum in the courthouse. Frederick County completed extensive renovation of the courthouse in 2003.  Leading the project were Reader-Swartz Architects & Lantz Construction.

On May 24, 2003, the museum, then called The Old Court House Civil War Museum opened with a reenactment of Jackson's march after the First Battle of Winchester.

In 2015, management of the museum was entrusted to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. In May of 2019, the Foundation officially acquired the property itself and operates the museum today.