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LOCATION
Staunton is located in the northwest portion of Virginia and is within only a few hours drive from the larger cities of Richmond and Charlottesville, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Staunton holds an important place in America’s history: It was once known as a gateway to the west and is the birthplace of our former President Woodrow Wilson.
Staunton was the first recipient of The Great American Main Streets Award. This award recognizes exceptional accomplishments in revitalizing America’s historic and traditional downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. This award attests to Staunton’s pride in preserving their town’s rich historical environment.
The downtown area offers good restaurants, historically significant architecture, educational museums, great theater, choral and orchestral music, popular art galleries, and a multitude of shops – all of which can be reached by an exciting ride on the free trolleys!
Staunton is proud to be called the “Queen City of the Shenandoah Valley”, one of the most beautiful areas in the U.S. The scenic Blue Ridge Parkway is nearby, and hikers and outdoorsmen are familiar with the well-known 100-mile Appalachian walking trail that travels near Staunton’s doorstep.
TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS
Highways I-64, I-81 and Hwy 250 are within easy reach for businessmen, travelers, and vacationers.
Several airports also make Staunton accessible: Shenandoah Valley Regional (about 15 miles); Charlottesville-Albemarle (about 44 miles); and Lynchburg Regional/Preston Glenn Field (about 59 miles).
BRIEF HISTORY
Staunton was founded in 1747. Most of the beautiful and historical commercial buildings were constructed between 1870-1910 when the area experienced tremendous growth, but many of these later fell into decline. Interested citizens joined the National Trust to consider how to bring this Wharf District alive while preserving its past. Today this area can be enjoyed both as a commercial success and as a beautifully restored example of early America. Beverley Street is one of Virginia’s finest main streets.
SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS
Because of its location in the Shenandoah Valley area, there are many outdoor activities to be enjoyed. One is The Annual Shenandoah Fall Foliage Bike Festival, held in October, which offers scintillating weather and a colorful environment for riding through the country roads of Augusta and Rockingham Counties.
'Shenandoah Shakespeare' offers Shakespearean theatre at its best. The company tours both locally and internationally and performs at Blackfriar's Playhouse, the world’s only re-creation of William Shakespeare’s London Theater. The performance space and staging conditions simulate those of the original theatre and allow the audience to participate in a unique, historically accurate performance. In addition Shenandoah Shakespeare holds a summer theatre camp for teenagers, and offers educational programs, lectures, and conferences.
Woodrow Wilson’s home is one of the few original Presidential birthplaces open to the public and gives an authentic picture of pre-Civil War family life in the Shenandoah region. Also, onsite is the Woodrow Wilson Museum that offers visitors a tour of the former President’s public life, and the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, one of the few such libraries that still exist. It offers unique documents and records of America’s national leaders.
EDUCATION
There are a variety of public and private schools available to Staunton families that are dedicated to academic excellence, creative development, and a stimulating learning environment. Staunton Public School System has four elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and Genesis Alternative School.
Families can also choose from many private schools that have a religious orientation and/or offer alternative approaches to education and programs for gifted children – from pre-school through high school. One private school, Shenandoah Valley Governors School, serves 160 gifted 11th and 12th graders from the area and offers two main programs MST (math, sciences, technology) or AH (arts, humanities).
There are several institutions of higher learning in the area. Blue Ridge Community College is part of the Virginia Community College System. Mary Baldwin College is ranked in the top tier of master’s-level universities in the South, and ranks 22/131 schools in this category. MBC offers the “Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership” – the only all-woman cadet corps in the world. On the graduate level “The Master of Letters and Master of Fine Arts in Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature in Performance” is offered in conjunction with the Shenandoah Shakespeare organization. The Valley Vocational-Technical Center offers many areas of training for adults such as agriculture, health services, trade and industrial, and operates in conjunction with the Virginia Apprenticeship Training Program.
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