Gordonsville, VA - Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum - # - The Nature In Us

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Visited September 22, 2012.

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View From the Railroad Tracks - The Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum - Gordonsville, VA 9-22-12
An elegant stopping place in the 1860’s as waist-coated gentlemen and hoop-skirted ladies strolled about the spacious, high-ceilinged parlors and other public rooms, into the central hall made notable by a broad staircase with a handsome balustrade.

Closeup View of the Hotel - The Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum - Gordonsville, VA 9-22-12
The exterior of the museum presents an Italianate appearance in accord with its 1859 construction date. The Italianate design exerted a strong influence on American vernacular architecture and was at its most popular during the period just before the Civil War. The Italianate style is described as having "several distinctive characteristics: a square house with low roofs, overhanging eaves with decorative brackets, and arcaded porches." All these features are incorporated in the Exchange Hotel.

West Side of the Building - The Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum - Gordonsville, VA 9-22-12
The building is an example of at least two strong architectural influences from Europe. Behind the shady porches, and inside the house, is a classic brick Georgian floor plan with a central staircase with central halls on each of the dining/tavern rooms. Some alterations to the classic Georgian style are obvious in the porches and the basement tavern room. These modifications make sense when the building's function, as a hotel catering to railroad passengers, is considered.

Millstone With Planter In Center - The Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum - Gordonsville, VA 9-22-12
Doesn't seem this is actually where a mill was, but maybe this stone covers a well area? Wondering what is beneath it. What are your thoughts?

Randal at Huge Black Walnut Tree - The Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum - Gordonsville, VA 9-22-12
Wonder how old this tree is? My grandfather was born in this town where his grandparents lived. He may have played nearby.

Huge Black Walnut Tree at The Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum - Gordonsville, VA 9-22-12
1840-Tavern built on Hotel site, 1859-Tavern burned, 1860-Exchange Hotel built, 1862-Converted to Hospital, 1865-Hospital closed, 1865-Freedman's Bureau, and 1869-Returned as Grand Hotel.

East Side of the Building - The Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum - Gordonsville, VA 9-22-12
Some alterations to the classic Georgian style are obvious in the porches and the basement tavern room. These modifications make sense when the building's function, as a hotel catering to railroad passengers, is considered. The hotel was converted to a hospital during the war and treated over 70,000 sick and wounded soldiers from both sides of the conflict. Records indicate the hospital cared for as many as 1,000 patients at a time and that it developed an efficient system of dealing with the incoming wounded. It is considered to be America’s first triage hospital. During reconstruction it became the Freedman’s Bureau Hospital and served newly freed slaves.

Outbuilding at The Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum - Gordonsville, VA 9-22-12
I couldn't find any information online about what this building was used for. It was on the east side (left) of the main building.

Looking at Railroad Tracks From Front Yard of The Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum - Gordonsville, VA 9-22-12
Gordonsville was named for Nathaniel Gordon who arrived in 1787 and purchased a plantation in Orange County. In 1794 he started a tavern at a location where today’s Gordonsville has a traffic circle. Back then many important guests frequented Gordon’s tavern including Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Major General Marquis de Lafayette, the French military officer who served with George Washington during the Revolutionary War. The town officially became Gordonsville in 1813.

View From the Railroad Tracks - The Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum - Gordonsville, VA 9-22-12
An elegant stopping place in the 1860’s as waist-coated gentlemen and hoop-skirted ladies strolled about the spacious, high-ceilinged parlors and other public rooms, into the central hall made notable by a broad staircase with a handsome balustrade.

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Keywords: hotel museum war exchange civil gordonsville

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