Winchester, Virginia

Historic Old Town Winchester offers an interesting shopping experience. The Loudoun Street Pedestrian Mall earns a listing on the National Registry of Historic Places Travel Itinerary. In the American Civil War, Winchester was the focal point of several battles between the Union and Confederacy. It changed hands over 70 times!  The town changed sides so often, residents and merchants possessed both the Union ‘Stars and Stripes’ and the Confederate ‘Stars and Bars’ flags, so they could quickly display changes of loyalty. Today’s Winchester merchants will swear allegiance to either your Mastercard or Visa.  Winchester is home to Shenandoah University, a private university with an enrollment of approximately 3,400 students and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. US News and World Report's 2008 Best Colleges and Universities ranked Shenandoah University 41st in the South (Master's) category. Several museums are located in town, including George Washington's Office Museum, the Old Court House Civil War Museum and Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters Museum. Since 1924, the town has hosted the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival for 6 days each May. Colonel James Wood, an immigrant from Winchester, England, was the town’s first court clerk. Winchester VA was later named after his birthplace in England.