One of the Shenandoah Valley’s most vibrant cities is also its most uncommon. For example, would you expect to find America’s most famous farmer in the same area as the world’s only recreation of William Shakespeare’s Blackfriars Playhouse? Probably not. Yet, that is exactly what Staunton has to offer, and it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Yes, Shakespeare in Staunton
The world’s first and only re-creation of William Shakespeare’s Blackfriars Playhouse is located in downtown Staunton, Virginia. The original was inside a former 13th century monastery in London, England and was used by Shakespeare’s company (the King’s Men) for performances from 1608 to 1642; it burned down during the Great Fire of London in 1666. Staunton’s Blackfriars Playhouse was built in 2001.
This Season at the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse
- William Shakespeare’s Macbeth
- Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest
- William Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor
- Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen’s Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors
- Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
About that Farmer …
Joel Salatin is the owner of Polyface Farms in Swoope, just a few miles outside of downtown Staunton. His model of environmentally-friendly farming has proven such a success that it has been taught and replicated time and again in an effort to advance the Salatin mission: “to develop emotionally, economically, environmentally enhancing agricultural enterprises and facilitate their duplication throughout the world.”
Joel and Daniel Salatin. Photo by Beth Furgurson Photography and courtesy of Virginia Tourism Corporation.
It’s All in the Beautiful Details
Architectural Digest lists Staunton among the “Most Beautiful Main Streets Across America” thanks to the unique architecture of downtown. Tours that delve into the life of architect T.J. Collins – the most prolific designer represented in Staunton’s architecture – are available on a self-guided basis. His fingerprints are on more than 200 buildings in the six historic districts and his sons and grandsons picked up where he left off.
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Choo-Choo! All Aboard!
The Virginia Scenic Railway offers dinner train rides year ’round from downtown Staunton. Head east through the Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel or west to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Goshen. The rides are very popular and sell out quickly, especially for fall foliage rides. Save the idea, however, for Santa’s Scenic Railway. Children are visited by Santa and treated to hot cocoa and cookies during the ride.
Virginia Scenic Railway Dinner Train
A President Slept Here
Woodrow Wilson was born December 28, 1954 in Staunton, Virginia. His birthplace is now his presidential library.
Reared by a father who was both a minister and a professor in the south during the Civil War and Reconstruction, it’s easy to see how Wilson was affected to pursue academia and ultimately put his political science education into action. Wilson held degrees from Princeton, University of Virginia Law School, and Johns Hopkins University. He went on to become President of Princeton, Governor of New Jersey, and was twice elected President of the United States. Wilson’s accomplishments include the passage of legislation that created the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1919 recognizing his efforts to bring about the end of World War I and creating the League of Nations (the precursor to what we now know as the United Nations).
2024: The Centennial of Woodrow Wilson’s Death
Visit the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library
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Mmmm … Tasty!
If you’re into dining around based on chef acclaim, Staunton should be on your list. Chef Ian Boden, two-time James Beard Foundation semifinalist, leads the helm at The Shack, the itty bitty 16-seat dinner restaurant dedicated to the very best growers and artisans of the surrounding Appalachian region. Boden’s most recent endeavor, however, is Maude & the Bear, “a story-book 1926 Montgomery Ward kit house … whimsically re-created as a modern restaurant and inn.” Much like The Shack, Maude & the Bear is a dinner only eatery. While The Shack is focusing on pastas, burgers, and pizzas, Maude & the Bear is a progressive multi-course experience in which your adventure can range from four courses, seven courses, or the whole Kitchen Table.
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Classical Musicians Perform in Staunton
Each summer more than 100 musicians descend upon downtown Staunton to study and perform at Heifetz International Music Institute at Mary Baldwin University. The Summer Program is an intensive experience. Young, talented musicians perform in one of two divisions while pre-professional artists work through a six-week Chamber Music Seminar. All participants are led by the most renowned instructors from places like New England Conservatory, The Julliard School, The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and more.
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Are you ready to embrace the uncommon glory of Staunton, Virginia? Get started at VisitStaunton.com.
Header Image: Aerial view of downtown Staunton by Sam Dean and courtesy of Virginia Tourism Corporation.