Appomattox Court House Village- The Western Half

When walking up the path to the Village from the parking lot all of the major buildings here are original with two exceptions. The original Court House now the site of the Visitor’s Center burned down in 1892 and was reconstructed in 1963-1964. The second is the McLean House. It was built in 1848 by Charles Raine. The Myron Dunlap firm bought the building in 1891. The Dunlap’s dismantled the house in order to move it to Washington, D.C. for display but a stock market downturn left the firm bankrupt. The dismantled materials lied on the ground rotting until the National Park Service rescued them and rebuilt the home in 1950.

**Map of the southern part of the village**

In the image below the large white building in the center is the kitchen, to its left is the slave quarters.

The Visitor’s Center was on my right at the intersection with the Richmond-Lynchburg Stage Road. The Visitor’s Center is in the reconstructed Court House. There are exhibits on the first and second floor which will be covered in separate posts (Link).

**The reconstructed Court House which acts as the Visitor’s Center**– **37.3774923, -78.7960069**

**The yard to the right was the site where** **slaves and cattle were auctioned**

I turned left toward the McLean House at the intersection.

The McLean House (link) and its dependencies (link) will be shown in separate posts.

**The McLean house**– **37.3771614, -78.7972920**

**Well- in the front yard of the McLean House**

The fields across which the Confederate Army moved on April 9, 1865.

The Union Academy dwelling site

I retraced my steps back to the intersection.

The Meeks Store built in 1852, is shown below. This building housed a general store and post office operated by Francis Meeks at the time of the surrender.

The Woodson Law Office- John Woodson bought this office in 1856 and practiced law here until he joined the Confederate Army and died of disease in 1864.

**The Woodson Law office- 37.3777460, -78.7965474**

**The Meeks barn- 37.3781365, -78.7969534**

**Lafayette Meeks grave**– **37.3781933, -78.7976163**

**The Tavern Guest House- built between 1819 and 1825- 37.3780649, -78.7964723**

**Tavern Kitchen now the bookstore and gift shop- built between 1819 and 1825**– **37.3782269, -78.7962128**

**Slave Quarters**– **37.3782261, -78.7960200**

The tavern was built in 1819. It is the oldest village structure and is where the Federals printed the parole passes for Confederate soldiers. Associated structures include the kitchen, quarters for enslaved people, and guesthouse (now a bookstore). In 1865 the tavern included an attached dining wing and a small detached bar. The tavern and its exhibits will be covered in separate posts (link).