Graffiti House at Brandy Station, VA

We drove to Culpeper recently and visited the nearby Graffiti House. It served as a Civil War hospital and also as Union Headquarters. It's only open on certain days (fewer after October) so check the Brandy Station Foundation's website for hours.

I was particularly curious to see the Civil War graffiti written on the walls by soldiers. This was not unusual in Civil War hospitals; patients became bored, after all. I've seen such writings on a wall of a private residence in Alexandria (since covered with drywall, but not before it was recorded - see brief mention here). At Brandy Station, the graffiti has been partly uncovered and can be viewed. (See examples.)

The visitors' center also has a film and some interesting artifacts, including a hoe fashioned from a sword.

Marker: 1863-64 Winter Encampment: See description at Historical Markers Database.

See also Field Trip to Brandy Station.