STRASBURG — I’ve lived in Shenandoah County for 22 years and there are still so many places I haven’t visited, things I haven’t done. Historic sites. Natural areas. Shops. Restaurants. Attractions. B&Bs. Adult beverage venues. And more places appear every year, so I decided to become better acquainted with all of the things to see and do in our historic and beautiful county. Join me as I visit each town and community this year, beginning with Strasburg.
The Town of Strasburg, originally named Staufferstadt, was chartered in 1761 after German settlers moved south from Pennsylvania looking for farmland and religious freedom. In 1749 Peter Stover (Stauffer) bought 483 acres, divided it into smaller plots, sold them to other settlers, and a village was established. Stover lived to be 84 and left in his will land and $10,000 to establish schools.
A Sabbatarian monk arrived in Strasburg with a potter’s wheel the same year the town was chartered, and others followed to provide dishes for meals and food storage. The pottery trade flourished, thanks in part to the abundance of clay suitable for high-grade earthenware, reaching its peak in the late 1800s and earning Strasburg the nickname “Pot Town.”
Strasburg’s eastern skyline is dominated by Signal Knob, the northern end of Massanutten Mountain, which was used for communication by both sides during the Civil War. Major battles during that war were fought at Hupp’s Hill, Fisher’s Hill and Cedar Creek and all have walking trails with interpretive signs.
The Strasburg Visitor Center is co-located with the Hupp’s Hill Museum, so let’s start our tour there. Located at the north end of town at 33229 Old Valley Pike (U.S. Route 11), the Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with walking trails, picnic tables, a gift shop and Virginia tourism information. The Museum displays colonial and Civil War artifacts, a topographical map of the area with battlefields marked, and a full wall mural. The mural was painted in two weeks in 1991 by Ms. Chris Wilson and Ms. Frances Coates and depicts scenes from the valley and other events during the war. Lead Tourism Information Specialist Linda Wooten will give you a tour of the small museum and is a fount of knowledge about the war and the town of Strasburg.
After leaving the Visitor Center, head south on Route 11 into the historic district and explore the shops and restaurants unique to Strasburg. On the left as you approach the traffic light at King Street is the Strasburg Emporium, formerly the Strasburg Textile Mill, established by Washington, D.C., investor Leo Bernstein in the late 1970s, and home to more than 60 vendors in 52,000 square feet of antiques and collectibles. Here you can find just about anything and everything, from furniture to vinyl records, from coins to glassware and even rusting garden furniture and architecturals. By now you’re feeling a bit peckish, so head to the front of the Emporium to Bretzel’s Handcrafted Bread & Treats for some sandwiches, soup, pastries or pretzels.
Now it’s time to park your vehicle and hit the streets. Clementine Vintage at 148 E. King St. is located in an 1880s pharmacy building. Owner Sue Haynes is passionate about Strasburg and offers vintage home décor, locally made jewelry and other gifts, and furniture she restores herself. Across the street is Lydia’s Clothes Closet, a nonprofit thrift shop selling gently used clothing and household goods. Clean and well-organized, Lydia’s is staffed completely by volunteers and provides funding to other community organizations that help the homeless and those in crisis.
If you or your kids are into slot cars, trains, and radio-controlled vehicles, stroll on down to Strasburg Hobbies at 168 W. King St. This family owned and operated shop features a 1/8 mile drag strip for racers and a model train display in addition to selling everything needed for these hobbies.
Continue up a couple of short blocks to Amy’s Lush and Local Flowers at 244 W. King St. for a bouquet or arrangement of fresh locally grown flowers — at very reasonable prices.
While walking down King Street you may have noticed some of the restored buildings have murals on the sides. In 2015 a group of Strasburg artists formed a nonprofit to foster local art. The first project was installing a collection of contemporary public art, funded by grants, which enabled the group to hire world-renowned muralists. There are currently 10 colorful murals with wide-ranging subjects, meant to grab your attention and make you think. A self-guided tour will be available soon. You’ll also find colorful butterflies, painted by resident artist Barbara Plitt, tucked into spots all over town.
Beginning in April you can follow a new historic Strasburg walking trail for 1.6 miles with markers along the way. Beginning at the Strasburg Museum at 440 E. King St. and continuing past historic buildings and Civil War markers, you can learn the stories of Strasburg’s founders. The museum, built in 1891, housed a steam pottery until 1909, then became a Southern Railway Depot. Displays include original Strasburg pottery, a working model railroad, photographs, Native American/Colonial and Civil War artifacts, and a wooden red caboose that you can walk in. Closed until May, some of the artifacts will soon be moved to Hupp’s Hill so they can be observed year-round.
Strasburg has a wide range of dining options, some with interesting names: Crabby Maggie’s for seafood; the Pancake Underground for breakfast and brunch Wednesday thru Sunday; Old Dominion Doggery and Burger Shop, open for lunch and dinner Thursday through Sunday; Que Botana (“what a snack” in English) in the Ramada Inn or Los Toltecos for Mexican; Nancy’s Coffee Bar open daily except Sunday for coffee, teas and pastries; and Box Office Brewery, next to Nancy’s, a completely renovated movie theater. Box Office brews up to 14 selections onsite and offers a full pub menu along with local ciders and wines for the non-beer drinkers.
Speaking of non-beer drinkers, if you like wine and mountain views head to Star in The Valley Estate Winery just outside town at 33 Amos Lane. The tasting room is located above the vineyard at 1,340 feet with a stunning mural behind the bar of a star-studded night sky. They are open Thursday through Sunday from mid-February through early December serving a variety of small-batch wines. Their Chardonel just won a gold medal in the Virginia Governor’s Cup competition hosted by the Virginia Wineries Association. Petit Verdot won silver and Astronomer won a bronze.
If you need some exercise after all that good eatin’ and drinkin’, head to the Town Park at the east end of Queen Street. There are sport fields and courts, a large playground, a swimming pool and access to the Shenandoah River. Bring your tubes or kayaks for floating the river or just your walking shoes for a .9 mile stroll on the gravel Riverwalk.
“The average age of a Strasburg resident is 36,” says Olivia Hilton, the town’s director of strategic initiatives. “People come here for the quality of life balance and because we’re family oriented,” she adds.
To help with that quality of life, Strasburg offers an abundance of family-friendly events, from Front Porch Fridays live music at the Town Square on East King Street during the summer months, to a Farmers Market in the same location Saturdays from April thru October. There are also annual events such as Vintage in the Valley (April 1); MayFest (May 12-13); Harvest Festival (Sept. 16); Lantern Ghost Tours (Oct. 21-22); Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Fest (Nov. 4); and Tis the Season (Dec. 2).
I hope you’ve learned some new things to see and do in Strasburg, just like I have. Next up — Woodstock!
(1) comment
Very well written synopsis of Strasburg. Looking forward to future articles pertaining to other towns/communities. Thank you Vicki
Welcome to the discussion.
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