Staunton, VA
Music connected to Staunton
About Staunton
- • Playwright Horton Foote, known for "To Kill a Mockingbird", was born in Staunton.
- • The American Shakespeare Center, a world-renowned theatre, originated here.
- • Its location along the Great Wagon Road drove early commerce and settlement.
- • A subterranean tunnel system once ran beneath downtown, now largely forgotten.
- • The devastating 1924 Murphy Hotel fire prompted major fire safety reforms.
- • Named for Lady Rebecca Staunton, wife of Governor Gooch, it was established in 1747.
- • With around 25,000 residents, it is smaller than nearby Harrisonburg.
- • At 1,382 feet, its altitude gives it cooler summers than lower Virginia cities.
- • Healthcare and tourism are major economic drivers in the Staunton area.
- • A stroll here feels like stepping back in time, infused with artistic energy.
- • The Washington Nationals, a few hours away, won the World Series in 2019.
- • Robert E. Lee attended church services at Trinity Episcopal Church in Staunton.
