Port Republic Museum

07/23/2026

We're raising funds to complete a major exterior maintenance project at the Kemper House, home of the Port Republic Museum. Planned work includes cleaning and repainting the exterior, repairing deteriorated woodwork, and restoring a damaged window—essential improvements that will help protect this important historic structure for years to come. To learn more, visit our website via the link in the comments!

06/09/2026

164 Years Ago Today... The Battle of Port Republic

After defeating Union Gen. John Fremont at Cross Keys, Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson turned his attention to Gen. James Shields’s smaller Union force, commanded on the field by Gen. Erastus Tyler, at Port Republic.

The battle centered on a key ridge called “The Coaling,” where Union artillery held a strong position. After several failed attacks, Gen. Richard Taylor’s Louisiana brigade captured the ridge and its guns in fierce fighting. Unable to retake the position, Union forces withdrew. With bridges destroyed and Fremont unable to provide support, Jackson secured a decisive victory and freed his army to reinforce General Robert E. Lee in the defense of Richmond during the Peninsula Campaign.

06/08/2026

164 Years Ago Today... The Battle of Cross Keys

After reaching Harrisonburg, Confederate Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson moved toward Cross Keys and Port Republic. He chose Port Republic as a strong defensive position because the bridges over the North River and South River allowed him to keep the two Union armies separated and defeat them one at a time. Jackson planned to strike the closer force under Gen. John Fremont before turning on Gen. James Shields.

On June 8, 1862, Fremont attacked the Confederate division of Gen. Richard Ewell at Cross Keys. An early Union advance was repelled, and Confederate counterattacks pushed back the Federal forces. Fremont eventually withdrew, leaving the Confederates in control of the battlefield. With the Union armies still divided, Jackson turned his attention to Gen. James Shields’s force at Port Republic, where he planned to attack the following day.

05/30/2026

Next Saturday!

Join Peter Dalton and Jim Goecker for tours across Cross Keys and Port Republic on Saturday, June 6th. The tours are free and open to the public with no registration required.

9:00 a.m. - Jackson's Narrow Escape (8564 Water Street, Port Republic)

10:15 a.m. - The Battle of Cross Keys Car Caravan Tour (5094 Battlefield Rd, Harrisonburg)

1:30 p.m. - The Battle of Port Republic Car Caravan Tour (8564 Water Street, Port Republic)

01/15/2026

Join us at the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum this Saturday, January 17th, at Noon for a special program about the controversial Summers-Koontz Ex*****on presented by Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation Ranger Wade Custer!

The program is included with Saturdays admissions to the Museum, Members of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Foundation are welcome to join us free of charge! We hope to see you all at our first program of 2026!

01/14/2026

On the afternoon of June 6, 1862, Brigadier General Turner Ashby was killed ten miles north, in Harrisonburg. Ashby's body was brought to the Frank Kemper House (the present day museum) where local women prepared the body for burial. Draped with a Confederate flag, Ashby's body was placed in a front room under the corner window where townspeople and troops paid their final respects to the fallen officer.