Cedar Creek Battlefield and Belle Grove
Why it's listed
Belle Grove is a dressed limestone mansion near Middletown, Virginia, surrounded by the fields where the Battle of Cedar Creek was fought on October 19, 1864. Major Isaac Hite built the house in the 1790s after marrying Eleanor Conway Madison, sister of James Madison, and some refinements are attributed to Thomas Jefferson. It has one full story over a high basement, stone quoins, keyed flat arches over the windows and four stone chimneys. Hite expanded his holdings from 483 to 7,437 acres. In 1864 the house served as General Philip Sheridan's headquarters. Confederate forces under Jubal Early surprised the Union left that morning, but Sheridan rallied his troops and the afternoon counterattack destroyed Early's army. The defeat ended Confederate use of the Shenandoah Valley as an invasion route or granary. Today the property operates as a farm and educational site, with restored porticoes, surviving earthworks and archaeological excavations.
Significance in brief: Belle Grove was one of the first mansions built in the Shenandoah Valley and was completed for a sister of James Madison and her husband. In 1864 it served as Union General Philip Sheridan's headquarters and was a focal point of the Battle of Cedar Creek. The battle was the last decisive conflict in the Shenandoah Valley, and the Confederate defeat ended their use of the valley as an invasion route or granary.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 69000243, listed August 11, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | On I-81 between Middletown and Strasburg, Middletown |
|---|---|
| County | Frederick County |
| Listed | August 11, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000243 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1797-1864 |
| Architect / builder | Major Isaac Hite, builder; certain architectural refinements attributed to Thomas Jefferson |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated August 11, 1969 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Belle Grove is an operating farm and center for interpreting rural folk life, owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, with educational programs and student excavations. The mansion's porticoes have been restored. Some earthworks survive. |
| Acreage | 900 |
| Coordinates | 39.02992, -78.29334 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 69000243.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5056652
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.