Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

Antebellum history

The village began as Clover Hill, a stop on the Richmond–Lynchburg stagecoach road. When Appomattox County was created by an act on February 8, 1845, from parts of Buckingham, Prince Edward, Charlotte, and Campbell counties, Clover Hill became the county seat. The county and river took their name from the Apumetec tribe. Hugh Raine, who acquired the area from his brother John Raine after John defaulted on loans, owned most of Clover Hill from about 1842.

After the county was established, 30 acres were divided into lots, with 2 acres designated for government buildings. The courthouse was built across the Stage Road from the Clover Hill Tavern's stable. In late 1845, Hugh Raine and another brother sold the area to Samuel D. McDearmon, who struggled to sell lots. The village grew somewhat, but in 1854 the railroad was routed through nearby Appomattox Depot, prompting many businesses to leave and the stage route to be discontinued, leading to decline.

Park development history

After the 1892 courthouse fire and the dismantling of the McLean House, George B. Davis arranged for metal tablets to be placed at important historic sites in the village. In 1930, Congress authorized the War Department to acquire a site for a monument related to the 1865 surrender. Three years later, the War Department's holdings were transferred to the National Park Service. The site was renamed from Appomattox Battlefield Site to Appomattox Court House National Historical Monument in 1935, with legislation authorizing enlargement and reconstruction of the McLean House; the name changed to Appomattox Court House National Historical Park in 1954.

The park grew to 970 acres in 1940, and plans to rebuild the courthouse and McLean House were formalized. World War II delayed reconstruction, but the restored McLean House opened to the public in 1949.

The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. Today, the roughly 1700-acre park includes original structures such as the Clover Hill Tavern, reconstructed buildings like the McLean House, a driving tour, hiking trails, interpretive signage, the site of Lee's headquarters, and an artillery park with cannons. The visitor center is located in the rebuilt courthouse.