The city of Charlottesville and county of Albemarle were home to individuals and events that left a mark on history. One way to keep history squarely in our sights is the use of historical markers. Hundreds of these markers are located in Central Virginia, each inscribed with a brief bit of historical narrative.

As Martha Jefferson moves closer to the opening of a new hospital after more than 100 years of residing along E. High Street and Locust Avenue, we are keenly aware of the rich foundation history provides as we build on our caring tradition. And so, with history on our minds, we invite you to take a brief walk through the centuries.

Following are excerpts from some of the historical markers located in Charlottesville and Albemarle. Can you place them? To learn more about these and other markers located throughout Virginia and the world, visit the Historical Marker Database at www.hmdb.org.

C. B. Holt House
African American Charles B. Holt owned a carpentry business in Charlottesville’s Vinegar Hill neighborhood. The son of former slaves, Holt built this Arts and Crafts-style house in 1925-1926, during the era of segregation, when blacks comprised more than a quarter of the city’s population but owned less than one-tenth of its private land…

Charlottesville General Hospital
During the Civil War, the Rotunda at the University of Virginia, the Charlottesville town hall and the courthouse, as well as nearby homes and hotels, were converted into a makeshift hospital complex called the Charlottesville General Hospital. It treated more than 22,000 wounded soldiers between 1861 and 1865…

Jack Jouett’s Ride
On June 4, 1781, John “Jack” Jouett Jr. arrived at the Albemarle County Courthouse to warn the Virginia Legislature of approaching British troops. The state government under Governor Thomas Jefferson had retreated from Richmond to reconvene in Charlottesville because of the threat of British invasion during the Revolutionary War…

The Stone Tavern
George Nicholas, Albemarle County’s Virginia General Assembly delegate in 1783, built a stone house here in 1784. James Monroe occupied it 1789-1790, while improving the dwelling at his nearby farm, later the site of the University of Virginia…

Three Notch’d Road
Also called Three Chopt Road, this colonial route ran from Richmond to the Shenandoah Valley. It likely took its name from three notches cut into trees to blaze the trail…

Historic Court Square Fountain
During the late 1800s, the city of Charlottesville installed four watering fountains in the downtown area. The fountains were designed to provide water to the citizens, their horses and other domesticated animals…

First Baptist Church
The Charlottesville African Church congregation was organized in 1864. Four years later, it bought the Delevan building, built in 1828 by Gen. John H. Cocke, and at one time used as a temperance hotel for University of Virginia students…

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