The James Madison Highway - Sprouse's Corner to Orange
The James Madison Highway's run through Central Virginia combines Colonial and Civil War History.  US 15 runs about 25 miles east of Charlottesville and Jefferson's Monticello.  Just north of Sprouse' s Corner VA Route 20 heads northwest towards Charlottesville.  VA 20 is known as the Constitution Route as it returns to US 15 in Orange.  Not far from Route 15 are numerous Civil War battlefields are minutes away including The Wilderness and Chancellorsville, which are accessible via VA 20 east from Orange.  Many other minor battlefields are nearby and can be followed by the Commonwealth's popular Civil War Trails.

Route 15 is blessed with spectacular scenery along the rolling countryside it traverses.  The above photo, taken by Doug Kerr, shows the highway crossing the James River near Bremo Bluff.  Small towns like Dillwyn, Dixie, Palmyra, Gordonsville, and Orange add to the scenery of the central section of the James Madison Highway.
Palmyra:
Palmyra sits along the northern banks of the Rivanna River.  The Rivanna was the first river within the Commonwealth to receive 'State Scenic River' status.  Palmyra has been the Fluvanna County seat since 1828.  From the south US 15 enters Palmyra over a 75 year old camel truss bridge.  The bridge, shown at right, was built in 1931 and replaced a covered bridge that sat slightly upstream.  After the current bridge's opening, the covered bridge was burned by the state out of concern that flooding would dislodge the covered bridge and threaten the integrity of the new bridge's steel structure. (1)

Top Photo:  US 15 crosses the Rivanna River.  Photo taken by Doug Kerr
Bottom Photo: A wider view of the bridge structure over the Rivanna.  Photo taken by Mike Roberson.

Gordonsville:
Just of Route 15 on Main Street is the Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum.  The hotel opened in 1860 and was a stop on the Virginia Central Railway.  However during the Civil War conflict, the Confederate Army transformed the hotel to a receiving hospital.  One of the most requested exhibits of the museum is 'The Lists'.  There are two 'Lists'; one of those that died under the hospitals care, and a second that lists all known patients.  The Exchange Hotel was restored in 1971 and the museum was founded shortly thereafter.

Orange:
The James Madison Highway meets its namesake in Orange.  Orange is home to the James Madison Museum and his homestead, the famed Montpelier, is nearby.  As with Gordonsville, US 15 runs through downtown Orange.  Orange has many bed and breakfasts and small restaurants to add to its small town charm.


Site Navigation:
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  • Return to US 15 - James Madison Highway Index


    • Sources & Links:

  • (1) Swanson, David. "Palmyra Courthouse." May 21, 2005.
  • US 15 @ The Virginia Highways Project ---Michael Roberson & William Froehlig
  • The Town of Orange


    • Page Created: October 12, 2005
    Last Updated: December 16, 2005

    (C) 2005-06 William Lawson