The Wharf Historic District

The Wharf Historic District

The Wharf Historic District grew up around Staunton's railroad depot, where rows of brick warehouses once handled the grain, produce and goods that moved through the Shenandoah Valley. Today the restored buildings house shops, offices and eateries, and the camera looks out over the cobblestone-and-brick streetscape that still defines this nineteenth-century quarter.

A Working Corner of Downtown

The view centers on a public parking area and the surrounding streets, where the comings and goings of cars, delivery vehicles and pedestrians give a candid, unhurried portrait of small-city American life. The backdrop of historic facades and mature trees frames the scene with a distinctly Main Street character.

Staunton and the Shenandoah Valley

Staunton is an independent city in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, known for its remarkably intact historic architecture, the American Shakespeare Center and its walkable downtown. The Wharf district sits at the foot of the surrounding ridges, a gateway between the city's Victorian commercial core and the railway that built it.