WASHINGTON, DC (WVDN) – Senator Jim Justice introduced the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District Boundary Expansion and Partnership Act of 2026, landmark bipartisan legislation that adds three West Virginia counties and one Virginia county to the District. The bill is cosponsored by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.), bringing the full weight of the West Virginia and Virginia Senate delegations together behind the effort.
“This is a big day for West Virginia,” said Senator Justice. “This bill would add critical Civil War sites in our Eastern Panhandle to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District. Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties saw some of the first actions of the conflict and suffered through all four years of the war—from Harpers Ferry and the Battle of Hokes Run to the Gettysburg Campaign and the battles of 1864, West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle played a significant role.”
“West Virginia was born in the fire of the Civil War. Our people lived it, fought in it, and were shaped by it in ways no other state can claim. Expanding this District is about recognizing that unique role and making sure West Virginia’s chapter of the story is preserved and told for generations to come.
“West Virginia’s Civil War history is not a footnote,” Justice said. “It is central to who we are as a state. This bill makes sure that history gets the recognition and the resources it deserves, and it does it with both of our states working side by side. That’s the way it ought to be.”
“I’m proud to help introduce this legislation to expand the boundaries of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District. The battlefield provides an incredible opportunity for people to learn about the formation of West Virginia and the important role our state holds in the foundation of our nation. By expanding the boundaries, we are able to enhance the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District partnership model, helping provide necessary resources and funding to preserve and improve this historic site for future generations,” Senator Capito said.
“The Shenandoah Valley helped shape our nation’s history, and preserving these battlefields will ensure that future generations can better understand the sacrifices and defining moments that took place there during the Civil War,” said Senator Warner. “By expanding the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District to include additional sites in Virginia and West Virginia, this bipartisan legislation will boost local tourism and protect our historical landscapes.”
“The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District is one of Virginia’s great historical treasures, preserving the Valley’s Civil War battlefields so that Americans from across the country can visit them and reflect on our country’s history,” said Senator Kaine. “I’m proud to support this bipartisan legislation to expand the district into Rockbridge County and strengthen the partnerships that protect these valued sites for years to come.”
BACKGROUND:
- In 1996, Congress designated eight counties in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley as the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District, recognizing the region’s nationally significant Civil War battlefields and associated historic sites.
- Over nearly three decades, the Foundation has protected more than 8,000 acres of battlefield land while supporting the development of visitor centers, museums, educational programs, and interpretive resources that make the Valley’s rich Civil War history accessible to residents and visitors alike.
