Monuments and Historical Markers at Chancellorsville

Battle of Chancellorsville • Tour the Battlefield • Monuments & Markers • The Armies

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Since the earliest days after the battle monuments and historical markers at Chancellorsville have tried to help visitors understand what happened here.

Monuments at Chancellorsville

There are only a few monuments on the Chancellorsville battlefield. For the North it was a defeat that most preferred to forget rather than commemorate. And after the war the South had few resources for monuments on a distant field, no matter who had won.

Historical markers  at Chancellorsville

Historical markers at Chancellorsville come in several different varieties. They have evolved over the years from a simple one or two lines of text set next to a major road to complex full color illustrations and maps placed all along park roads and even walking trails.

The oldest markers on Virginia’s Civil war battlefields were erected by the Battlefield Markers Association in the 1920s. They consisted of a heavy bronze tablet set at an angle on a masonry base, designed to be read from a vehicle. Over 80 of these markers were erected around Virginia, and most survive today. Sadly, the monument at Chancellorsville, which stood for half a century next to the ruins of the Chancellor house, is not one of them. The bronze tablet was stolen in 1976 and the masonry base was demolished.

Virginia State Markers

In the 1930s the State of Virginia began erecting historical markers alongside major highways, a process which continues to this day. They are metal (recent markers are aluminum) tablets set on a single pole, with black text on a white background readable from a stationary vehicle (if you have good vision). Each marker has a unique letter and number code. There are several State of Virginia markers on the Chancellorsville battlefield. Sometimes a marker will talk about more than one event that occured at that location in the crowded history of the area. 

1950s National Park Service Markers (Hapell Panels)

In the 1950s the National Park Service erected a series of markers consisting of an aluminum tablet held between two wood posts. These are sometimes referred to as “Hapell Panels” after the historian who wrote them. Most of the markers are text-only and can be read from a nearby vehicle. Since the aluminum could be painted it was possible to create colored maps to help interpret the battle. Several text and map combinations can be found around the battlefield. Most of the 1950s markers are still in place today, although a few have been updated by newer markers.

Wayside Markers

Starting with the 1960s and continuing until the present, the National Park Service and partner organiztions have been erecting wayside markers. These use modern printing technology and materials to display detailed color images in a format designed to be easily viewed by a standing person. Their main drawback is that their viewing height and angle make also them an ideal resting spot for area birds. Often two or three are located next to each other.