University Chapel & Galleries — Attraction in Lexington

My wife and I made an unplanned trip to Lexington Virginia. We decided to visit the Stonewall Jackson House. The checked out the website for the Stonewall Jackson House, and it recommended parking in the area's visitor center's parking lot. So we did, and that resulted in us going into the visitor center. We were happy we did. The very nice lady gave us a run down on Lexington, gave us a map, and showed us the locations of various attractions. She even told us how short of a walk it is from attraction to attraction, and recommended us keeping our SUV in the visitor center lot. She was dead on.

The Lee Chapel and Museum is on the campus of Washington and Lee University. It was very easy to find using the map we were given. Plus there was a sign for the chapel letting us know we were at the right spot and where to enter.

We were offered a guided tour, but declined. We just wanted to walk around at our own pace. Plus it is not very big. We walked through the chapel (where the entrance is). You are allowed to take photos. We made our way to Lee's tomb. It is a beautiful statue of Lee lying there. There are bars, so you cannot get close enough to touch it, but close enough for good pictures. Blocking it off is a good thing. We then went downstairs to the crypt, again, it is blocked off, which is still a good thing. There was a guide that explained the crypt and its history, and the people that are buried there, and that more Lee family members may request to be buried there. We checked out the rest of the museum, and as we exited we got to see Traveller's grave. We thought ti was awesome that Traveller was buried close to General Lee.

I highly recommend that if you are a Civil War buff and you are near-by, get off the Interstate and visit Lexington. Lee's Chapel is a must see. It took us about 2 hours to check out the sites we...

Lee Chapel & Museum is a National Historic Landmark on Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA. It was constructed during 1867–68 at the request of Robert E. Lee, who was president of the school (then known as Washington College), and after whom the university is, in part, named.

The Victorian brick architectural design was probably the work of his son, George Washington Custis Lee, with details contributed by Col. Thomas Williamson, an architect and professor of engineering at the neighboring Virginia Military Institute.

Upon completion and during Robert E. Lee's lifetime it was known as the College Chapel. Lee was buried beneath the chapel in 1870.

In 1883 the University made an addition to the building to house the memorial sculpture of “Recumbent Lee” by Edward Valentine and a family crypt in the lower level, where the president's remains were placed. His wife, mother, father his children and other relatives are now buried in the crypt as well. The remains of his beloved horse, Traveller, are located outside the museum entrance.

The chapel was officially renamed from Lee Chapel on June 4, 2022 by the university's "woke" board of trustees and given its current name.

But if you still enjoy American history I encourage you to stop in for a visit. If American history offends though, you...

Beautiful chapel built after the War Between the States at the direction of former General Robert Edward Lee, recognized as one of the greatest generals produced by America. He served for about five years as the President of Washington and Lee University under his excellent leadership. He instituted the Honor system for the students and strove to have all of them become Christians.

There is an incredibly beautiful granite recumbent statue of General Lee on the battlefield. Fantastic sculptor from Richmond, Virginia produced the work. The chapel is still in use of course.

General Lee and other family members are entombed below the stage. Lee's office is below adjacent to an excellent sales shop with books, artwork, music and collectibles are for sale. Very nice and helpful staff.

An excellent museum has some personal rare pieces that belonged to General Lee to include a beautiful pair of flintlock pistols and a hunting flintlock shotgun. All were personal gifts from President George Washington.

A fantastic astronomy geared mobile to study planetary movements through the year. One of the best I have seen. Traveller is at rest outside the exit....