The Frank Kemper House

The Port Republic Museum is housed in the historic Frank Kemper House, which was built c. 1835-1845. It was used both as a residence and as an inn and tavern for travelers, primarily for river boatmen. During the Civil War, Confederate Gen. Turner Ashby’s body was brought to the house after he was killed near Harrisonburg on June 6, 1862. The house was also at the center of other Civil War events in and around the village, from Stonewall Jackson’s narrow escape from capture (June 8, 1862), the Battle of Port Republic (June 9, 1862), and Union troops marching through and burning woolen mills (June 4, 1864) on their way to the Battle of Piedmont. After the war, the house was used for various purposes, including as a tearoom and a boarding house.

The Society of Port Republic Preservationists (SPRP) purchased the building in 1992 and then converted it into the Port Republic Museum and visitor center. In 2022, the SPRP transferred ownership and management of the museum over to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. The museum features a remarkable array of artifacts and outstanding exhibits that bring the history to life, with exhibits including the River Room (pre–Civil War), the Turner Ashby Room (Civil War era), the Keeping Room (post war to today), and the Discovery Room (visitor orientation and research).