In 1840, the Louisa Railroad came to Gordonsville. In 1850 the Louisa Railroad was renamed the Virginia Central. The Orange and Alexandria Railroad joined the Virginia Central at Gordonsville in 1840, making the town one of the most important rail hubs in Virginia. Because of its strategic importance, Gordonsville was fiercely contested during the Civil War, but never fell into Union hands.
The Magnolia House Hotel, seen on the right of the photo above, was built in the early 1870s just down the tracks from the passenger station. The uniformity of architecture of the two houses next to the hotel suggest that they may have been built by the railroad; they look like "company" houses, but that is pure speculation on my part.
The Amtrak Cardinal passes through Gordonsville on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday but does not stop. The Gordonsville passenger station was torn down in 1978.
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