The independent city of Fredericksburg is located on the Rappahannock River in the commonwealth of Virginia, 55 miles north of Richmond, Virginia and 50 miles south of Washington, DC. This destination has some historical points of interest and other adventures to offer vacationers, including battlefields and museums, hiking trails, water fun and children’s activities.
One of the city’s major attractions is George Washington’s Ferry Farm, the boyhood home of the US president where he confessed to barking the cherry tree. The James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library presents visitors an insight into the life of the fifth US president, while the Gari Melchers Estate & Memorial Gallery is a 22 room estate that houses numerous pieces of period furniture.
Further renowned sites of Fredericksburg include the Kenmore Plantation & Gardens, a Georgian-style mansion that was built for George Washington’s sister, Betty, and the 18th century Chatham Manor, which served as both a field hospital and a Union army headquarters during the Civil War. Fredericksburg also features two appealing historical and recreational areas, Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park and Lake Anna State Park.
Highlights
Ferry Farm: the home where George Washington spent most of his childhood is the setting for a number of the best known anecdotes about the president, in particular those publicized by Parson Weems.
James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library: established in 1927, the museum showcases hundreds of mesmerizing artifacts such as fine and decorative arts, costumes, jewelry, documents and books carefully bequeathed by the Monroe family.
Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park: this huge area comprises four major Civil War battlefields and preserves four historic structures associated with them; in 1966, the park was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Kenmore Plantation: set up on a 1,300 acre plantation in the 1770s, the house was the home of Fielding Lewis, who was married to George Washington’s sister, Betty.
Gari Melchers Estate & Memorial Gallery: the stone studio and galleries are home to the American painter’s (1860-1932) largest collection of works.