Mary Washington House

06/17/2026

Join us for the VA250 HISTORY FAIR at the Salem Branch, Central Rappahannock Regional Library this Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. This special event is designed for attendees of all ages, offering a wide array of engaging demonstrations, games, activities and more. Washington Heritage Museums is happy to join with the following organizations to bring history to life and celebrate the incredible stories that have shaped America!

⭐George Washington Foundation
⭐Fredericksburg Spinners and Weavers Guild
⭐Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefield National Military Park
⭐Fredericksburg Regional Genealogical Society
⭐The James Monroe Museum
⭐Spotsylvania NSDAR

06/14/2026

06/12/2026

Special thanks to Laura Galke for her enlightening presentation this week, "Mary Washington: George's Much-Maligned Mother." Through her engaging storytelling, Laura sheds light on Mary's life, from the hardships she endured to the decisions she made and the hurdles she overcame.

For those that couldn't attend in person, we hope you enjoy this video. Whether you are familiar with Mary's story or not, it promises to change your perspective! Be sure to "like" the video and leave a comment to let us know your interests for future lectures.

We would also like to thank the Central Rappahannock Regional Library for partnering with us to host the event!

Special presentation by Laura Galke, Archeologist and Site Interpre...

06/11/2026

[June 11] in 1788, George and Martha Washington arrived in Fredericksburg for a family visit that offers a glimpse into both their private life and public experience.

Washington recorded the beginning of the visit in his diary with typical brevity: he and Martha "alighted at my Mothers and sent the Carriage & horses to my Sister [Betty] Lewis's-where we dined and lodged."¹ In just a few words, he mapped a network of family ties that defined Fredericksburg for the Washingtons. Mary Ball Washington lived there, as did Betty Lewis, making the town not just a stop on the road but a place with family routine, hospitality, and obligation.

During their stay, the Washingtons attended services at St. George’s Episcopal Church. There, the calm of worship was interrupted by sudden panic. Washington wrote "The Congregation being alarmed (without cause) and supposg. the Gallery at the No. End was about to fall, were thrown into the utmost confusion; and in the precipitate retreat to the doors many got hurt."²

The visit also included a quieter act of remembrance. While in Fredericksburg, Martha Washington noticed that her father’s tomb was, as George later wrote, “out of sorts.” John Dandridge, who had died in August 1756, was buried in St. George’s graveyard. In response, Washington paid £1 10s. "to have it done up again."³

Taken together, these diary notes show George and Martha Washington moving through Fredericksburg as son and daughter, brother and sister, churchgoers, and caretakers of family memory.

1.2.3. Diaries of George Washington (6 volumes, 1976-79) 5:340

1. Diaries of George Washington (6 volumes, 1776-79) 3:191

Images:
1) Carriage similar to the one Washington used to make his trip to Fredericksburg. Courtesy of Mount Vernon.

2) George Washington purchased this comfortable home on Charles Street for Mary where she spent the last seventeen years of her life.

3) Present day image of St. George's Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

4) Grave of John Dandridge, Martha's father, at St. George's Episcopal Church.

06/10/2026

TONIGHT!

Central Rappahannock Regional Library, Fredericksburg Branch Auditorium.

06/08/2026

06/07/2026

The Mary Washington House will close at 3 p.m. today, June 7, for an event. We apologize for any inconvenience.

06/07/2026

[June 7] in 1755, George Washington, at just 23 years of age, wrote a letter home to his mother, Mary, from Fort Cumberland, Maryland. In it, he answered a practical request telling her he was “sorry it is not in my power to provide you with a Dutch Servant, or the Butter you desire.”

Mary’s original letter to George does not survive. Instead, its contents are known only through George Washington’s reply. The letter was delivered to him at Fort Cumberland by Charles Dick, a merchant from Fredericksburg. At the time, Dick was serving the British forces as a commissary.

In the same letter, Washington encouraged his mother to “spend the chief part of your time at Mount Vernon as you have proposed to do.” Yet no evidence suggests that she ever relocated to Mount Vernon.

George Washington was serving as an aide-de-camp to General Edward Braddock during the conflict between Great Britain and France, along with their respective Native American allies, for control of the Ohio River Valley. Ultimately, Britain’s victory reshaped the map of North America and, in time, set the stage for the American Revolution.

https://founders.archives.gov/?q=George%20washington%20to%20mary%20ball%20washington%20&s=1111311111&sa=&r=6&sr=

Images:
1) Bronze monumental sculpture by Susan Luery Studios. The eight-foot-tall bronze statue of George Washington stands in the middle of the city of Cumberland, Maryland on the historic site of Fort Cumberland, Washington’s outpost during The French and Indian War. Washington is depicted as a young Lt. Colonel in the Virginia Militia.
2) Historic log cabin is the only surviving structure from Fort Cumberland.
3) Historical marker in Cumberland, Maryland.

06/05/2026

Looking for the perfect Father's Day gift? We have an amazing collection of patriotic and unique presents at the Mary Washington House Museum Store - open during regular museum hours!

🇺🇸 Revolutionary Reading Books
🇺🇸 Pen & Pencil Sets
🇺🇸 America 250 hats, lapel pins, coffee mugs (going fast!)
🇺🇸 Assortment of shot glasses
🇺🇸 Bookmarks
🇺🇸 Patriotic Socks and More!

06/04/2026

We're just about a month away from America's 250th birthday! Be sure to join Washington Heritage Museums at one or more of these exciting events. Kick off the festivities on July 3rd with a family-friendly day at the historic Rising Sun Tavern with beer and wine tastings, tavern tours and a toast to independence every hour.

On July 4th, relive the spirit of 1776 with a public reading of the Declaration of Independence on the steps of the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop. Then, make sure to mark your calendars for a spectacular celebration at Ferry Farm, George Washington's boyhood home. This year, we're thrilled to be part of the festivities with American Revolution spy activities. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

For more information on all of these fun FOURTH events, follow the link below:
https://www.washingtonheritagemuseums.org/calendar