Fredericksburg’s historic district covers 40 city blocks, and every building tells its own story. In the city, you’ll encounter different perspectives on this past: historic houses, museums, trails to memorial sites, and routes along the river. You can tailor your explorations to your interests—architecture, the stories of individual families, or a specific route, for example.
City History in Houses and Museums
Chatham Manor is a historic plantation dating to 1771. Historic Kenmore offers another perspective with a Georgian brick mansion, completed in 1775 for Betty Washington Lewis and Fielding Lewis. The guided tour of Kenmore focuses on the Lewis family, the enslaved community, and the sacrifices made in support of the American cause during the Revolutionary War. The Bissell Gallery also explores the estate’s collections, former residents and builders, restoration, and grounds.
Mary Ball Washington’s story is also connected to a house: George Washington bought the Mary Washington House as a home for his mother, who spent the last seventeen years of her life there. The Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop takes a different approach. This museum in an 18th-century building focuses on medicine, pharmacy, and the Revolutionary era. Historical interpreters portray Dr. Mercer’s assistants, and you can learn about remedies used in the past. The house also has a medicinal herb garden with herbs, medicinal plants, and historic remedies.
The Rising Sun Tavern is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register, and is designated a National Historic Landmark. The James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library houses the nation’s largest collection of artifacts and documents about the fifth president of the United States. A variety of programs take place there throughout the year.
Trails with Different Route Types
The Sunken Road Walking Trail is a 0.8-mile loop from the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center via Sunken Road and Marye’s Heights to Fredericksburg National Cemetery. The North Lee Drive Trail follows a different route: its 2.8-mile path runs one way along North Lee Drive, with no informational signs along the way. The comparison shows two different trail types—a loop and a longer one-way route.
The 1.6-mile Rappahannock River Heritage Trail, with its paved surface, connects the two sections of the Canal Path to form a loop. Along the way, you’ll find views of the Rappahannock River, Old Mill Park, and historic mills. The Canal Path itself is a 1.8-mile paved trail along the canal, suitable for walking and cycling. The 2.7-mile Virginia Central Railway Trail is a paved path for pedestrians, cyclists, and runners; along the way, you can see Hazel Run and the historic Virginia Central Railway rail bed.
By the Water and in the City
Fredericksburg’s City Dock dates to George Washington’s time. Public fishing is permitted there 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Old Mill Park has a launch site on the Rappahannock River for canoes and kayaks. The park also features a self-guided orienteering course: the one-mile loop has seven stations. This means you can enjoy both an on-water activity and an exploration on foot in the same place.
Events are also part of what the city has to offer. The Fredericksburg Farmers Market hosts Art in the Park, the Kids’ Market, Community Day, Halloween, and the Mistletoe Market. Check the specific dates if a particular program is important to your trip. FAM Downtown Sounds is a concert series featuring regional musicians at historic Market Square; dates may change here, too.
The Fredericksburg Area Museum is housed in the historic Town Hall/Market House, a landmark dating to 1816. Its permanent and changing exhibitions highlight the diverse stories of the Fredericksburg region. Another way to explore the city’s history is a 75-minute guided tour with the Fredericksburg Trolley through the Old Town and Fredericksburg Battlefield. Check the latest tour details in advance.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Fredericksburg, Amherst County, Amelia County, Gloucester County, Norfolk, Caroline County, Patrick County, Alexandria.
For the main travel overview: Virginia.
