Washington Heritage Museums

Washington Heritage Museums James' House and Rising Sun Tavern as well as the Mary Washington Monument and Caretaker's Lodge.

Our mission is to preserve our historic properties in Fredericksburg, Virginia and to interpret them through engaging narratives that inspire a lasting and meaningful understanding of the Washington family. Washington Heritage Museums is a 501(c)3 membership organization which owns and maintains four historic house museums in downtown Fredericksburg: Mary Washington House, Hugh Mercer Apothecary,

St. Washington Heritage Museums hosts regular educational programs and social events with diverse topics. Our active membership helps to generate the resources necessary to preserve these priceless historic properties for enjoyment and appreciation of current and future generations.

Introducing our NEW ⭐Star-Spangled⭐ sponsorship level for this year’s signature event, Bourbon and Boxwood!At just $250,...
08/27/2026

Introducing our NEW ⭐Star-Spangled⭐ sponsorship level for this year’s signature event, Bourbon and Boxwood!

At just $250, this level was created in honor of America's 250th anniversary. It is a special opportunity to make an even bigger difference.

The Star-Spangled sponsorship level includes one ticket valued at $150—and for just $100 more, your extra support helps Washington Heritage Museums preserve and protect our five historic sites for generations to come.

Individual tickets will go on sale at noon tomorrow [8.28.26] and we hope you will consider increasing your support. Join us on October 3rd as we raise a glass to 250 years!

WELCOME! Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Marnie Green, our new Operations Manager. Many in the community m...
08/27/2026

WELCOME! Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Marnie Green, our new Operations Manager. Many in the community may already recognize Marnie from her work around town, whether dressed in colonial attire for a historic tour or connecting with visitors in everyday life. She brings with her a deep appreciation for history, strong interpretive and management experience, and an enthusiasm for sharing meaningful stories with guests.

Marnie’s background includes historic interpretation skills developed through her time at George Washington's Mount Vernon and our own Rising Sun Tavern Museum. She also brings extensive professional marketing and management experience in the financial services industry, which she will apply to our museums’ daily operations with a keen focus on the overall guest experience.

Her love of history began early, growing up in New Milford, Connecticut in a historic home (built in 1758), complete with a colonial lineage honored through her volunteer work at DAR. The love of history later became even more personal when her son, Everett, asked at just five years old if he could become a Revolutionary War reenactor. As a proud mother, Marnie began taking him to Mount Vernon, living history sites and museums from Vermont to South Carolina, deepening a family passion for the past. Everett, now a middle school history teacher, continues to carry on that family tradition!

Outside of her work, Marnie enjoys spending time with her husband, Doug, visiting historic sites, playing golf, and traveling. We are delighted to welcome her to this new role and look forward to the energy, experience, and perspective she will bring to our team and guests.

HOMESCHOOL HISTORY DAY - Due to the incredible response to our inaugural Homeschool History Day on November 3rd, we have...
08/26/2026

HOMESCHOOL HISTORY DAY - Due to the incredible response to our inaugural Homeschool History Day on November 3rd, we have decided to add a fourth TOUR TIME. This additional tour will take place from 2:15 to 3:00 p.m. at all three historic sites. Admission is just $2.50 per person (adults and children), per museum. For tickets, follow the link below:

THANK YOU to all the enthusiastic young historians and parent educators who visited our table last week at the FXBG Homeschool Connections event. Your interest and engagement made the day special for us!

https://washingtonheritagemuseums.networkforgood.com/events/104314-homeschool-history-day

  (August 25) in 1789, Mary Ball Washington passes away after a battle with breast cancer at her home in Fredericksburg,...
08/25/2026

(August 25) in 1789, Mary Ball Washington passes away after a battle with breast cancer at her home in Fredericksburg, Virginia. As the mother of George Washington, she holds a significant place in our history, not only for her role in shaping one of the founding fathers but also as a resilient woman of her time.

Burgess Ball, the cousin of George Washington, wrote to the president in New York to inform him of the death of his mother: "I am sorry that is devolvs [devolves] on me to communicate to you the loss of your Mother who departed this Life abt 3 oClock today. This cause of her desolution (I believe) was the Cancer on her Breast, but for abt 15 days she has been deprived of her speech, and for the five last days she has remain'd in a Sleep. She has lived a good Age &, I hope, is gone to a happier place than we live at present in."

As we mark this anniversary, we take a moment to reflect on Mary's legacy and enduring impact. In the coming months, work will begin at the Mary Washington Monument, her final resting place, to revitalize the site, improve accessibility, and share her story with a wider audience. At Washington Heritage Museums, we honor Mary Ball Washington not only by preserving her memory, but by ensuring her strength, sacrifice, and story continue to inspire generations to come.

Images:
1) Interior of the Mary Washington House at 1200 Charles Street.
2) Portrait of Mary Ball Washington by Robert Edge Pine. Historical records show no verified life portrait exists of Mary Ball Washington.
3) Mary's final resting place at the Mary Washington Monument site in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

08/24/2026

🔨The Rising Sun Tavern has recently undergone a remarkable renovation, featuring the installation of new shake shingles! Special thanks to the dedicated team at Wagner Roofing Company for their hard work and exceptional craftmanship.

NOTE: The new shakes are made of Alaskan yellow cedar and within a few months to a year, with sun and rain exposure, they will transition to a soft silvery-gray patina.

08/23/2026

Andrea Hickman Meleski, Chairperson of Bourbon and Boxwood 2026, shares her sentiments about this truly special occasion in the beautiful gardens at the Mary Washington House.

We hope you will be able to join us on Saturday, October 3rd at a new time, 6 to 9 p.m. Together, we will raise a glass to commemorate 250 remarkable years and celebrate our nation's semi-quincentennial in grand style.

In addition, we are seeking both individual and corporate sponsorships as we work to preserve our five historic sites for future generations to enjoy and learn from. To find out more about how you can get involved, please click the link below:

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS will go on sale this Friday, August 28th at noon!

https://bit.ly/Bourbon-and-Boxwood-2026

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!We are excited to share some updates aimed at enhancing your experience at the Mary Washington Ho...
08/21/2026

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

We are excited to share some updates aimed at enhancing your experience at the Mary Washington House. To ensure a more streamlined and enjoyable visit, we have introduced timed tours throughout the day. Each tour will begin at 15 minutes past the hour, with the final tour starting promptly at 3:15 p.m.

To make the ticket purchasing process as smooth as possible, all tickets will now be available online through the Simpletix platform. This system is widely used by many museum organizations in Fredericksburg and beyond, ensuring a seamless experience for our visitors. Given the limited capacity for each tour, we highly recommend securing your tickets online in advance. For more information or to purchase tickets, follow the link below.

NOTE: Guided tours of the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop and the Rising Sun Tavern are offered as guests arrive and do not have predetermined start times.

https://www.washingtonheritagemuseums.org/museum-details

⛏️ FREE PLANTS! We’re getting ready to break ground at the Mary Washington Monument, and before work begins, we’re invit...
08/19/2026

⛏️ FREE PLANTS! We’re getting ready to break ground at the Mary Washington Monument, and before work begins, we’re inviting plant lovers and garden enthusiasts to join us for DIG DAY at the Monument!

Bring your own shovel and choose from available plants to dig up and take home for FREE. Plants are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of four plants per household. The event will be held on Saturday, August 29th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please bring bags, tarps, or other materials to safely transport your plants.

Come early, bring your shovel, and take home a living piece of Mary Washington Monument history to grow in your own yard. Available plants include:

- Korean Spice Viburnum
- Orange and Yellow Day Lilies
- Autumn Sedums
- Spiderwort
- Blue Mistflower
- Lenten Roses
- Spiderflower
- Japanese Anemone
- Tall Wood Phlox

⭐The first annual HOMESCHOOL HISTORY DAY is coming to Washington Heritage Museums!⭐Bring 18th-century Fredericksburg to ...
08/17/2026

⭐The first annual HOMESCHOOL HISTORY DAY is coming to Washington Heritage Museums!⭐

Bring 18th-century Fredericksburg to life with engaging tours designed especially for homeschool students ages 6 and up. On Tuesday, November 3rd, families can explore one, two, or all three historic sites—the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, Rising Sun Tavern, and Mary Washington House—for just $2.50 per person, per museum in honor of our nation’s 250th anniversary.

Students will meet historic site interpreters in period attire, discover 18th-century medicine, experience tavern life, learn about Mary Washington, and connect with the people and places that shaped early America.

Plan your visit and choose the tour combination that works best for your family. We look forward to welcoming young historians to Washington Heritage Museums for a day of discovery, curiosity, and connection.

To learn more, be sure to visit us at the FXBG Homeschool Connections event tomorrow, August 18th at the Dorothy Hart Community Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can also find out more and reserve your spot by clicking the link below. Please tag and share with other homeschool families!

https://washingtonheritagemuseums.networkforgood.com/events/104314-homeschool-history-day

Address

1500 Washington Avenue
Fredericksburg, VA
22401

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15403735630

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