WHM Tea Talk
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
11 AM to 1 PM & 2 PM to 4 PM
Mary Washington House
1200 Charles Street
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Join us on Tuesday, May 13th for our last Tea Talk of the Spring! We are thrilled to welcome Andrew Talkov, author of the book, Our Commonwealth: People & Places of Virginia. This beautifully illustrated book provides an in-depth journey across five geographical regions of Virginia and showcases the experiences of its diverse people through objects, letters, diaries and archival photographs. Andrew is the Senior Director for Curatorial Affairs at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture in Richmond, Virginia. Founded in 1831, the museum is the oldest museum and cultural organization in Virginia and cares for a collection of nearly nine million items representing the ever-evolving story of Virginia. Andrew’s book will be available for purchase and signing at the tea. To obtain an advanced copy, we also have them available at the Mary Washington House Museum Store! Weather permitting, we will hold the Tea Talk on the back porch overlooking the beautiful gardens at the Mary Washington House. Please note that photography is taken at all WHM events and may be used for promotional, social media and marketing purposes. Ticket price is $40.00 per person and includes a Full Tea with a selection of savories and sweets, hot tea and presentation by our guest speaker.
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Games in the Garden
Saturday, May 17, 2025
11 AM to 1 PM
Mary Washington House
FREE outdoor activities, and museum tours available with paid admission
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​Step into the Mary Washington House Garden to enjoy games as they were played in the 18th century! Some are rarely played today, while others we know now by different names. Children will enjoy testing their skills while playing these fun, hands-on games! The Rappahannock Colonial Heritage Society will be joining us for this day of historic fun!
Wreath Laying at the Hugh Mercer Monument
Monday, May 26, 2025
1:00 PM
Hugh Mercer Monument, Washington Avenue
Speaker: Trip Wiggins, local historian
A hero of the Revolutionary War, Hugh Mercer served as a brigadier general under George Washington and practiced as a physician in Fredericksburg from about 1761 to 1776. There will be a bagpipe accompaniment as part of a ceremony to honor General Mercer's sacrifice to our liberty at the Battle of Princeton in 1777.
For your comfort, we suggest that you bring a lawn chair.
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Plant Sale + Mary's Attic Sale
Saturday, May 31, 2025
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Mary Washington House
Plant a bit of history from Mary’s Garden! Select plants curated from Mary’s Garden including native columbine, tall phlox, Rudbeckia, yarrow, evening primrose, rose campion, and cranesbill geranium, to name but a few. Proceeds from the Plant Sale help to fund the care of our gardens.
In conjunction with the plant sale, we are also hosting a special sale to help us clear Mary’s attic (includes clearance items from the Museum Store). Both sales will be held from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM rain or shine.
WHM Annual Member Reception
Friday, June 6, 2025
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Rising Sun Tavern
WHM members are invited to join us at the Rising Sun Tavern on Friday, June 6 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm for our annual member reception. This fun get together is a great way for our supportive membership community to get to know one another!
The reception will be held rain or shine on the lawn at the Tavern. We'll provide the wine and beer and invite our guests to bring an hors d'oeuvre or dessert to share.
Not a member? Join today to receive your invitation to the reception and to enjoy all the benefits of membership!
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Rising Sun Tavern Behind The Scenes Tour
Saturday, June 14, 2025
5:00 PM to 6:30 PM & 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Rising Sun Tavern
1304 Charles Street
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Join us on Saturday, June 14 for a behind the scenes tour of the Rising Sun Tavern. The 265 year-old building on Caroline Street once served as the home of Charles Washington, and later as a Federal-era tavern. The tour will be hosted by Michael Spencer, Associate Professor of Historic Preservation at the University of Mary Washington. His tour will immerse you in the multi-layered history of the Rising Sun Tavern. We will examine the building’s design and construction as we look underneath the reconstructed porch, peak behind the corner cabinet to see the original chair rail, study the basement framing, and inspect the attic, which was damaged during the Civil War. The tour will conclude with a discussion of the property that once contained a stable, a kitchen, and a billiards hall! A Q&A with Professor Spencer will be held after the tour. Please note: this tour is not handicap accessible and will include movement over uneven terrain and up and down steep steps.
Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence
Friday, July 4, 2025
11:00 AM, 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM
Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop
FREE, museum tours available with admission ticket
Join Washington Heritage Museums at the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop as we celebrate our independence with the annual live reading of the Declaration of Independence. Living historians will read this historic document from the steps in front of this 18th-century building in a moving experience you won't want to miss!
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Twilight History at Washington Heritage Museums
Monday, July 28 to Thursday, July 31, 2025
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location varies by evening
Young historians will enjoy the gift of historic games & activities this summer! This four-evening program is designed engage students with hands-on experiences that explore local history. Programs will rotate between four of Fredericksburg’s most historic sites, including the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, Rising Sun Tavern, Mary Washington House, and Mary Washington Monument. This a great chance for parents to relax and enjoy downtown Fredericksburg during Fredericksburg’s Restaurant Week!
$150 per registrant, $125 for WHM Members.
Participants must be 8 to 12 years of age during the program.
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WHM Speaker Series
October 2, 2025
November 6, 2025
December 4, 2025
Central Rappahannock Regional Library
Join WHM for the Speaker Series. With a variety of topics, there is something to interest everyone! Our speakers and subjects will be announced soon. In the meantime, we hope you will enjoy watching some of our past lectures on the WHM YouTube Channel.
Bourbon and Boxwood – 10th Anniversary
October 4, 2025
7:00 – 10:00 PM
Mary Washington House
Attend this annual, sell-out event: a spirited garden party with live music, plentiful food, drinks, tastings, silent auction, fantastic guests, and an outstanding way to financially support all five historic properties and their educational programs.​
Sponsorships currently available, individual tickets available to the public on August 1, 2025.
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St. James’ House Fall Opening
Monday, October 6 to Saturday, October 11, 2025
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Daily
Tour the beautiful home and garden of one of Fredericksburg's early attorneys, James Mercer. The house is particularly noted for its fine collection of antique furniture and decorative arts acquired by Daniel Breslin and William Tolerton. Together, they restored St. James’ in the mid-1960s and eventually bequeathed it to Preservation Virginia. St. James’ House now serves as the headquarters for Washington Heritage Museums.
Tickets available October 1.
