UPCOMING EVENTS
Event cancellations and updates will be announced via our Facebook page.
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Wreath Laying at the Hugh Mercer Monument
Monday, May 29, 2023, 1:00pm
Washington Avenue
FREE
Washington Heritage Museums will hold a wreath laying ceremony at the monument to Hugh Mercer on Washington Ave. in downtown Fredericksburg. 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.
Author Mark Maloy will deliver this year’s remarks. Maloy is the author of several books on the period, including Victory or Death: The Battles of Trenton and Princeton.
Additionally, 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. This event is free to the public.
Learn about Hugh Mercer’s life, his work, and his contributions to our history at the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, located at 1020 Caroline St. in downtown Fredericksburg, VA.
Family Day
Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, Mary Washington House, Rising Sun Tavern
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
It’s Family Day at Washington Heritage Museums! Parents accompanying youth ages 6-17 will receive FREE admission (a $7.00 value per ticket). Tickets for youth ages 6-17 are $3.00, and those under 6 years of age are admitted free. It’s a great day to tour the museums with this amazing offer!
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Songs from the Starboard | Rising Sun Tavern
Saturday, June 10, 2023
5:00 - 6:30 pm | 6:30 - 8:00 pm | 8:00 - 9:30 pm
$35, $30 for WHM members
Join us at the Rising Sun Tavern for an evening of nautical history and music with the Rappahannock Whalers. Learn about life on the high seas in the 18th and 19th centuries, and sing along to authentic, rollicking sea shanties! Stay tuned to hear about the exciting, historic beverages Red Dragon Brewery will be serving alongside our renowned refreshments and treats. This event is limited to guests aged 21+. Tickets are nonrefundable.
Twilight History
Session I: June 12-15, 6-8pm
Session II: July 31-August 3, 6-8pm
$115.00 per registrant, $95 for WHM members
Explore some of the area's most precious historic sites; the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, the Rising Sun Tavern, the Mary Washington House...and now for the FIRST time, the Mary Washington Monument. This a perfect chance for parents to enjoy downtown Fredericksburg while we educate children ages 8 to 12 with hands-on 18th-century skills, trades, and recipes.
Did you know...WHM members get $20 off each registrant! Consider enrolling your camper as a Scholar level member ($25) entitling your camper and one additional household member to the benefits of membership, including discounts and early access to events for one full year. Join today - it's like receiving a Scholar membership for only $5 and allows your student to enjoy history all year long! Current members, check your email or call 540-373-5630 for the discount code.
Participants must be aged 8 to 12 years. Youth aged 15 and older may be interested in volunteering as a Camp Apprentice: Sign Up Now!
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The Mary Washington House During The Civil War | Mary Washington House
Sunday, June 25, 2023
6:00 - 6:45 pm | 6:45 - 7:30 pm
$12, $10 for WHM members
During the Civil War, soldiers from both sides visited the Mary Washington House as visitors and to convalesce from injuries sustained in battle. They were all aware of the site's history and used their visit to bolster their patriotism for their side. During the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862, the Mary Washington House was not spared from the ravages of war and sustained minor damage. Learn about the residents of the site, free and enslaved, and how the Civil War left its mark on the home of Mary Washington. Tickets are nonrefundable.
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WHM SPEAKER SERIES
Sponsored by
Lewis Insurance Associates
Central Rappahannock Regional Library Theater - 10:00 am
Enjoy lectures on a wide variety of subjects that are sure to interest local history lovers. Lectures are held on the first Thursday of March, April, May, October, November, and December at 10:00 AM.
March 2, 2023 | Shared Vision: The Mary Washington Monument, Panel presentation: Jeanette Cadwallender, Nancy Moore, Chuck Fennell and Anne Darron
April 6, 2023 | African American History in Stafford County, by Frank White, Local Historian
May 4, 2023 | Church, State, and Freedom in Early America, by David Marsich, Assistant Professor of History at Germanna Community College
October 5, 2023 | Give Me Liberty ! The S.S. Mary Ball, by Scott Walker, Retired Educator and Local Historian
November 2, 2023 | How Modern Technologies Can Bring Us Within Walking Distance of History, by Jenna Edwards, Partner with The Edwards Law Firm PLLC and WHM Volunteer
December 7, 2023 | Black Women’s History in the Fredericksburg Area, by Gaila Sims, Curator of African American History & Special Projects for the Fredericksburg Area Museum
The use of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s meeting facility does not constitute either the library’s endorsement or sponsorship of the program or the organizer’s policies and beliefs.