Fredericksburg, Virginia, is a treasure trove of historic sites. The city of fewer than 30,000 is an hour south of Washington, DC, and offers several historic attractions related to George Washington and his family, including his childhood home, his mother Mary Washington’s home, and his brother Charles Washington’s home, as well as other related attractions.
Charles Washington
Today’s Washington segment is the Rising Sun Tavern, which was originally Charles’ home.
The historic district is easy to navigate. I soon found the tavern and entered the front door into the 18th century.
It was built in about 1760 as a home by Charles Washington, the youngest brother of George Washington, and became a tavern in 1792.
The Washingtons lived here for 20 years, when the house was sold and eventually became a Tavern.
Then he and his wife, Mildred Thornton Washington, arrived in present Jefferson County, West Virginia, between April and October 1780 and founded Charles Town.
The couple had four children.
In Charles Town, he erected a house, Happy Retreat. In 1786, on 80 acres, Charles laid out the streets of Charles Town, naming many of them after his brothers and one after his wife, Mildred. Jefferson County was formed in 1801.
The Tavern
I entered the white clapboard tavern and was greeted by a young guide dressed in 1700-style clothing.
He first takes me into the dining area and points to a placard that describes the times George Washington dined with Charles, their mother, Mary, and Colonel Lewis.
The guide continues his narrative, explaining that, though the tavern became known as the “Rising Sun Tavern” in the 20th century, it was actually called the “Golden Eagle” in the 1790s.
He shows me a common area filled with period furnishings and offers many stories about the Washington family and early life in Fredericksburg.
Preservation Virginia acquired the Rising Sun Tavern in 1907 and completed a series of restorations. Much of the beautiful woodwork in the tavern is original, according to my guide.
After an in-depth look at the rooms and admiring the site’s history and beautiful decor, I bid goodbye to my guide and head out onto Caroline Street toward the next historic attraction.
If you go:
The Rising Sun Tavern is one of the Washington Heritage Museums sites, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing four 18th-century house museums in historic downtown Fredericksburg: the Mary Washington House, Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, Rising Sun Tavern, and St. James’ House.
For more information about Washington Heritage Museums, click here.
I stayed downtown at the Courtyard by Marriott Fredericksburg Historic District. For more information about the hotel, click here.
For more information about visiting Fredericksburg and other excellent attractions, restaurants, and accommodations, click here.
