Fredericksburg Virginia, USA
Fredericksburg, Virginia, is a historic city between Richmond and Washington, D.C., that played key roles in both the Colonial era and the Civil War. 1121
Mary Washington House: 1200 Charles St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Kenmore: 1201 Washington Ave, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Date Picture Taken: July 2025
Fredericksburg, Virginia, was significant in both the Colonial and Civil War eras. In the 1700s, it thrived as a river port and trading hub along the Rappahannock River, with close ties to George Washington’s family and early revolutionary activities. During the Civil War, the city became a major battleground, witnessing several brutal clashes—most notably the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862, where Union forces suffered heavy losses against Confederate defenders on Marye’s Heights.
Fredericksburg Downtown
Downtown Fredericksburg is the city’s historic heart, filled with 18th- and 19th-century buildings, brick sidewalks, and a charming small-town atmosphere. The area features boutiques, antique shops, art galleries, and cafés housed in preserved colonial structures.
Many landmarks reflect the city’s deep history, including the Rising Sun Tavern, built in the 1760s as a stagecoach stop; the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, showing 18th-century medicine; and Kenmore Mansion, home of George Washington’s sister, Betty Washington Lewis.
This house, known as the Mary Washington House, was where George Washington’s mother, Mary Ball Washington, lived.
Built around 1772, the home was purchased by George Washington for his mother so she could live comfortably near her daughter, Betty Washington Lewis, at Kenmore. Mary lived there for the last 17 years of her life and was visited often by George when he returned to Virginia.
The modest frame house has been restored and furnished with 18th-century pieces, giving a glimpse into the everyday life of a colonial widow. Behind the house is a small garden, which Mary tended herself. She lived there until her death in 1789, just before George Washington’s inauguration as the first U.S. president.
The backyard garden
From the home of Betty Washington Lewis, I walked to Kenmore Mansion was the home of Betty Washington Lewis, George Washington’s only sister.
Kenmore Mansion
The home of Betty Washington Lewis, George Washington’s only sister to live to adulthood, is the elegant Kenmore Mansion in downtown Fredericksburg. Built in the 1770s by her husband, Fielding Lewis, a wealthy merchant and patriot, the house is one of Virginia’s finest examples of Georgian architecture.
A model of old Downtown Fredericksburg
Inside a small museum on the grounds of the Kenmore Mansion.
George Washington and his sister.
A model of the house
Entering the mansion with a guide
The house contains a mix of original items and later purchases, with the goal being to furnish the home to reflect the wealth and lifestyle of the Lewis family in the pre-Revolutionary War era.
The ceiling art in Kenmore Mansion is one of its most remarkable features. Each major room has an ornate plaster ceiling, hand-crafted in the 1770s, featuring intricate floral, scroll, and geometric designs.
These decorations were made from lime plaster mixed with animal hair, then molded and carved directly onto the ceiling — a rare and highly skilled technique for colonial America. The motifs often include flowers, shells, vines, and classical patterns, symbolizing refinement and wealth.
A portrait of George Washington’s sister, who bears a striking resemblance to him.
