Walking Tour in Fredericksburg

Let's tour these 3 historic properties as we celebrate our Nation's 250th birthday: Rising Sun Tavern, Hugh Mercer Apothecary and Mary Washington House before having lunch together. Senior Tickets are $8 each. We can pick and choose if it's too many for one day. All sites open at noon. Early lunch at Sunken Well Tavern at 11. https://sunkenwelltavern.com/menu/

While not serving food or drink since 1827, the Rising Sun Tavern Museum provides a lively interpretation of Tavern life. The site now known as the Rising Sun Tavern was constructed in the early 1760s as the family home for Charles Washington. The youngest brother of George Washington, Charles Washington was a gentleman involved in Fredericksburg politics and civic life. He also contributed toward the Patriot war effort in Fredericksburg during the American Revolution: Charles signed the Leedstown Resolves denouncing taxation without representation, organized and enforced boycotts against British imports, and helped supply the local militia. For the next several years, the property was owned by Charles Washington’s oldest son, George Augustine Washington. By 1792, the property was purchased by another gentleman and Revolutionary War veteran, Gustavus Brown Wallace. Soon after purchasing the property, Colonel Wallace decided to lease it out as a tavern. Through the following decades, seven tavern keepers leased it from the Wallace family. It was known by several names in its history, including the Golden Eagle and the Rising Sun. Costumed interpreters lead a tour of the first floor of the Tavern. As part of the tour, guests may visit the second floor and gardens at their leisure.

ca. 1772 This eighteenth-century building was restored to house the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, a museum of medicine, pharmacy, and military and political affairs. Dr. Mercer served the citizens of Fredericksburg with medicines and treatments of the time. Leeches, lancets, snakeroot, and crab claws made up just some of the remedies. Dr. Mercer practiced medicine for fifteen years in Fredericksburg. His patients included Mary Washington. Dr. Mercer left his practice to join the Revolutionary army and died as a Brigadier General at the Battle of Princeton. Costumed interpreters lead a tour of the first floor of the museum. As part of the tour, guests may visit the second floor and gardens at their leisure.

## Mary Washington House

1200 Charles St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
(540) 373-1569

• HOURS

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May 1 - October 31
Sunday – 12 pm - 4 pm
Monday - Saturday – 10 am - 4 pm

Mary Washington House ca. 1772 In 1772, George Washington purchased a house from Michael Robinson in Fredericksburg, Virginia for his mother. Mary Ball Washington spent her last seventeen years in this comfortable home.
The white frame house sits on the corner of Charles and Lewis Streets and was in walking distance to Kenmore, home of Mary's daughter Betty Washington Lewis. Tradition has it that, during the Revolution, General Lafayette came by the home seeking a visit with Mrs. Washington and found her working in her garden. The President-to-be came to this home to receive his mother's blessing before attending his inauguration in 1789.