| Page Views: 3,874 Last Visit to Fredericksburg: April, 2005 | The Northernmost Truly Southern City by b1bob - last update: May 1, 2005 |
| Welcome to Fredericksburg |
They say in real estate that the 3 most important things are location, location, location. Before the Europeans settled here, the Indians liked it for the hunting and fishing. The latter was made good by the falls at the Rapidan and Rappahannock Rivers. At the time Fredericksburg was first settled in 1728, the fall line was the first frontier. During the Revolutionary War, Fredericksburg made a sizeable contribution because it was far enough from Williamsburg to be safe from any immediate retribution. Five Revolutionary generals hailed from the Fredericksburg area. Thomas Jefferson had a meeting here in 1777 to establish the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. Fredericksburg's location was key again during the War for Southern Independence as it is at the precise midpoint between Washington and the Richmond (then capital of the Confederacy). The downtown was nearly destroyed in December, 1862. Other battles took place nearby but further out in the countryside. Unlike many places, Fredericksburg has preserved its history so well that much of it is original, not reproduced.
Currently, Fredericksburg does well in terms of tourism. There is the history- some of which is gone over in this page, many quaint gift and antique shops, and ample self-styled fine dining restaurants. I have been through here countless times en route between the Richmond area and Northern Virginia, but the first time I really took an in-depth look into the history, the food, and the shopping in Fredericksburg. My friend Lee and I both toured the city together on a Saturday of mixed weather. During our tour, we got rained on at times. Knowing little or nothing when we got there, our waitress helped us plan out our tour. This trip emphasised for me how close George Washington's ties were to Fredericksburg. He was raised as a Mason at Lodge no. 4. His brother Charles lived at what is now the Rising Sun Tavern, his sister Betty with her husband lived at Kenmore House, and his mama lived nearby at what would later be widely called the Mary Washington House. |
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| Pros: | "The history comes alive in the old town." | | Cons: | "Parking, even at the weekend, is almost theoretical." | | In A Nutshell: | "Enjoy the historical sights, shops, and streets, but bring along a lot of patience." |
b1bob's Fredericksburg Travel Tips
 Comments for b1bob about Fredericksburg | | | | |
volopolo Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:24 UTC
Another great and full of information page | SLLiew Thu Nov 1, 2007 03:29 UTC
What a great page. Enjoyed learning more about American history. Cheers, SL :) | fburgnative Sun Jun 24, 2007 08:08 UTC
The photo (labeled "Fredericksburg courthouse") is of the former Wallace Library building, which is located next to the courthouse. The courthouse is a notable landmark, recognizable by its cupola, which is still prominent on the city skyline. | Stephen-KarenConn Mon Feb 26, 2007 15:02 UTC
Excellent page, Nat. You make me prouder than ever of my already proud Southern heritage. |
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