The President-to-be came to this home to receive his mother's blessing before attending his inauguration in 1789. This event is reenacted every Mother's Day. MY MOM ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! "George is such a good boy," she repeated over and over as we walked away, quoting Mary Washington. (Mrs. Washington died in 1789, but lived past her son's inauguration.)
MARY BALL WASHINGTON HOUSE - George Washington purchased this dwelling for his mother in 1772 for $275. Mary Washington lived the remaining 17 years of her life in this comfortable home, attending to her favorite hobby in the back yard, gardening. Within walking distance to Kenmore Mansion, home of Mary's daughter Betty Fielding Lewis, and her son Charles' place which he converted into the Rising Sun Tavern AFTER her death.
The guide talked extremely fast. There is not a whole lot to look at here. Tour takes about 10 minutes.
Very detailed history given by excellent tour guides. One of the original artifacts is a looking glass that Mary Washington left to George Washington in her will. When you visit, you will be looking at a glimpse of yourself in the very same looking glass as George Washington!
This is the house that Mary Washington lived in during the later part of her life. It is NOT just a museum but a historical building - one of many within the town of Fredericksburg. It was a site my mom wanted to see and I enjoyed going along with her. The Washington family had a lot of famous visitors to the house including some of the Lee Family and they also owned some property in the town - such as the Rising Sun Tavern. Many people may find the history dry but I enjoyed it. History is about all the family stories put together and this is one of those stories. It is a guided tour - they don't let you wander. You will have to pay a fee as it is, like many of the museums in the city, private and they need to pay for their upkeep. They DO give discounts to AAA Members and groups of eight or more. I think it is a must see after visiting it but it really is kind of a niche-history site. Check their website or call ahead as their hours to change due to events.
Well preserved glimpse into past of life in Mary Washington's later years provided by son George. Beautiful kitchen garden, simple landscaping including huge quince. Gift shop adjacent.
About the last five years of my working career, give or take, my wife and I made it a point to take a day trip somewhere (DC, Maryland, or Virginia) virtually every Saturday. The whole area is jam packed with colonial and civil war history. Travel times and distances are very manageable.
Personally, I can only trod the corridors of so many historic houses till I've had it and cry out, "ENOUGH! You see one, you've seen 'em all." I enjoyed these places most when a special event was taking place. I would put this house high on the list on Mothers's Day. On a grand scale, I liked the Lee Mansion at Arlington Cemetery more than Mt. Vernon or Stratford Hall farther south, birth place of Robert E. Lee.
Mary Washington House is a US Museum based in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Mary Washington House is located at 1200 Charles St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, USA.
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