Day 23, Monday

We stayed in Fredericksburg until 1:30 PM, visiting the boyhood home of George Washington and taking a trolley tour of the city.  

Washington’s home, which is called Ferry Farm, is so named because it is located directly opposite downtown Fredericksburg ferry, which was the only way to cross the Rappahonnock River in those days.  Washington lived there from ages six to twenty.  The building you see in these pictures is actually a reconstruction of the original house and it is located on the exact spot of the original which burned down.  Washington’s father, Augustin, owned 10 slaves while they occupied the house and farm.  When Augustin died, his widow, Mary, was only 35 years old and had five children to raise on her own.  George was only 11.

 The stories about George cutting down a cherry tree and skipping a dollar coin across the Potomac would actually have taken place at Ferry Farm.

A view of Chatham Manor. the only private home in the US visited by both Washington and Lincoln.

After touring Ferry Farm we crossed the river, on the bridge, and took a trolley bus tour of Fredericksburg.  It was fascinating.  Fredericksburg is one of the most historical cities in the US, perhaps third only to Philadelphia and Boston.  In addition to Washington, James Madison, & Hugh Mercer lived here.  Our driver entertained us with non-stop fascinating stories throughout the 90 minute ride, and also showed us many beautiful homes. Fredericksburg is right up there with Savannah, Charleston, Asheville, and Beaufort for prettiest cities in the South.   Once the tour ended were revisited many of the homes, stopping to take additional pictures that we were unable to take while on the trolley.

This one was for sale!

The auction block in front of what was Fredericksburg's largest slave market

Our last stop in Fredericksburg was an Italian deli and bakery where we picked up goodies for lunch which we ate in the car as we headed north to our campground at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Pennsylvania, which is about 180 miles north of Fredericksburg, and only 25 miles north of Gettysburg.  For dinner we returned to Food 101 in Gettysburg.  Yes, we ate there three weeks ago, and yes, we liked it as much as before.