18 The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club
Places of Interest (Cont.)
Mary Washington House
1200 Charles St
Originally purchased in 1772 by George
Washington for his mother, Mary Ball Washington,
who resided there until her death in 1789, the house
contains several pieces of original Washington and
Ball memorabilia. The garden, recreated by the
Garden Club of Virginia in 1968-69, features her
sundial.
(540) 373-1569
washingtonheritagemuseums.org
Admission fee.
Chatham
120 Chatham Ln., Falmouth
George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were
both guests at this Georgian house, built between
1768-71 by William Fitzhugh. During the Civil War,
the Union army used the house as a headquarters, field
hospital and communications center. The riverfront
terraces offer a view of the city of Fredericksburg
and the Rappahannock River, while a formal garden
on the other side of the house features an array
of roses and other flowers. It is now headquarters
for the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County
National Military Park.
(540) 693-3200
nps.gov/frsp
The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club’s current
and former projects include: the gardens at
Chatham, the garden shed at the Rising Sun Tavern,
native plantings at the downtown branch of the
library, the LOVE garden on Rt. 3, and the fountain
and an elm tree at Hurkamp Park in Fredericksburg.
/washingtonheritagemuseums.org
/frsp